At Austin Film Festival, our mission is simple: champion writers and filmmakers. As an Academy-recognized Oscar® Qualifying festival, we are proud to spotlight emerging and established voices on a global stage. As the “Writers Festival” for over 32 years, AFF celebrates the storytellers behind the worlds, characters, and perspectives that shape great cinema. Each year, our film competition continues to grow as we serve as a launchpad into an ever-evolving industry.

AFF welcomes film submissions across nine competitive categories. These include our Academy Award®–qualifying Animated Short, Documentary Short, and Narrative Short competitions, as well as genre-focused categories such as Comedy Vanguard (outstanding comedic work) and Dark Matters (thrillers and horror), among others.

• March 27, 2026 Early Bird Deadline
• May 20, 2026 Regular Deadline
• June 19, 2026 Late Deadline
• July 1, 2026 Extended Deadline

SUBMIT HERE