2019 Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference Schedule

The annual event in Austin, Texas runs from October 24 through October 31 and I’ll be there for my 5th appearance.

I’ve been quoted as describing the Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference as “Woodstock for screenwriters.” It’s a big, brash, boisterous event featuring 150+ industry professionals and over 1,000 attendees with dozens of panels and presentations centered at the iconic Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas.

Here is my schedule of events:

Friday, October 25
3:15pm — 4:30pm
Breaking the Rules

There is no rule in screenwriting you can’t break, as long as you break it well. There are plenty of hard and fast rules to follow while writing, but even more important is knowing when to break those rules for the good of your story. Join writers for a conversation on tossing out the rulebook and learning to yield to your best creative impulses.

Panel: C. Robert Cargill, Ayanna Floyd Davis, Aline Brosh McKenna, Scott Rosenberg

Saturday, October 26
9:00am — 10:15am
Getting Started

What kind or preparation do you need to do before you start a project? Where’s the line between “researching” and procrastinating? Join a group of writers as they discuss various processes before tackling the blank page.

Panel: Amy Louise Johnson, Ashley Miller, Herschel Weingrod

Saturday, October 26
12:30pm — 1:45pm
A Conversation with Liz Hannah

Writer Liz Hannah burst onto the scene with her first screenplay The Post, a political thriller that was sold on spec and went on to be produced/directed by Steven Spielberg. In this panel, Hannah will reflect on her burgeoning career, from her sudden rise in the industry to the recent release of her modern rom com Long Shot starring Seth Rogan and Charlize Theron and her role as writer/producer on the Netflix true crime series Mindhunter.

Sunday, October 27
1:15pm — 2:30pm
To Live and Write in L.A. … or Not: Do You Have to Live in Los Angeles to Make It as a Screenwriter?

The standard answer to the question of relocating to Los Angeles is: Yes, do it. While there are advantages in making the move, it’s not the right choice for everyone. For those mulling over this question or wanting to learn ways to break in as a screenwriter while not living in L.A., this panel comprised of writers who have lived and worked in Hollywood will address key issues related to: L.A. … or not?

Panel: Anna Hozian, Chris Parrish, Brad Riddell, Fatou Samba

This panel is presented by DePaul University School of Cinematic Arts.

Featured guests at the 2019 Austin Film Festival Screenwriting Conference include David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, James Ivory, Ron Bass, and Daniel Petrie, Jr., and those are just the honorees with a slew of other screenwriters, TV writer-producers, managers, agents, and the like attending as well. You can check out that roster here.

If you’re going to this year’s AFF, let me know. Happy to hang out, grab a pint, and talk shop!

For more information, go here.