Apri 18th 2026
See website for schedule, selections, script pitch workshop and more.
www.AustinInternationalFilmFestival.com
Laurels here: https://filmfreeway.com/laurels/57665/AustinIFF

Austin International Film Festival is a filmmaker-centered celebration of strong storytelling, thoughtful curation, and true cinematic presentation. Based in Austin, Texas and presented by Inner Sanctum Films, the festival exists to support bold, well-crafted stories and the people who make them.

Founded by award-winning filmmakers Luke Van Garza and Martha Van Garza, the festival was built by filmmakers, for filmmakers. Every decision—from programming to presentation—is made with respect for the creative process and the realities of the festival circuit.

All official theatrical selections screen in a true movie theater with immersive sound, ensuring each project is experienced as intended. Online selections will run for two weeks during and aftet the theatrical festival.

The festival offers multiple award categories across genres and formats at no additional cost, plus a dedicated screenplay competition overseen by Luke Van Garza, former Hollywood story analyst for HBO, Phoenix Pictures, and Rat Entertainment.

Submissions are judged on merit alone. We value clarity of vision, execution, and storytelling craft. The Austin International Film Festival is committed to a welcoming, well-run experience where filmmakers feel supported, audiences stay engaged, and stories are showcased the right way.

2/18/26: Screenwriters and filmmakers: if you're interested in pitching a script to industry professionals and receiving feedback, AIFF will be hosting its inaugural script pitching workshop on the same day as the festival. Our workshop panel will include:

*screenwriter/producer C. Robert Cargill (Marvel's DOCTOR STRANGE, SINISTER franchise, THE BLACK PHONE franchise, Apple TV's THE GORGE)

*producer David Lawson who works frequently with directing duo Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead (MAN FINDS TAPE, SOMETHING IN THE DIRT, SYNCHRONIC, THE ENDLESS, various V/H/S films and series)

*screenwriter/novelist Hans Bauer (the original ANACONDA, HIGHWAYMEN, TITAN AE)

Please note that these people are working professionals and their availability is subject to change.

The workshop is tentatively scheduled to be held on Saturday, April 18, at Austin Community College's Highland Campus, Building 2000, in the Presentation Hall (Room 1550), from 1:30 to 3:30pm. The location is close to the Galaxy Highland Theatres where our festival will be screening all films.

Tickets to this event will be $35. Due to limited seating, the tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

More details to follow, so watch this space, as well as our Facebook page and our official website.

Awards & Prizes

So many gorgeous trophies and certificates!

Previous award recipients include such notable names as Eric Roberts, Sean Young, Michael Ironside, and Bille August.

4/22/26: Here are the winners for our 2026 film trophy awards:

Student Documentary Short: Talk Straight, Duda
Documentary Short: The Other Roe
Documentary Feature: I Took The Road Less Traveled
International Documentary Feature: Open Your Eyes
International Narrative Short: David's Story
International Documentary Short: Love Back to Country
Student Narrative Short: A Very Crowded Room
Narrative Short: Blindsided
Narrative Feature: Inertia
Texas Narrative Short: Love, from Ellie
Texas Narrative Feature: Marrow
TV PIlot: The Ballad of the Bush Mare
Best of Fest: The Oldest

Rules & Terms

This festival does not accept AI-generated films or screenplays. Films may use CGI or other computer-generated content, but the content must be programmed by human beings, with all legal rights secured or otherwise license free. Screenplays must be written by human beings.

Narrative feature films must be over 40 minutes

Narrative short films up to 40 minutes.

Documentary feature films must be over 40 minutes.

Documentary short films up to 40 minutes.

TV pilots up to 60 minutes.

Student short films up to 40 minutes.

Feature screenplays must be between 60 and 120 pages.

Short screenplays up to 59 pages.

Pilot scripts up to 60 pages.

We welcome animation, LGBTQ+, faith-based, and music-themed productions (but not necessarily music videos).

RULES AND REGULATIONS

This festival does NOT offer fee waivers.

1. All films MUST be in English or have English subtitles to be considered. All screenplays must be in English as well, although non-English words, with subsequent translations or context that clearly makes the meaning of the words known, are acceptable.

2. All films MUST be original works and finished AFTER January 2024. We do not accept fan films or fan fiction.

3. While we accept 2K and higher resolutions on film submissions, the theater projector resolution caps out at 2K.

4. There is NO premiere status required for this festival, but Texas or Austin premiere is preferred.

5. By submitting the material, the applicant hereby agrees to indemnify, hold harmless and defend the festival & its employees from any liability, claims and damages in connection with the submission and from any fees and expenses, including but not limited to reasonable attorney’s fees, that any of them may incur in connection therewith.

6. Applicants agree to hold this festival harmless from and defend them against all claims, demands, losses, damages, judgments, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys fees) arising out of or in connection with any and all claims of third parties, whether or not groundless, based on any film submitted to the festival.

7. Applicants understand that failure to adhere to the competition rules and regulations will result in disqualification and forfeiture of entry fee.

8. All submissions for this festival are to be paid through the FilmFreeway platform. Fees are non-refundable.

9. The cost of shipping a trophy or other award must be paid by the winner of that award. In the event the winner declines shipping costs, the award status will remain intact on FilmFreeway, but the winner won't receive a physical award.

10. This festival reserves the right to amend the rules and regulations at any time.
44 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Cathlin McCullough

    Thank you Austin International Film Festival for your wonderful festival. And thank you for awarding The Oldest with Best of Fest! What an amazing experience to get to show my children my film in a theater and then win an award! I also enjoyed the other films and meeting the other filmmakers!
    Cathlin

    May 2026
    Helpful
  • Robert Palmer

    Fantastic, fun, friendly festival with great people and tons of great films included with admission. The script pitch class was very informative. We'll be back.

    April 2026
    Helpful
  • Terry Pittman

    Thank you, Austin International Film Festival, for a truly great experience, and defineatly one to be remembered.

    April 2026
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  • Edward Treminio

    Awesome festival with awesome people. So glad this was my first festival experience. Really enjoyed the educational Script Pitch Workshop.

    April 2026
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  • Cynthia Huerta-McKown

    The festival offered so many opportunities for filmmakers! Met some fantastic people & enjoyed the films.

    April 2026
    Helpful