Film & Television Festivals
The Austin area is home to over 25 world-class film and television festivals, each covering a variety of unique genres and content types. Along with amazing screenings, many of the festivals also include a conference aspect with informative panel sessions that feature prominent industry figures.
The listings below include dates and a concise overview of each festival along with links to the each festival's official website where you can find up-to-date lineup details, volunteer opportunities, call for entries and more. Many of the festivals also host year-round screenings and special programing outside the festival season, so be sure to follow each event's social media to stay in the know.
48 Hour Film Project Austin
TBD: Summer 2026
The 48 Hour Film Project is a contest where filmmakers from all over Austin compete to see who can make the best short film in under 48 hours.
aGLIFF
September 24-27, 2026
Since 1987, aGLIFF's annual Film Festival showcases all the voices in the spectrum of the LGBTQ+ community, presenting positive programing relevant to the lives of LGBTQ+ identified and allied people.
ATX Short Film Showcase
September 19, 2026
Austin's monthly film festival, the ATX Short Film Showcase, curates 8 local short films followed by a Q&A session with the filmmakers screen every 2nd Monday of the month at The 29th Street Ballroom.
ATX Television Festival
June 3-6, 2027
ATX TV Festival is a four-day celebration of all things TV featuring panels, screenings, events & more, where fans and industry members come together to talk, watch, and experience television as one community.
Austin Action Film Fest
August 20-22, 2027
The Austin Action Fest is an international festival dedicated to video projects that either include and or are strongly driven by the action and stunt sequences of all kinds.
Austin Asian American Film Festival
TBD: Summer 2027
The Austin Asian American Film Festival showcases the best in Asian and Asian American cinema in order to celebrate communities, entertain, enlighten, and showcase creative talents.
Austin Comedy Short Film Festival
September 25, 2027
The Austin Comedy Short Film Festival is a unique forum for international independent filmmakers to showcase their short comedy films.
Austin Film Festival
October 29 - November 5, 2026
Recognized as one of the top film festivals in the country, Austin Film Festival shines the spotlight on top-billed films and indies alike along with a renowned conference that focuses on screenwriting.
Austin Horror Film Festival
October 15-17, 2026
The Austin Horror Film Festival is a premier horror film festival in the heart of Bat City dedicated to showcasing the very best in independent horror filmmaking.
Austin Jewish Film Festival
November 5-15, 2026
The Austin Jewish Film Festival promotes the love of Jewish films to the Central Texas community by screening movies and programming other events related to movies.
Austin Lift-Off Film Festival
April 1-30, 2027
Lift-Off Global Network brings a program to Austin showcasing a collection of short films from award-winning filmmakers. These films are among some of the best of the past year.
Austin Polish Film Festival
November 5-8, 2026
The Austin Polish Society presents their annual film festival featuring carefully curated narrative, documentaries, animation and shorts film, as well as an amazing Polish film poster exhibit.
Austin Revolution Film Festival
January 28–30, 2027
The Austin Revolution Film Festival showcases independent films from all over the world, along with hosting networking events and parties for attendees.
Austin Short Film Festival
November 26, 2027
Austin Short Film Festival is a top-tier cinematic celebration in the heart of Texas, where film buffs and creators unite to showcase a dazzling array of international independent short films.
Austin Spotlight Film Festival
Austin Spotlight Film Festival is an annual international film festival featuring short films, music videos, trailers, and kickstarters.
Austin Under The Stars Film Festival
September 17-18, 2027
Austin's first outdoor film festival, Austin Under the Stars Film Festival mixes films, live music and socializing at Lone Star Court - a retro-inspired boutique hotel at the Domain.
AVAFF Austin Veteran Arts Film Festival
October 16-17, 2026
The AVAFEST Film Festival seeks to uplift the art of filmmaking and video production by veterans, military personnel and their families, inspiring them to create films as a means of healing and entertaining others.
Black Auteur Film Festival
TBD: Summer 2027
Black Auteur Film Festival (BAFF) is dedicated to preserving, empowering, and celebrating Black voices in cinema, showcasing a wonderful films directed by Black Texans.
Cine Las Americas
TBD: Spring 2027
Cine Las Americas International Film Festival showcases contemporary films from North, Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean and Spain.
Cinema Touching Disability Film Festival & Short Film Competition
September 5, 2026
The Coalition of Texans with Disabilities hosts the Cinema Touching Disability Film Festival & Short Film Competition which shines a spotlight on films that positively and accurately represent disability.
Ethereal Horror Fest
October 16-18, 2026
Born from a passion for the eerie and a dedication to the craft of horror filmmaking, the Ethereal Horror Fest is an indie genre film festival, celebrating visionary storytelling and spine-chilling cinema in Austin.
Fantastic Fest
September 17-24, 2025
Fantastic Fest is the Alamo Drafthouse's annual genre festival featuring the horror, science fiction, fantasy, action, Asian, and cult films from around the world.
Films For The Forest
TBD: 2027
Films for the Forest is an annual short film challenge created by Rainforest Partnership with the goal of creating an awareness about the importance of tropical rainforests and threats faced by forests.
Future Front Texas
August 27-30, 2027
The Front Market and Festival is a weekend of pop-up shops and performances, centering emerging creatives, artists, designers including an outdoor film showcase featuring shorts and features from Texas directors.
GTX Film Festival
August 21 - September 20, 2026.
GTX Film strives to inform and educate filmmakers through quality events featuring industry professionals as speakers and panelists who discuss topics related to writing, directing and producing content for the moving image industry.
Indie Meme Film Festival
TBD: Spring 2027
Indie Meme presents an exclusive opportunity to see internationally-acclaimed, award-winning narrative features, documentaries and shorts from South Asia
Lost River Film Fest
February 4-7, 2027
Taking place in spring-fed river town of San Marcos and the adjacent communities of Lockhart and Seguin, the Lost River Film Fest is soaked in a youthful, progressive, small-town-Texas vibe, providing a splendid spotlight on independent cinema and live music.
OUTsider LGBTQIA Festival
March 5-7, 2027
OUTsider showcases LGBTQIA film and art via unique festival experiences in order to educate and entertain the public as well as to support the creative endeavors of LGBTQIA artists.
Paramount Summer Classic Film Series
May - September 2027
Every year when the heat turns up, Austinites know it’s time to escape into our century-old movie palace and enjoy some of the greatest films ever made with 90+ films from all genres and eras and a wide array of guests.
South By Southwest Film Conference & Festival (SXSW)
March 15-21, 2027
Now one of the biggest festivals in the nation, SXSW offers the latest and greatest in the music, film, television and interactive with speakers and content from around the world.
Square Peg Social
September 17th-21, 2025
Founded by Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen, Square Peg Social is a four-day, intimate gathering designed to break down the walls and barriers that too often exist within the film industry.