Austin's only outdoor film festival! Austin Under the Stars (AUTS) is an international film festival held at Lone Star Court, a retro-inspired boutique hotel. AUTS aims to make film festivals fun again! Enjoy live music, networking, and the best indie films - all nestled in the live music capital of the world.

Arrive early & experience a taste of the local music scene! An Austin-based band will set the tone with a movie-inspired playlist leading up to show time. Grab a cocktail or your favorite Texas beer and wait for the show to begin.
As the sun sets, take a seat under the stars and watch an amazing showcase of films ranging from narrative, comedy, horror, sci-fi, documentary, music videos, & more! Stick around for a the Filmmaker Q&A – a perfect opportunity to talk about upcoming projects & broaden your network. We close the evening with pictures on the red carpet & networking until the sun comes up!
Proceeds towards "Autism Society of Texas".

Accommodations:
Lone Star Court is not only an amazing venue, but also a fantastic hotel to stay if visiting from out of town. Located in the Domain & walking distance to fine dining, shopping, & Rock Rose (one of the best bar districts in Austin).

Awards & Prizes

"Superstar" is awarded to the Judges' Choice best reviewed film of the festival!
"Wonder Woman" is awarded to the outstanding female filmmaker of the night!
Awards are presented to the top-rated films following the screening:
Best Feature
Best Narrative
Best Comedy
Best Horror
Best Music Video
Best Animation
Best Documentary
Best Micro-Short
Best Student Short
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Ensemble
Best Writer
Best Score
Best Cinematographer
Best Editor
Most Original Concept
Best Texas Film
Keep Austin Weird
M. Night Shyamalan (Best Twist)
Audience Choice
Wonder Woman (Outstanding Female Filmmaker)
Superstar (Best Film)

Screenplay Awards:
Best Overall Screenplay (Short & Feature)
Best Narrative Screenplay (Short & Feature)
Best Comedy Screenplay (Short & Feature)
Best Horror Screenplay (Short & Feature)

Rules & Terms

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 Under the Stars 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.

57 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Christopher Graham

    The team at AUSFF managed to create a unique, memorable experience for the filmmakers, despite the fact that the festival was scheduled in the middle of a pandemic. Festival Director Ali Alkhafaji and his team were extraordinary! Rather than switching to a virtual format (as most festivals needed to do), they were incredibly resourceful and inventive and shifted the live event to a local movie theater, instead of the usual outdoor event. The setting allowed for filmmakers to catch their work on the big screen, while at the same time adhering to local safety guidelines. The theater was state of the art, and large enough to keep us at a safe distance from our fellow filmmakers—but still giving us the chance to chat and mingle after the screening. In the end, it was the festival experience every filmmaker hopes for. Ali (festival director) was a very warm presence throughout the entire festival. In fact, his entire staff was amazing. I want to thank the entire team at AUSFF for giving my team the experience we've been longing for since wrapping our film. Thank you!
    I'm thrilled that our film was deemed worthy of inclusion for the 2020 program—and I will certainly be submitting future projects to this wonderful festival.
    - Chris Graham, Director of Aida

    January 2021
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  • LaMont Prospect

    I am very grateful to have received an award from the Austin Under the Stars Film Festival. Despite all of the challenges having to do with COVID 19, the festival and everyone involved did a wonderful job.

    January 2021
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  • Michael Hogan

    The Austin Under the Stars Film Festival team are knowledgeable and passionate about the film industry. They run a very organized and fun festival and competition; and their communications with and support for participants is top notch. They definitely earn and deserve five stars across the board!

    December 2020
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  • David Tucker

    Thank you for selecting my screenplay for your festival. I will be back with more. You seem like such nice people.

    November 2020
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  • Sean Ryan

    Great festival that cares, very informative, and great selection of work! Keep this going!!

    November 2020
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