The annual Austin Film Festival (AFF) returns October 29 - November 5, 2026, bringing back its renowned Writers Conference alongside a full week of film premieres. Now in its 33rd year, AFF has built a reputation for bringing Hollywood talent to Austin for panels on screenwriting, production, and the business side of the industry — and 2026 is no exception, with a first wave of premieres and award honorees already announced, including The Incredibles director Brad Bird bringing his new animated feature Ray Gunn to town.
Credit Jack Plunkett.
Screenings
AFF 2026's first wave of programming includes several world premieres — Chopin, Omi, Rated, Sheepwell, The Stalemate, and Tigermom Academy — along with Texas premieres of Behemoth!, Bleeding Hearts, and I Play Rocky. Headlining the announcements so far: Brad Bird's animated sci-fi noir Ray Gunn, starring Scarlett Johansson and Sam Rockwell, and Andrew Haigh's family drama A Long Winter, starring Fred Hechinger, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Caitríona Balfe, Kit Connor, and D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai. Both filmmakers will be in Austin to present their films in person.
Additional films, panels, and participants will be announced in the coming weeks — visit austinfilmfestival.com to stay up to date.
Awards
The festival hands out numerous accolades, with the centerpiece being the Screenplay and Teleplay Competitions, which honor outstanding original screenwriting in both feature films and television. These competitions are highly regarded in the industry, often serving as a launching pad for emerging writers. AFF also offers awards for feature films, documentaries, short films, and student films, with categories that range from Drama and Comedy to Horror and Sci-Fi. Additionally, the festival recognizes accomplished writers and filmmakers with career achievement awards, such as the Distinguished Screenwriter Award and the Outstanding Television Writer Award, acknowledging those who have made a lasting impact on the world of storytelling.
This year's Awards Luncheon (Oct. 31) will honor Brad Bird with the Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award, Andrew Haigh with the Writer's Writer Award, and Aleshea Harris (Is God Is) with the New Voice Award. Nina Jacobson will receive the Polly Platt Award for Producing, and Eric Kripke (The Boys) will receive the Outstanding Television Writer Award.
Special Events
Each year, Austin Film Festival hosts Film & Food as an unofficial kick-off to the festival. Open to the public, this event brings together filmmakers, producers, celebrities, and foodies from across the globe to celebrate the arts of filmmaking and screenwriting.
AFF Writers Conference
The four-day Writers Conference runs October 29–November 1, 2026, and this year's slate includes more than 200 panels on the art, craft, and business of storytelling — covering everything from breaking in as a new writer to navigating the industry at an established level.
Where to Watch
AFF screenings and Writers Conference sessions take place at venues across downtown Austin. Because everything is clustered downtown, it's easy to walk between venues or grab a quick rideshare — just build in extra time during peak screening hours when downtown gets busy with festival-goers.
Tickets
There's always a stellar lineup of films to catch at AFF, whether you're there for the conference panels or just want to see great screenings. Visit the AFF website for badge options, film passes, and the full 2026 schedule as it rolls out. Since AFF week overlaps with peak fall travel in Austin, it's worth locking in downtown lodging early — check out our fall itinerary ideas to round out your trip.
