UT at the 2024 Austin Film Festival

October 24–31, 2024 • Austin, TX

Austin marks its seasons with festivals. This month, a rite of fall, is the 31st Austin Film Festival. We celebrate the many UT and RTF affiliates who are participating in this year's festivities, including several listed below. To keep up with UT at Austin Film Festival, check out the UT at AFF schedule.

UT at AFF 2024

 

Script Competition Second Rounders 

Comedy Teleplay Pilot: 

  • Roomies: Pilot Episode by Sandhya Hermon (MFA Screenwriting '24)
  • Black Apples by Daviesha Rice (MFA Screenwriting Student)

Drama Spec Screenplay: 

  • Yellowjackets: The White Hare by Laura Day (MFA Screenwriting Student)
  • Life for Rent by Emma Pech (MFA Screenwriting Student)

Drama Feature: 

  • VLAD by Adir E Golan (MFA Screenwriting '24)
  • Oh, Caradeaux! by Deborah Valcin (MFA Screenwriting Student)

Features

American Spirit

(USA, 108 MIN)
Writer/Director: Christopher Yates (RTF BS '19) 
Key Cast: Yasmeen Fletcher, Cooper Roth, Mackinlee Waddell (BFA in Acting, '18), Todd Terry

Screening Times:

After a party gone awry, Melody wants nothing more than a pack of cigarettes. What was meant to be a quick stop on her way home turns into anything but after a chance encounter with her high-school boyfriend, Jonathan. Over the course of a single night, the pair are forced to ask what went so wrong with their relationship and what would happen if they tried again.

The Knife

(USA, 82 MIN)
Writers: Nnamdi Asomugha, Mark Duplass (BA in Liberal Arts, '98)
Director: Nnamdi Asomugha
Key Cast: Nnamdi Asomugha, Aja Naomi King, Melissa Leo, Aiden Gabrielle Price

Screening Time:

  • Friday, October 25
    4:00 pm - 5:42 pm • The State Theatre, 719 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701 

After a mysterious intruder enters their home, a young family is interrogated by a relentless detective and must reckon with the fallout of an investigation that threatens their tight façade.

Party People 

(USA, 83 min)
Director: Joey LePage (College of Fine Arts/Theatre and Dance '10)
Writer: Lindsey Robertson (College of Fine Arts/Theatre and Dance ’13)
Director of Photography: Carmen Hilbert (RTF BS ’13) 
Production Designer: Mackenzie McMahon (RTF BS ’17)
First Assistant Camera: Oscar De La Garza (RTF BS ’19
Gaffer: Joseph Punske (RTF BS ’23)
Re-recording Mixer: Matt Lennon (RTF MFA Production ‘21)
Cast: Hayden Daniel Cox (College of Fine Arts/Theatre and Dance ’22), Ola Mbonu (College of Fine Arts/Theatre and Dance ’25)

Screening Times: 

One night. One party. 15 people just trying to get there.
 

Shorts

Shorts Program 12: Documentary Shorts 2

Return to Cheyenne

(USA, 18 MIN)
Director: Jaime Wilken (RTF MFA Film & Media Production, '23)

Screening Times

  • Friday, October 25
    4:30 pm - 6:24 pm • The Hideout Theatre, 617 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701
  • Monday, October 28
    1:15 pm - 3:09 pm • Galaxy Theatre 9, 6700 Middle Fiskville Rd, Austin, TX 78752

At 70 years old Jonnie Jonckowski, reflects on a defining moment that forever reshaped her life and the rodeo world. After an injury crushed her Olympic dreams, Jonckowski unexpectedly turned to bull riding, embarking on a quest to become the top bull rider of her era. The women's rodeo circuit, however, suffered from serious neglect, sexism, structure, and funding. After championing the women's circuit, she was confronted with the ultimate barrier: the banning of women from professional rodeos, a mandate dated back to the 1930s. Determined, Jonckowski orchestrated a massive media campaign, challenging the status quo and earning women a historic opportunity at Cheyenne Frontier Days, the crown jewel of rodeo competitions. With the spotlight firmly on her, Jonckowski was tasked with not just competing but proving the undeniable prowess and rightful place of women in the heart of rodeo's most revered arena.


Shorts Program 10: Best Lil' Shorts in Texas 2

Do Not Disturb

(USA, 13 MIN)
Writer/Director: Hugo Ortiz Clemens (RTF BS '23)
Key Cast: Yadira Pascault Orozco, Max Isaacson, Ciro Saravia

Screening Times:

  • Friday, October 25
    7:00 pm - 9:07 pm • Rollins Theatre at the Long Center, 701 W Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704
  • Wednesday, October 30
    7:00 pm - 9:07 pm • Rollins Theatre at the Long Center, 701 W Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704

Two C-List actors from different backgrounds attempt to film a sex tape in order to launch their careers in Hollywood.


Shorts Program 9: Best Lil' Shorts in Texas 1

There's A Klansman in the Trunk!

(USA, 10 MIN)
Writer/Director: Xavier Ingram (RTF BS '24)
Key Cast: Andrew John, Bryan Headrick, Kyla Simmons, Donovan Spann, Jacob Eaker

Screening Times:

  • Saturday, October 26
    4:15 pm - 6:09 pm • Rollins Theatre at the Long Center, 701 W Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704
  • Wednesday, October 30
    4:00 pm - 5:54 pm • Rollins Theatre at the Long Center, 701 W Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704

After a young Black man miraculously survives an attempted lynching by a wannabe Klansman, he is presented with the biggest decision of his life: get revenge or show mercy.

Live Script Reading

The Return Script

The Return

Join AFF for a live reading of psychological sci-fi drama The Return, written by Mando Alvarado & RTF Assistant Professor/Production Area Head Miguel Alvarez and featuring actors Felix Solis and Audrey Esparza.
 
Logline: A recently engaged woman’s life is upended when her long-missing husband mysteriously reappears during a twice-in-a-lifetime celestial event.
 
Sunday, October 27
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm • The Hideout Theatre, 617 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701
 

Speakers & Moderators

Miguel Alvarez - RTF Assistant Professor/Production Area Head

James Fino - Co-Founder Starburns Industries Inc, UTLA Instructor

Kieran Fitzgerald - MFA in Screenwriting/Fiction, UT Michener Center, '10

Rachel Kondo - Featured Speaker, 2024 Recipient of the New Voice Award, Shōgun Co-Creator (MFA Michener/Screenwriting)

Cindy McCreery - Chair of UT Department of Radio-Television-Film, I’ll Be There Writer/Producer

  • Young Filmmakers Program Pitch
    • Friday, October 25
      1:30 pm - 2:45 pm • Omni Austin Hotel Downtown Mansfield Room, 700 San Jacinto at 8th Street, Austin, Texas, 78701

Maya Perez - RTF Assistant Professor/Screenwriting Area Head

Pamela Ribon - Writer My Year of Dicks, Moana, Ralph Breaks the Internet; BFA in Drama, '97

  • Opening Remarks
    • Thursday, October 24
      11:30 am - 12:30 pm • Austin Club, 110 E 9th St, Austin, TX 78701
  • Rejection: Saying Yes To All That No
    • Saturday, October 26
      4:45 pm - 6:00 pm • St. David's Episcopal Church Sanctuary, 301 E 8th Street, Austin, TX 78701
  • Pitch Finale Party (Producers, Conference, Weekend, Lone Star, or Press Badge required)
    • Saturday, October 26
      7:30 pm - 9:30 pm • Austin Club, 110 E 9th St, Austin, TX 78701

Alvaro Rodriguez - Writer American Rust: Broken Justice, Florida Man, Machete, Seis Manos; BA in English, '92

 

 

 

Elana Wakeman
Sr. Programs and Communications Coordinator