Lights, camera, Austin Film Festival! The beloved celebration of storytelling returns for its 33rd year with an exciting lineup of films, world premieres, filmmaker conversations, and hundreds of panels. From Hollywood heavyweights to homegrown talent, there’s something for every movie lover to discover.
We Are Austin welcomed Austin Film Festival co-founder and executive director Barbara Morgan for a preview of this year’s festivities, including opening-night selections, local documentaries, and the festival’s signature Writers Conference.
Austin Film Festival runs October 29 through November 5, 2026, at venues across Austin.
Watch the full video above for Barbara’s festival highlights and recommendations!
We Are Austin welcomed Austin Film Festival co-founder and executive director Barbara Morgan for a preview of this year’s festivities, including opening-night selections, local documentaries, and the festival’s signature Writers Conference.
Celebrating the storytellers behind the screen
What makes Austin Film Festival different from other film festivals? Morgan says it all comes down to the writing.
“We’re very story-oriented. It’s a writer’s festival, and we approach all of the film from the storyteller’s perspective,” Morgan said.
That mission extends to the festival’s screenplay competition, which Morgan says receives approximately 12,500 submissions annually, helping connect emerging writers with industry professionals.
Big names and big-screen premieres
This year’s festival opens with “The Debut,” written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg and starring Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti. The film follows a housewife whose involvement in community theater takes an unexpected turn.
This year’s festival opens with “The Debut,” written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg and starring Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti. The film follows a housewife whose involvement in community theater takes an unexpected turn. Courtesy The Debut.
The centerpiece selection is “Behemoth!”, Tony Gilroy’s new film starring Pedro Pascal, which blends music, mystery, and an unpredictable story.
The centerpiece selection is “Behemoth!”, Tony Gilroy’s new film starring Pedro Pascal, which blends music, mystery, and an unpredictable story. Courtesy BEHEMOTH!
Another highlight is “I Play Rocky,” a film exploring Sylvester Stallone’s determination to bring his iconic underdog character to the screen.
Austin stories take center stage
Local storytelling also has a prominent place in this year’s lineup.
Morgan highlighted documentaries celebrating Austin musicians, including trumpeter Ephraim Owens, as well as “A Man of Vision: The Story of Bill Wittliff,” honoring the influential Texas writer and filmmaker.
“He really gave to the creative community here,” Morgan said of Wittliff’s legacy.
The festival also features an extensive collection of short films, including Halloween programming.
A festival built for writers
The Austin Film Festival Writers Conference remains a cornerstone of the event, with approximately 200 panels exploring the creative process behind film and television.
“That is really just kind of the lifeblood,” Morgan said of the conference.
One special event features Sally Field participating in a live reading of an unproduced screenplay by Peter Craig.
With the Paramount Theatre undergoing restoration, screenings will take place at several locations, including the Bullock Museum, State Theatre, Galaxy Theatres, and venues on the University of Texas campus.
Visit AustinFilmFestival.com for the complete schedule, tickets, passes, and conference information.
Lights, camera, ATX! Austin Film Festival returns for its 33rd year