Austin Spotlight Film Festival

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Austin Spotlight Film Festival puts the spotlight on indie filmmakers! ASFF is an international film festival held at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, TX. We accept all types of short films, screenplays, features, music videos, & even trailers.

5 years & 16 showcases, ASFF is listed as one of the "TOP 100 BEST REVIEWED FESTIVALS ON FilmFreeway"!
As featured in the Austin Chronicle, "Austin Spotlight is not intended as the antidote to festivals, but to complement them, and provide more immediate, opportunities."

The international judge panel selects a wide array of films & screenplays for our annual showcase. All selections are promoted on our website & social media. Those films are also showcased at Southwest Theater Lake Creek, where audience members will vote for the top film to be featured on our website for the following year!
Following the screening, there will be an Award Ceremony - where we acknowledge the incredible efforts with over 30 awards.

The biggest awards go to the "AUDIENCE CHOICE OF THE YEAR" & "JUDGE'S CHOICE OF THE YEAR". Those winners are also highlighted on our website & social media all year.
We give several other awards, including:
BEST SCREENPLAY (FEATURE & SHORT)
BEST NARRATIVE (FILM & SCREENPLAY)
BEST COMEDY (FILM & SCREENPLAY)
BEST HORROR (FILM & SCREENPLAY)
BEST ANIMATION
BEST EXPERIMENTAL
BEST DOCUMENTARY
BEST MICRO-SHORT
BEST DIRECTOR
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER
BEST ENSEMBLE
BEST EDITOR
BEST WRITER
BEST ACTOR
BEST ACTRESS
BEST SCORE
MOST ORIGINAL CONCEPT
& MANY MORE...

NO WAIVERS!
All films must be in English or have English subtitles at the time submitted.
Films must be original works.
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 attorneys' fees, that any of them may incur in connection therewith.

I/We understand that failure to adhere to the competition rules and regulations will result in disqualification and forfeiture of entry fee.

I/We agree to hold the Austin Spotlight Film Festival harmless from and defend them against all claims, demands, losses, damages, judgments, liabilities, and expenses (including attorney’s 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.

Overall Rating

Quality

Value

Communication

Hospitality

Networking

Philip Guitar

Thank You Austin Spotlight! Amazing festival, staff was exceptional! Great time, well put together, tremendous job. GRATEFUL for our win ~ Best Horror CRUDE MASSACRE!

September 2021

Helpful
Ali Valente

From my experience, this is one of the better festivals.

September 2021

Helpful
Nick Paul White

Great festival! The films looked gorgeous on the big screen! Excellent organizing and programming. You can tell they really care about each film they show.

September 2021

Helpful
Michael Clifton

Fantastic festival. Lots of enthusiasm. Great communication from Ali and his team!

September 2021

Helpful
Tasha Hardy

This is a fun festival that spends a lot of time supporting the filmmakers involved. Great communication and a positive environment. I'll be back next year!

September 2021

Helpful

Get Tickets Add to List

Dates & Deadlines

August 9, 2021
Opening Date
October 14, 2021
Earlybird Deadline 1
November 18, 2021
Earlybird Deadline 2
December 16, 2021
Earlybird Deadline 3
January 15, 2022
Regular Deadline 1
February 17, 2022
Regular Deadline 2
March 17, 2022
Regular Deadline 3
April 15, 2022
Late Deadline 1
May 19, 2022
Late Deadline 2
June 17, 2022
Late Deadline 3
August 6, 2022
Last Call
August 9, 2022
Notification Date
September 18, 2022
Event Date

Categories & Fees

Narrative Short
Narrative shorts must be under 40 minutes in length.
- Earlybird Deadline 1
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Earlybird Deadline 2
- Standard: $27
- Gold Members: $24
- Earlybird Deadline 3
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $37
- Gold Members: $33
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $42
- Gold Members: $37
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $47
- Gold Members: $42
- Last Call
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
Submit Now
Comedy Short
Comedy shorts must be under 40 minutes in length.
- Earlybird Deadline 1
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Earlybird Deadline 2
- Standard: $27
- Gold Members: $24
- Earlybird Deadline 3
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $37
- Gold Members: $33
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $42
- Gold Members: $37
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $47
- Gold Members: $42
- Last Call
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
Submit Now
Sci-fi Short
Sci-fi shorts must be under 40 minutes in length.
- Earlybird Deadline 1
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22
- Earlybird Deadline 2
- Standard: $27
- Gold Members: $24
- Earlybird Deadline 3
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $37
- Gold Members: $33
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $42
- Gold Members: $37
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $47
- Gold Members: $42
- Last Call
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
Submit Now
Horror Short
Horror shorts must be under 40 minutes in length.
- Earlybird Deadline 1
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Earlybird Deadline 2
- Standard: $27
- Gold Members: $24
- Earlybird Deadline 3
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $37
- Gold Members: $33
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $42
- Gold Members: $37
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $47
- Gold Members: $42
- Last Call
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
Submit Now
Documentary Short
Documentary shorts must be under 40 minutes in length.
- Earlybird Deadline 1
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Earlybird Deadline 2
- Standard: $27
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Earlybird Deadline 3
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $37
- Gold Members: $33
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $42
- Gold Members: $37
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $47
- Gold Members: $42
- Last Call
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
Submit Now
Music Video
Music Videos must be under 20 minutes in length.
- Earlybird Deadline 1
- Standard: $25
- Student: $20
- Gold Members: $22
- Earlybird Deadline 2
- Standard: $27
- Student: $22
- Gold Members: $24
- Earlybird Deadline 3
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $37
- Gold Members: $33
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $40
- Gold Members: $27
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $42
- Gold Members: $37
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $47
- Gold Members: $42
- Last Call
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
Submit Now
Experimental Short
Experimental shorts must be under 40 minutes in length.
- Earlybird Deadline 1
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22
- Earlybird Deadline 2
- Standard: $27
- Gold Members: $24
- Earlybird Deadline 3
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $37
- Gold Members: $33
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $42
- Gold Members: $37
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $47
- Gold Members: $42
- Last Call
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
Submit Now
Animation Short
Animation shorts must be under 40 minutes in length.
- Earlybird Deadline 1
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Earlybird Deadline 2
- Standard: $27
- Gold Members: $24
- Earlybird Deadline 3
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $37
- Gold Members: $33
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $42
- Gold Members: $37
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $47
- Gold Members: $42
- Last Call
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
Submit Now
Smartphone Short
Film must be shot entirely on a smartphone.
- Earlybird Deadline 1
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Earlybird Deadline 2
- Standard: $27
- Gold Members: $24
- Earlybird Deadline 3
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $37
- Gold Members: $33
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $42
- Gold Members: $37
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $47
- Gold Members: $42
- Last Call
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
Submit Now
Micro Short
Micro Shorts must be under 2 minutes in length.
- Earlybird Deadline 1
- Standard: $15
- Gold Members: $13.50
- Earlybird Deadline 2
- Standard: $15
- Gold Members: $13.50
- Earlybird Deadline 3
- Standard: $15
- Gold Members: $13.50
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Last Call
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
Submit Now
Student Short
Student shorts must be under 40 minutes in length.
- Earlybird Deadline 1
- Standard: $20
- Gold Members: $18
- Earlybird Deadline 2
- Standard: $20
- Gold Members: $18
- Earlybird Deadline 3
- Standard: $20
- Gold Members: $18
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Last Call
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
Submit Now
Feature
Feature length projects must be under 2 hours in length, but over 40 minutes. Features may fall into any genre.
- Earlybird Deadline 1
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Earlybird Deadline 2
- Standard: $53
- Gold Members: $47
- Earlybird Deadline 3
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $49
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $57
- Gold Members: $51
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $65
- Gold Members: $58
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $67
- Gold Members: $60
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $70
- Gold Members: $63
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $75
- Gold Members: $67
- Last Call
- Standard: $80
- Gold Members: $72
Submit Now
Trailer
Trailers must be under 10 minutes in length.
- Earlybird Deadline 1
- Standard: $20
- Gold Members: $18
- Earlybird Deadline 2
- Standard: $20
- Gold Members: $18
- Earlybird Deadline 3
- Standard: $20
- Gold Members: $18
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Last Call
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
Submit Now
Feature Screenplay: Narrative
Narrative Feature Screenplays must be over 40 pages.
- Earlybird Deadline 1
- Standard: $25
- Student: $20
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Earlybird Deadline 2
- Standard: $25
- Student: $20
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Earlybird Deadline 3
- Standard: $25
- Student: $20
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Last Call
- Standard: $40
- Gold Members: $36
Submit Now
Feature Screenplay: Comedy
Comedy Feature Screenplays must be over 40 pages.
- Earlybird Deadline 1
- Standard: $25
- Student: $20
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Earlybird Deadline 2
- Standard: $25
- Student: $20
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Earlybird Deadline 3
- Standard: $25
- Student: $20
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Last Call
- Standard: $40
- Gold Members: $36
Submit Now
Feature Screenplay: Horror
Horror Feature Screenplays must be over 40 pages.
- Earlybird Deadline 1
- Standard: $25
- Student: $20
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Earlybird Deadline 2
- Standard: $25
- Student: $20
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Earlybird Deadline 3
- Standard: $25
- Student: $20
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Last Call
- Standard: $40
- Gold Members: $36
Submit Now
Short Screenplay: Narrative
Narrative Short Screenplays must be under 40 pages.
- Earlybird Deadline 1
- Standard: $20
- Gold Members: $18
- Earlybird Deadline 2
- Standard: $20
- Gold Members: $18
- Earlybird Deadline 3
- Standard: $20
- Gold Members: $18
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Last Call
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
Submit Now
Short Screenplay: Comedy
Comedy Short Screenplays must be under 40 pages.
- Earlybird Deadline 1
- Standard: $20
- Gold Members: $18
- Earlybird Deadline 2
- Standard: $20
- Gold Members: $18
- Earlybird Deadline 3
- Standard: $20
- Gold Members: $18
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Last Call
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
Submit Now
Short Screenplay: Horror
Horror Short Screenplays must be under 40 pages.
- Earlybird Deadline 1
- Standard: $20
- Gold Members: $18
- Earlybird Deadline 2
- Standard: $20
- Gold Members: $18
- Earlybird Deadline 3
- Standard: $20
- Gold Members: $18
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Last Call
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
Submit Now

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Other Festivals You May Like

Sponsored

INDIE SHORTS AWARDS NEW YORK
View Listing
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New York Independent Cinema Awards
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Sundance Film Festival
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Slamdance Film Festival
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Philip Guitar

Ali Valente

Nick Paul White

Michael Clifton

Tasha Hardy