Written by John Edward Betancourt  Photos of Pamela Ribbon, Shane Black, and Ronald D. Moore Courtesy of the Austin Film Festival. 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.
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.’
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