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Introduction to the film festival

Included in MovieMaker’s Top 50 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee for 2025!

At Austin Film Festival, our mission is simple: champion writers and filmmakers. As an Academy-recognized Oscar® Qualifying festival, we are proud to spotlight emerging and established voices on a global stage. As the “Writers Festival” for over 32 years, AFF celebrates the storytellers behind the worlds, characters, and perspectives that shape great cinema. Each year, our film competition continues to grow as we serve as a launchpad into an ever-evolving industry.

What truly sets AFF apart is the combination of a world-class film festival and a world-renowned Writers Conference. Filmmakers who screen with us experience much more than the usual mix of screenings and parties. They spend their days in packed panels, workshops, and networking sessions that create nonstop opportunities for learning, connection, and career growth.


Awards

Narrative Feature Award: $2,500 Cash Prize. Reimbursement (up to $500) of round trip airfare to attend AFF, reimbursement of hotel accommodations at an AFF hotel (up to $500), and the AFF Typewriter Award.

Documentary Feature: $2,500 Cash Prize. Reimbursement (up to $500) of round trip airfare to attend AFF, reimbursement of hotel accommodations at an AFF hotel (up to $500), the AFF Typewriter Award.

Dark Matters Feature: $1,000 Cash Prize. Reimbursement (up to $500) of round trip airfare to attend AFF, reimbursement of hotel accommodations at an AFF hotel (up to $500), the AFF Typewriter Award.

Comedy Vanguard Feature: $1,000 Cash Prize. Reimbursement (up to $500) of round trip airfare to attend AFF, reimbursement of hotel accommodations at an AFF hotel (up to $500), the AFF Typewriter Award.

Narrative Short: $1,000 Cash Prize. Reimbursement (up to $500) of round trip airfare to attend AFF, reimbursement of hotel accommodations at an AFF hotel (up to $500), and the AFF Typewriter Award.

Narrative Student Short: $500 Cash Prize. Reimbursement (up to $500) of round trip airfare to attend AFF, reimbursement of hotel accommodations at an AFF hotel (up to $500), the AFF Typewriter Award.

Animated Short: $500 Cash Prize. Reimbursement (up to $500) of round trip airfare to attend AFF, reimbursement of hotel accommodations at an AFF hotel (up to $500), the AFF Typewriter Award.

Documentary Short: $500 Cash Prize. Reimbursement (up to $500) of round trip airfare to attend AFF, reimbursement of hotel accommodations at an AFF hotel (up to $500), the AFF Typewriter Award.

Produced Digital Series: $1,000 Cash Prize. Reimbursement (up to $500) of round trip airfare to attend AFF, reimbursement of hotel accommodations at an AFF hotel (up to $500), the AFF Typewriter Award.

Rules

Genre ：
Subject ：
Video Format ：HDV MPEG4 DCP

Submissions must be in English or have English subtitles at the time submitted.

AFF does not accept films with any use of AI software in the writing or creation of the film. Any film in consideration will need to disclose all, if any, use of AI in the finished film.

AFF screens films and series as digital files during the Festival and does NOT screen on Blu-Ray, HD-CAM, or DCP. If you are unable or unwilling to provide us your submission as a digital file for exhibition, DO NOT SUBMIT.

Feature Films, Short Films, and Digital Series must have been completed after January 1, 2025. Films and series must be available for screening during the Austin Film Festival, October 29- November 5, 2026.

Films and series that have been submitted to AFF in previous years are eligible to be resubmitted, provided they are eligible according to all of AFF’s current rules.

Evaluation

Jury Profile
Jury Name Judge photos Jury Profile

Authorization type

    Proxy Submission

Duration (several sessions)

    34

Film Festival Features

  • Red Carpet
  • Celebrity Guest
  • Filmscreen
  • Cash prize
  • Trophy

Dates & Deadlines

  • 2025-12-08
    Submission start time

  • 2026-03-25
    Earlybird Deadline

  • 2026-05-18
    Regular Deadline

  • 2026-06-17
    Late Deadline

  • 2026-06-29
    Extended Deadline

  • 2026-06-29
    Submission end time

  • 2026-09-29
    Finalist notification start time

  • 2026-09-29
    Finalist notification end time

  • 2026-10-29
    Award ceremony start time

  • 2026-11-05
    Award ceremony end time

Categories and fees

  • Narrative Feature Award
    Video length ：41 - 300
    Any narrative work of fiction with a running time of 41 minutes or longer. Feature films must be at least a Texas Premiere, but US and World Premieres are always preferred.

    2026/03/25
    Earlybird Deadline

    Standard: 70 Dollar

    2026/05/18
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 80 Dollar

    2026/06/17
    Late Deadline

    Standard: 90 Dollar

    2026/06/29
    Extended Deadline

    Standard: 100 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival
  • Documentary Feature
    Video length ：41 - 300
    Any non-fiction film with a running time of 41 minutes or longer. Feature films must be at least a Texas Premiere, but US and World Premieres are always preferred. AFF specifically looks for documentaries that tell compelling and well-structured stories.

    2026/03/25
    Earlybird Deadline

    Standard: 70 Dollar

    2026/05/18
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 80 Dollar

    2026/06/17
    Late Deadline

    Standard: 90 Dollar

    2026/06/29
    Extended Deadline

    Standard: 100 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival
  • Dark Matters Feature
    Video length ：41 - 300
    Narrative films with a running time of 41 minutes or longer and with a story easily identified as belonging to the horror or thriller genre and embodying dark themes, unconventional subject matter, or suspenseful sensibilities are eligible for the Dark Matters Feature category.

    2026/03/25
    Earlybird Deadline

    Standard: 70 Dollar

    2026/05/18
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 80 Dollar

    2026/06/17
    Late Deadline

    Standard: 90 Dollar

    2026/06/29
    Extended Deadline

    Standard: 100 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival
  • Comedy Vanguard Feature
    Video length ：41 - 300
    Films must be feature-length, 41 minutes or longer. Must be original narrative films that encompass any and all forms of the comedy genre, where the only thing that outweighs the humor is the story. Films must be at least a Texas Premiere, but US and World Premieres are always preferred. Open to anyone who wishes to enter.

    2026/03/25
    Earlybird Deadline

    Standard: 70 Dollar

    2026/05/18
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 80 Dollar

    2026/06/17
    Late Deadline

    Standard: 90 Dollar

    2026/06/29
    Extended Deadline

    Standard: 100 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival
  • Narrative Short
    Video length ：0 - 40
    Any narrative work of fiction with a running time of 40 minutes or less. Shorts must be at least Austin premieres, although Texas Premieres are preferred.

    2026/03/25
    Earlybird Deadline

    Standard: 65 Dollar

    2026/05/18
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 75 Dollar

    2026/06/17
    Late Deadline

    Standard: 85 Dollar

    2026/06/29
    Extended Deadline

    Standard: 95 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival
  • Narrative Student Short
    Video length ：0 - 40
    Any student narrative work of fiction with a runtime of 40 minutes or less. The film's credited writer or director must be a current student or completed the film while a student. Student Shorts must be non-animated, narrative works only. Shorts must be Austin Premieres, but Texas Premieres are preferred.

    2026/03/25
    Earlybird Deadline

    Standard: 65 Dollar

    2026/05/18
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 75 Dollar

    2026/06/17
    Late Deadline

    Standard: 85 Dollar

    2026/06/29
    Extended Deadline

    Standard: 95 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival
  • Documentary Short
    Video length ：0 - 40
    Any non-fiction work of film with a running time of 40 minutes or less. Shorts must be at least Austin premieres, although Texas Premieres are preferred. AFF prefers films with compelling and well-structured stories.

    2026/03/25
    Earlybird Deadline

    Standard: 65 Dollar

    2026/05/18
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 75 Dollar

    2026/06/17
    Late Deadline

    Standard: 85 Dollar

    2026/06/29
    Extended Deadline

    Standard: 95 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival
  • Animated Short
    Video length ：0 - 40
    Any non-fiction work of film with a running time of 40 minutes or less. Shorts must be at least Austin premieres, although Texas Premieres are preferred. AFF prefers films with compelling and well-structured stories.

    2026/03/25
    Earlybird Deadline

    Standard: 65 Dollar

    2026/05/18
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 75 Dollar

    2026/06/17
    Late Deadline

    Standard: 85 Dollar

    2026/06/29
    Extended Deadline

    Standard: 95 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival

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