Experience the ultimate destination for indie filmmakers at the Austin Spotlight Film Festival (ASFF)! Now in its 8th year with 16 showcases to date, ASFF is the perfect platform to celebrate creativity, passion, and the power of storytelling.
"ASFF offers immediate and invaluable opportunities to filmmakers, shining a spotlight on indie artists and providing them with a platform to showcase their work." – Austin Chronicle
Our diverse, international judging panel curates an exciting lineup of films and screenplays across genres—gripping narratives, thrilling horror, laugh-out-loud comedies, thought-provoking documentaries, mesmerizing features, music videos, trailers, and more. Every selection receives extensive promotion on our website and social media channels, ensuring your work gets the attention it deserves.
Audience Involvement: Every attendee has a voice in choosing the top film, making ASFF an interactive and engaging experience for both filmmakers and fans. Winning films are featured on our website for the entire following year.
Engaging Q&A Sessions: Dive deep into the creative process as we host Q&A sessions with attending filmmakers and screenplay selections after each screening. It's a chance to connect, learn, and be inspired by the talents behind the screen.
Unforgettable Award Ceremony: The festival culminates with an energetic Award Ceremony, where we honor the achievements of our talented selections across various categories.
Trophy Highlights: Prepare to shine as your work vies for our custom Lightbulb trophies in categories such as:
Audience Choice – The crowd favorite that resonates most with our attendees.
Judge's Choice – Recognized by industry professionals for outstanding creativity and execution.
Best Short Screenplay & Best Feature Screenplay – Celebrating exceptional storytelling and narrative mastery.
Awards Extravaganza: ASFF goes beyond with a dazzling array of awards:
Best Screenplay (Feature & Short)
Best Narrative (Film & Screenplay)
Best Comedy (Film & Screenplay)
Best Horror (Film & Screenplay)
Most Original Concept (Film & Screenplay)
Best Student Short
Best Sci-fi
Best Music Video
Best Animation
Best Arthouse
Best Documentary
Best Micro-Short
Best Trailer
Best Director
Best Ensemble
Best Actor & Best Actress