AUSTIN, Texas — One of Austin’s most beloved entertainment events is celebrating a major milestone.
ATX TV Festival returns for Season 15, bringing four days of television celebration to the heart of downtown.
Sierra Waggoner and Trevor Scott sat down with co-founders Caitlin McFarland and Emily Gipson for a preview of what fans can expect.
Sierra Waggoner and Trevor Scott sat down with co-founders Caitlin McFarland and Emily Gipson for a preview of what fans can expect.
“ATX TV Festival is a four-day celebration of all things TV — past, present and future,” Gipson said. “We run sort of like a film festival with screenings and panels, but obviously television is the focus. We do reunions of old shows, premieres of new shows. We have trivia, TV karaoke. It’s TV camp for grown-ups. It’s just a fun four days.”
ATX Television Festival special screening of ‘Friday Night Lights’ with cast in Austin, Texas on Saturday, June 2, 2012.(Photo by Jack Plunkett)
During the day, the festival features general programming including panels and screenings, along with a lounge space for badge holders presented by Pluto TV. In the evenings, the energy shifts to marquee events and fan-favorite activities.
“In the evening we have our marquee events, and then we kind of break out into TV karaoke and TV trivia,” McFarland said.
This year’s biggest announcement is a reunion fans have been waiting for.
“We’re celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Friday Night Lights pilot,” McFarland said. “We had them at our very first festival, so it’s a little bit of our reunion and their reunion. It’s been 10 years since we’ve hosted them.”
ATX Television Festival special screening of ‘Friday Night Lights’ with cast in Austin, Texas on Saturday, June 2, 2012.(Photo by Jack Plunkett)
The festival will host a major panel at the Paramount Theatre on May 29, followed by a homecoming-style celebration. Cast members scheduled to attend include Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton, Jesse Plemons, Aimee Teegarden, Gaius Charles and Scott Porter.
ATX Television Festival special screening of ‘Friday Night Lights’ with cast in Austin, Texas on Saturday, June 2, 2012.(Photo by Jack Plunkett)
“We’re really trying to go as big as we can,” McFarland said. “We’ll have a lot of little extra touches that we announce along the way.”
Season 15 will also celebrate another television milestone — the 30th anniversary of Everybody Loves Raymond.
“We’re celebrating the 30th anniversary of Everybody Loves Raymond,” Gipson said. “We’ve got Phil Rosenthal and Ray Romano coming out with the writers, and they’re going to do a big comedy night where they show clips and tell stories about the real life at home that inspired the TV version.”
In addition to reunions and retrospectives, the festival is spotlighting emerging creators through a brand-new Indie TV Pilot Competition.
Friday Night Lights Revisited during the 2012 ATX Television Festival Season 1 on Saturday, June 2, 2012 in Austin, TX.
“We launched this year a TV pilot competition,” McFarland said. “Just like independent films, people are now making independent TV pilots to try to get their series made. For the first time, we’ll be showcasing indie TV pilots as a block with a special competition where we’ll crown the winner of the first ATX TV pilot award. Submissions are open now through February 28.”
For those who may not be familiar, ATX TV Festival is a multi-day event dedicated entirely to television. The festival blends panels, screenings, cast reunions, script readings, and intimate conversations with the creative minds behind some of TV’s most iconic shows. It’s known for its approachable atmosphere — where fans and industry professionals connect in a uniquely Austin way.
From nostalgic reunions to fresh new voices, Season 15 promises something for every television fan!
ATX TV Festival gears up for Season 15 with special guests, reunions, and indie premieres
Badges and event information are available online, giving attendees the chance to experience what Gipson describes as “TV camp for grown-ups” in the Live Music Capital of the World.
For more information on programming, Indie TV Pilot Competition submissions, and how to purchase badges, visit ATX TV Festival online.
For more information on programming, Indie TV Pilot Competition submissions, and how to purchase badges, visit ATX TV Festival online.