The much-anticipated Austin Film Festival has been in action since 1994 as the first organization of its kind to focus on how writers contribute to the film industry. As a result, the AFF has been used as a catalyst to launch the careers of many-a-screenwriter, who have traditionally been overlooked in the film industry.
How to Attend
If you want to jump into Austin film culture with both feet, you can attend this notorious event from October 18 to the 25th, 2012. The festival itself attracts some serious celebrities like James Franco and Mira Sorvino and also provides a nice little boost to the local economy in excess of $8 million.
The Austin Film Festival makes four different badges available for entry to the event. As the holder of a badge, you’ll not only receive priority access to all eight days of film viewings in the festival, but you’ll be able to attend four days of the conference, depending upon the badge level.
Badge options include:
- Lone Star Badge: $125
- Weekend Badge: $300
- Conference Badge: $450
- Producer Badge: $650
Even better, there are a number of badge add-ons available, including the 10th Annual Film & Food Party on October 17, which will kick off the festival and conference event. The Film & Food Party is held in the historic Driskill Hotel and will provide free-flowing cocktails with delicious cuisine from some of the best restaurants in the Austin area.
Badge holders also have the option to upgrade to attend the Awards Luncheon and the Pitch Competition within the festival. The intriguing Pitch Competition is back for the 10th year in a row, offering contestants the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pitch all of their best ideas in 90 seconds or less to a panel of judges. The winner will receive a special prize package that includes a Producers Badge to the festival for the following year.
Film Festival Competition
When you attend the Austin Film Festival, you have the opportunity to partake in a thrilling competition with categories that include Narrative Feature, Narrative Short, Animated Short, Documentary Feature, and more. Past winners of the event include Slumdog Millionaire, Juno, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona, just to name a few.
When attending the festival, make sure to plan ahead by hiring the services of an Austin limousine rental company to take you to the venue. This will give you the chance to ride in style to an anticipated Austin event, without having to worry about finding parking amongst the chaos.