33rd Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference

The Austin Film Festival returns to various locations across the city from October 29 to November 5, 2026. This is the 33rd edition of the festival, and it's a big one: over 175 films screening across eight days, paired with the festival's signature Writers Conference.

If you're not familiar, the festival bills itself as the world's largest screenwriters conference, and it's built around the art, craft, and business of storytelling. It's known for being egalitarian—rather than keeping filmmakers separate from the audience, the social side of things, from boozy barbecues to buzzing brunches, mixes seasoned professionals with newcomers. Craig Mazin, who wrote The Last of Us, has called the screenwriting conference worth more than its price of admission, and Nicole Perlman, of Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain Marvel, credits the social scene with introducing her to writers who became close friends, mentees, and mentors.

The 2026 edition rounds out more than 200 panels, 175 films, and dozens of networking events. Among the award honorees this year are Brad Bird, Andrew Haigh, and Aleshea Harris. There are industry fellowships on the table from the Donners' Company, AMC, Valhalla Entertainment, YMH Studios, and Starburns Industries, and the 'On The Road' retrospective film series will run throughout the festival. It's a lot to take in over eight days, so you can pick and choose the screenings and panels that fit your schedule.

Austin is home to over 25 world-class film and television festivals, and many of them, like this one, pair screenings with industry-led panel sessions and year-round programming. The Austin Film Festival and Writers Conference runs from October 29 to November 5, 2026, at various locations across town.