Austin Film Festival returns Thursday, October 29 through Thursday, November 5, 2026, bringing its 33rd annual celebration of film and screenwriting to Austin. The festival is built around screenings, but the program also includes the AFF Writers Conference, industry panels, workshops, filmmaker Q&As, and networking events. Organizers describe a schedule with more than 200 panels and 175 films, covering everything from independent productions and documentaries to world premieres, special screenings, and retrospectives.
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The festival’s home base is the Austin Convention Center at 500 East Cesar Chavez Street. One practical detail is worth knowing before planning your week: the convention center is currently closed for its UnconventionalATX expansion, with completion expected in 2028. The 2026 festival’s official materials still identify the Austin Convention Center as the venue, so check the latest AFF schedule before heading downtown for a specific event. The center’s parking garages remain open during construction, including the 2nd Street Garage at 201 East 2nd Street and the 5th Street Garage at 601 East 5th Street.
For writers, the conference is the part of AFF that sets it apart from a standard film festival. Across four days, panels and workshops focus on the working side of storytelling, including research, editing, film funding, and collaboration. The festival also puts screenwriting and teleplay competitions at the center of its awards program, alongside prizes for feature films, documentaries, shorts, and student films. This year’s announced award honorees are Brad Bird, Andrew Haigh, and Aleshea Harris, while Nina Jacobson and Eric Kripke are set to be recognized at the Awards Luncheon. Industry fellowships include Donners’ Company, AMC, Valhalla Entertainment, YMH Studios, and Starburns Industries.
The film lineup will mix competition titles with out-of-competition selections, and many screenings are followed by conversations with filmmakers. AFF has previously presented films such as Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch, Mike Mills’ C’mon C’mon, The Same Storm, and Joanna Hogg’s The Souvenir: Part II. The 2026 premieres will be announced closer to the festival. A Sonic-presented “On The Road” Retrospective Film Series is also part of the program, giving the week a place for older films alongside new work.
The festival begins its public-facing run with the 23rd annual Film & Food Fundraising Party on Wednesday, October 28, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM at Distribution Hall, 1500 E 4th St. The event supports AFF’s Young Filmmakers Program, which serves students ages 9 to 18 through digital storytelling classes, a competition, summer film camp, and scholarship support. Individual tickets are $150 from October 3 through walk-up, while tickets with a badge are $125 during that same period. Earlier ticket prices were lower, so anyone considering the fundraiser should check the current purchase details and remember that tickets are non-refundable.
With its combination of films, craft sessions, awards, and industry conversations, AFF 2026 offers several ways to build a festival schedule. You can follow a filmmaker, focus on the writing conference, choose films by genre, or simply move between screenings and panels as the week develops. The official “AFF 2026 at a Glance” page and the Austin Film Festival guide from Visit Austin are the best places to watch for the final film list, premiere announcements, venues, and ticket information.
Published Date
4 September 2026
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