WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU FILM FESTIVAL (WRTIY) – YEAR FOUR!
FOUND SOUND STUDIOS, 305 Victor St, Austin, TX

NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS
After an exciting and well-attended 3rd Year, WRTIY will be back in 2026 at our new home, Found Sound Studios, with LIVE-STREAMED Award Ceremonies each evening on Austin Public Channel 10!

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
We celebrate the audacious, innovative, and weird. Founded by filmmakers Grayson Berry and Thomas Ryan Ward, WRTIY is a fiercely independent festival built on community, craft, and camaraderie. We showcase unforgettable stories—narratives, docs, horror-comedies, faith-based films, music videos and more—that deserve to be seen and celebrated.

Expect insightful Q & As for all filmmaker attendees, memorable Red Carpet Interviews, and tongue-in-cheek awards aplenty!

START SUBMITTING NOW!
-Early Bird Deadline: July 31, 2026

-Regular Deadline: September 1, 2026

-Late Deadline: October 1, 2026

-Notification Deadline: October 4th, 2026

(***REQUIRED: DOWNLOADABLE LINK for your FILM***)

-New 2026 Event Date: December 4th, 5th & 6th (Fri, Sat., and Sun)

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CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL for our RED CARPET INTERVIEWS and more!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLRULr-D5jf4-mlh8_3sfSA

FILM AWARDS:

"Don’t Let The Door Hit Ya…"

-Best In Fest Narrative (Feature & Short)

-Best in Fest Documentary (Feature & Short)

-Best in Fest Faith-Based (Feature & Short)

-Best in Fest Music Video

PRIZES:

***BEST IN FEST FEATURES: Digital Laurels, a Framed WRTIY FF Plaque, and our "Custom Miniature Door".

***BEST IN FEST SHORTS (all genres) Digital Laurels, Framed WRTIY FF Plaque, and our custom miniature door

ACTOR AWARDS:

"Thanks We’ll Be In Touch…"

-Best In Fest Leading Male Actor in a Feature (All Genres)

-Best In Fest Leading Female Actor in a Feature (All Genres)

-Best In Fest Male Supporting Actor in a Short (All Genres)

-Best In Fest Female Supporting Actor in a Short (All Genres)

-Best In Fest Child Actor in a Feature (All Genres)

-Best In Fest Child Actor in a Short (All Genres)

PRIZES:
*** Digital Laurels, a Framed WRTIY FF Plaque of your ‘Headshot’

DIRECTOR/DP/EDITOR AWARDS :

"We’re Going A Different Direction…"

-Best In Fest Director - Feature (All Genres)

-Best In Fest Director - Short (All Genres)

-Best In Fest DP - Feature (All Genres)

-Best In Fest DP- Short (All Genres)

-Best In Fest DP - Doc (All Genres)

-Best In Fest Editor - Feature (All Genres)

-Best In Fest Editor - Short (All Genres)

-Best In Fest Editor - Doc Feature

***PRIZES: Digital Laurels, a Framed WRTIY FF Plaque Awards & Clapboard Key Chain

CATEGORIES: HORROR, HORREDY, DRAMA, COMEDY, FAITH-BASED, WESTERN, MUSIC VIDEOS, and DOCUMENTARIES (Shorts & Features)

SUBMISSION CRITERIA:
Features

• Min: 70 Minutes in length, Max: 150 minutes

• Fully colored, mixed, edited, and formatted.

• Able to be searched on IMDB

• Appropriate subtitles if needed

• Vimeo or IMDB Screener (with password)

Shorts
• Min: 3 Minutes in length, Max: 31 minutes

• Fully colored, mixed, edited, and formatted.

• Able to be searched on IMDB

• Appropriate subtitles if needed

• Vimeo, FilmFreeway, or IMDB Screener (with password)

Music Videos (***ALL NEW)
• Min: 2 Minutes in length, Max: 7 Minutes in length

• Fully colored, mixed, edited, and formatted.

• Appropriate subtitles if needed

• Vimeo, FilmFreeway, or IMDB Screener (with password)

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • 3 Chicks Flicks

    WRTIY film festival is so much fun. Ryan and Grayson are great hosts that really open their arms to the creativity of indie filmmaking. The entire weekend is filled with networking, film viewing and sharing creativity with likeminded people. I would highly recommend WRITY. We will submit again.

    January 2026
  • Max Blaska

    I am so glad that I submitted and came to this festival. Communication is great. Grayson puts on a great show. I particularly liked how there was a separate theatre that replayed the shorts.

    This was one of the best festivals I went to

    January 2026
  • Alberto Collazo

    Very kind people I really enjoyed it, it was a fun experience.

    December 2025
  • Meher Mount

    Thank you to Grayson Berry and Thomas Ryan Ward for producing this festival and giving filmmakers the opportunity to show their film! It was and is a rewarding experience.

    December 2025
  • Matthew Owens

    Our team was floored to have been selected to screen at WRTIYFF. The fest atmosphere let us get to know other filmmakers and spend enough time to celebrate the hard work that went into the films. The festival runners themselves, Grayson Berry and Thomas Ryan Ward were accessible, friendly and spent time with us which is something you can't get at every fest. We're thankful to have been included!

    December 2025