There are few moments more exciting regarding a festival, than when the first screening lineup arrives. For it signifies that the festival draws near and now one can begin to plan their event post haste, and of course… now one knows what’s playing, and it’s always amazing to get an idea of what amazing movies or shows will be present there. But it is extra special when the Austin Film Festival begins to announce their lineup.
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Simply because, the AFF is one of the most prestigious festivals in the nation and they always host thought provoking and powerful features that truly touch us in our soul and well, the big day regarding what we can expect from this year’s festvial has finally arrived. Since earlier, the AFF released its lineup for the first wave of screenings this year, and since you’re dying to know… here is that lineup. So, you can prepare for another incredible year of incredible storytelling at one of the finest festivals around.

‘Austin Film Festival (AFF), the premier film festival recognizing writer’s and filmmaker’s contributions to film, television, and new media, has announced its first wave of screenings to be included in their 2024 film slate, taking place Thursday, October 24 – Thursday, October 31.

This year includes exciting new World Premieres like the magical realist biopic RAVENS, starring recent Emmy-nominee Tadanobu Asano (SHOGUN); Texas-made thriller THE EGO DEATH OF QUEEN CECILIA; and SILENT NOTES, a romantic neo-noir starring Daniel Durant (CODA).

Additional programming includes Netflix’s THE PIANO LESSON, an adaptation of August Wilson’s Pulitzer-prize winning play, The Forge’s BLACK DOG, which earned writer/director Guan Hu the Un Certain Regard Award at Cannes 2024, and the Ecuadorian horror SHAMAN, the writing debut of Daniel Negret, producer on recent horror hits TALK TO ME and POSSESSOR.

Films will be premiering alongside AFF’s Annual Writers Conference, featuring awardees and panelists across all sectors of the industry. Previously announced awardees include Kathleen Kennedy (Polly Platt Award for Producing), Ronald D. Moore (Outstanding Television Writer Award), Justin Marks (Writer’s Writer Award), and Rachel Kondo (New Voice Award); and panelists Craig Mazin, John August, Tanya Saracho, Meg LeFauve, Matt Selman, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, VJ Boyd, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods.

AFF FIRST WAVE:
RAVENS (France/Japan/Belgium/Spain) - K5 International
Written/directed by: Mark Gill
Cast: Tadanobu Asano, Kumi Takiuchi, Sôsuke Ikematsu, Kanji Furutachi
Synopsis: The dark fantasy love story of legendary Japanese Photographer Masahisa Fukase and his wife Yoko.
In attendance: Writer/Director Mark Gill
World Premiere

THE PIANO LESSON (US) - Netflix
Written by: Malcolm Washington, Virgil Williams
Directed by: Malcolm Washington
Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Danielle Deadwyler, Michael Potts, Ray Fisher, Corey Hawkins, Erykah Badu
Synopsis: A family clash over an heirloom piano explodes. The battle between brother and sister - one hopes to sell it, the other refuses to give it up - unleashes haunting truths about how the past is perceived and who defines a family legacy.
In attendance: Writer Virgil Williams

BLACK DOG (China) - The Forge
Written by: Guan Hu, Ge Rui, Wu Bing
Directed by: Guan Hu
Cast: Eddie Peng, Tong Liya, Jia Zhangke , Zhang Yi, Zhou You
Synopsis: On the edge of the Gobi Desert in Northwest China, Lang returns to his hometown after being released from jail. While working for the local dog patrol team to clear the town of stray dogs before the Olympic Games, he strikes up an unlikely connection with a black dog. These two lonely souls embark on a journey together.

SILENT NOTES (US)
Written by: Jason Furlani, Anna Franquesa-Solano, Toni Comas
Directed by: Toni Comas
Cast: Daniel Durant, Matt Riker, Ruth Aguilar
Synopsis: After finding out he is going deaf, Bruce is stuck at a crossroads: he needs a surgical intervention that he can't afford. In his attempt to find a solution that will get him the money, he meets Ethan, a lonely man who needs above all someone to talk to. The unlikely pair will embark on a journey of no return, where Ethan can't stop talking to Bruce, who is unable to hear.

ARTIFACT WAR (US)
Written by: Jacob Ingalls Schwarz
Directed by: Evan Michael Carpenter
Synopsis: A team of archaeologists-turned-spies brave Syria’s civil war and infiltrate the ranks of ISIS to uncover the greatest art theft since WW2 and unravel a conspiracy that implicates Western museums and one of the world’s most powerful companies
World Premiere

PARTY PEOPLE (US)
Written by: Lindsey Robertson
Directed by: Joey LePage
Cast:  Matthew Daddario, George Basil, Elisha Henig, Samuel Davis
Synopsis: One night. One party. And 15 people who are just trying to get there.
World Premiere

SHAMAN (Ecuador)
Written by: Daniel Negret
Directed by: Antonio Negret
Cast: Sara Canning, Daniel Gillie, Jett Klyne, Humberto Morales
Synopsis: A Missionary converting an Indigenous Community in a remote Ecuadorian volcano must come to terms with her own Faith when her son is possessed by dark forces older than her own religion.
World Premiere

THE EGO DEATH OF QUEEN CECILIA (US)
Written by: Chris Beier, Daniel Wolfman
Directed by: Chris Beier
Cast: Jo Schaeffer, Sam Stinson, Holt Boggs
Synopsis: A washed-up YouTube star blackmails an old rival in an attempt to reclaim her fame. But when things go awry, she finds herself ensnared by a drug trafficking ring. As Cecilia spirals out of control, she's forced to confront her true place in society.
World Premiere

THE BELDHAM (US)
Written/directed by: Angela Gulner
Cast: Patricia Heaton, Katie Parker, Emma Fitzpatrick, Corbin Bernsen
Synopsis: A struggling new mother fights a generations-old presence lurking within her family home, threatening her safety, her sanity, and the life of her infant child.
North American Premiere

SISTERS (US)
Written/directed by: Susie Yankou
Cast: Susie Yankou, Sarah Khasrovi, Kausar Mohammed, Anna Garcia
Synopsis: Shithead best friends Lou and Esther share everything—raunchy inside jokes, flailing careers, and a mutual wish to have grown up with a sister. But when Lou finds out she has a very real, very chic long-lost half sister, her and Esther’s co-dependent bliss is rudely interrupted.
U.S. Premiere

The complete list of Festival programming, including over 100 films as well as hundreds of panels, will be announced in late September. 

ABOUT AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL:
Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of writers and filmmakers and recognizing their contributions to film, television, and new media. AFF champions the work of aspiring and established writers and filmmakers by providing unique cultural events and services, enhancing public awareness and participation, and encouraging dynamic and long-lasting community partnerships. AFF is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department and the Texas Commission on the Arts. All attendees and events are based on permitting schedules and are subject to change and/or cancellation without notice. 

Badges and passes are available for purchase online at www.austinfilmfestival.com or by phone at 1-800-310-FEST.

There are a great many reasons to attend the Austin Film Festival. Such as the fact that you’ll enjoy some powerful motion pictures. Ones that challenge norms and are original and refreshing and downright engaging, since the AFF celebrates and champions stories in that vein. Plus, it is a great place to be amongst fellow cinephiles and it harbors one of, if not, the best screenwriting competitions around. But what we don’t talk about enough regarding the AFF, are the amazing panels they are host to.

For AFF brings in some of the industry’s outright best at its Writers Conference to talk about the craft and their contributions to the industry, and those panels truly offer up amazing insight from brilliant writers and well, to kick off the countdown to this year’s event, earlier today the Austin Film Festival announced the first ten panels at the 2024 Writers Conference, which we will share with you now. So, you can add these panels to your schedule and settle in and learn from the best when you arrive at this year’s Austin Film Festival.  

‘The Austin Film Festival’s (AFF) Writers Conference is a four-day, immersive exploration of the writer’s craft. Renowned as the world’s largest and most prestigious educational and professional development event for screenwriters, the conference is carefully curated to help emerging writers transition from honing their craft to establishing their careers. With over 150 panels, more than 200 top industry panelists, and 20+ networking events, all dedicated to screenwriters, TV writers, and storytellers, it’s no surprise AFF is celebrated as “The Writers Festival” within the industry. 

AFF is excited to preview ten compelling panels for the 31st Festival & Writers Conference, taking place from October 24 to 31, 2024. These panels are in perfect alignment with AFF’s mission of furthering the art and craft of storytelling by inspiring and championing the work of writers, filmmakers, and all artists who use written and visual language to tell a story. The festival will feature a diverse lineup of writers and creators, including industry luminaries like Kathleen Kennedy, Craig Mazin, Shane Black, Ronald D. Moore, and Meg LeFauve. Attendees can look forward to in-depth explorations of celebrated writers’ bodies of work, focused discussions on specific films or television series, and insightful conversations on the current state of the industry. 

AFF FIRST TEN PANELS: 
On The Last of Us: A Conversation with Craig Mazin 
Join Emmy-winning creator and showrunner Craig Mazin as he sheds light on adapting a beloved video game into Emmy award-winning series The Last of Us. Explore the creative process that shifted this story from the console to the screen, brought iconic characters to life, and successfully balanced horror and humanity within an apocalyptic world. 

On Vida: A Conversation with Tanya Saracho 
Heartwarming family drama Vida became a critical darling upon its release, charming critics and audiences alike. Hear from creator and showrunner Tanya Saracho on exploring gentrification, fraught family dynamics, and sexuality from an authentic point of view. 

Navigating the Great Contraction 
The foundation of the entertainment industry is shifting, and writers at all levels are feeling the tremors. Hear from industry insiders to discuss what the current state of entertainment means for writers, and how to adapt and thrive in this new environment. Panelists include David Boxerbaum, Partner at Verve Talent & Literary Agency, Nimona scribe Pamela Ribon, and Karl Hartman, Co-Owner and Producer
at Big Indie Pictures (Daisy Jones and the Six, Swarm, Mr. And Mrs. Smith, Manchester By the Sea). 

Deconstructing Dirty Harry with Shane Black 
Shane Black once described Dirty Harry as “the template for everything I’ve ever written.” Join the creator of Lethal Weapon as he dissects one of the greatest action movies of the 20th century and unpacks its impact on his work. 

Inside the Development Process: Television 
We’re bringing together a group of seasoned television executives to discuss the ins and outs of the development process. Come get the scoop on what studios are looking for, the future of TV, and breaking into the industry from HBO executive Cela Sutton, Amazon Studios executive Michael McDonald, and 20th Television executive Jade Addon-Hall. 

On The Simpsons: A Conversation with Matt Selman 
Walk through Springfield with Emmy-winner Matt Selman, show-runner of this iconic 36-Season comedy institution. Get a glimpse inside the writers room, learn how to keep characters and ideas fresh, and see the step-by-step process by which a story idea becomes a fully-animated Simpsons episode. 

A Conversation with Meg LeFauve 
Oscar-nominated screenwriter Meg LeFauve explores emotional storytelling, compelling characters, and intricate worldbuilding in this conversation about her career and body of work, including Inside Out, Captain Marvel, The Good Dinosaur, and most recently, the blockbuster hit Inside Out 2. 

The World of YA: A Conversation with Julie Plec 
Julie Plec joins AFF to talk about her accomplished career as a writer and showrunner. She will explore how her fantasy teen drama The Vampire Diaries captivated a generation and spawned a television universe through spinoffs The Originals and Legacies.
 
Get the Greenlight: Financing Your Film
 Join Glen Basner, CEO of FilmNation, and moderator Jeff Nichols as they delve into the business side of filmmaking. Learn how producers and executives assess a script to gauge their own financial investment, how to evaluate your own script from their perspective, and how to meet market demands without compromising your vision. 

A Conversation with Marissa Jo Cerar 
Sit down with Emmy-nominated writer-producer Marissa Jo Cerar for a discussion about her career path, from writing on The Handmaid’s Tale to creating acclaimed series Black Cake and Women of the Movement. Learn about how she adapts history, novels, and her own personal experiences into stories that captivate an audience.  

The ten panels listed above will be in addition to previously announced discussions with AFF’s awardees for this year. 

• A Conversation with Kathleen Kennedy, recipient of the 2024 Polly Platt Award for Producing 
• A Conversation with Ronald D. Moore, recipient of the 2024 Outstanding Television Writer Award.  
• Script to Screen: Battlestar Galactica with Ronald D. Moore 
• On Shogun: A Conversation with Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo, recipient of 2024 Writer’s Writer Award and New Voice Award, respectively 

Over four days, the AFF Writers Conference will present over 150 panels on the art, craft, and business of storytelling, featuring a slate of prominent industry professionals working in film, television, and new media.  The complete list of Festival programming, including over 100 films as well as hundreds of panels, will be announced in late September.   Visit austinfilmfestival.com for more information.  
ABOUT AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL & WRITERS CONFERENCE Entering its thirty-first year, Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of writers and filmmakers and recognizing their contributions to film, television, theater, and new media. AFF champions the work of aspiring and established storytellers by providing unique cultural events and services, enhancing public awareness and participation, and encouraging dynamic and long-lasting community partnerships. This project is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of The City of Austin Economic Development Department and Texas Commission on the Arts. The 31st Annual Austin Film Festival will take place October 24 – 31, 2024. All attendees and events are based on permitting schedules and are subject to change and/or cancellation without notice. Badges and passes are available for purchase online at www.austinfilmfestival.com or by phone at 1-800-310-FEST.’