Austin Film Festival Writers Conference

The Writers Conference is the four-day panel and workshop program that opens Austin Film Festival each fall. Run by the nonprofit Austin Film Festival, it grew out of the Austin Heart of Film Screenwriters Conference, which began in 1994. The 2026 conference runs October 29–November 1 at downtown Austin venues such as the Omni Austin Hotel Downtown and the Stephen F. Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel, with more than 150 speakers including screenwriters, showrunners, producers, executives, agents and managers. Sessions include panels, workshops, roundtables and pitch programs, plus the Awards Luncheon, which in 2026 honors Nina Jacobson and Eric Kripke. Access is by festival badge, sold through the AFF shop; there is no submission process to attend, though script competition finalists receive badges.

Conference · Austin · Since 1994 · Active