Written by Julieta Gozalo
Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference (AFF), the premier film festival recognizing the writers’ contributions to film, television, and new media, will premiere their 27th annual Festival on October 22-29, to be held exclusively online.
According to their website, “AFF champions the work of aspiring and established writers and filmmakers by providing unique cultural events and services, enhancing public awareness and participation, and encouraging dynamic and long-lasting community partnerships.”
This year, the Annual Writers Conference will occur throughout the first five days of the festival, featuring panels with a roster of prominent screenwriters in film and television. Guests will include The Gillian Flynn, creator of Amazon Prime’s dystopian-thriller Utopia and writer of Widows, Sharp Objects, and Gone Girl; three time Oscar nominated writer John Logan, creator of Showtime’s Penny Dreadful and writer of Skyfall, Hugo, and The Aviator; Oscar winner Kevin Willmott, co-writer of BlacKkKlansman and Da 5 Bloods, Gina Prince Bythewood, director of Netflix’s The Old Guard and Love & Basketball, Alec Berg and Bill Hader, creators of Emmy Award winning series Barry, Other notable panelists include Paul Feig, Prentice Penny, Scott Frank, Howard Gordon, Tracey Scott Wilson, Ed Solomon, Leslye Headland, Rolin Jones, and Emily V. Gordon.
The festival will feature 22 world, North American, and US premieres hailing from AFF’s four feature film competition categories, including a number of international films representing the countries of Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Cameroon, Iran, France, and Poland.
Here are some films we recommend to check out:
MARQUEE FEATURES
Dave Not Coming Back (US Premiere)
1 hr 32 min, Documentary, Action, Adventure
Director: Jonah Malak
Synopsis: Two friends, Don and Dave, broke a world record for depth in the cave of Boesmansgat: 283 meters. Right before surfacing up, Dave finds a body. They decide to come back and retrieve it.
Still shot from Golden Arm.
Golden Arm (Texas Premiere)
Comedy
Director: Maureen Bharoocha
Synopsis: Melanie is a baker in a small town, struggling with debt and a major case of the blahs caused by her failed marriage. When her ex demands half her grandmother’s bakery in their divorce, Melanie has no other choice but to take her best friend Danny’s advice – to enter the Ladies Arm Wrestling Championship. It just might work if Melanie can toughen up and take down the reigning champ, Danny’s arch nemesis, Brenda “The Bonecrusher” Smith!
Nine Days
2 hr 4 min, Drama, Fantasy
Writer/Director: Edson Oda
Synopsis: Will (Winston Duke) spends his days in a remote outpost watching the live Point of View (POV) on TV’s of people going about their lives, until one subject perishes, leaving a vacancy for a new life on earth. Soon, several candidates—unborn souls—arrive at Will’s to undergo tests determining their fitness, facing oblivion when they are deemed unsuitable. But Will soon faces his own existential challenge in the form of free-spirited Emma (Zazie Beetz), a candidate who is not like the others, forcing him to turn within and reckon with his own tumultuous past. Fueled by unexpected power, he discovers a bold new path forward in his own life. Making his feature-film debut after a series of highly acclaimed and award-winning short films and music videos, Japanese Brazilian director Edson Oda delivers a heartfelt and meditative vision of human souls in limbo, aching to be born against unimaginable odds, yet hindered by forces beyond their will…
Still shot from Farewell Armor.
Farewell Amor
1 hr 35 min, Drama
Writer/Director: Ekwa Msangi
Synopsis: Reunited after 17 years apart, an Angolan immigrant welcomes his wife and daughter into his tiny Brooklyn apartment. Now strangers, they find common ground in their shared love of dance.
Stardust
1 hr 49 min, Drama
Writer/Director: Gabriel Range
Synopsis: Stardust will chronicle the young David Bowie’s first visit to the US in 1971—a trip that inspired the invention of his iconic alter ego Ziggy Stardust.
To buy tickets for the festival, or to find out more information, check out austinfilmfestival.com/.
Still shot from Nine Days.