Austin Film Festival Reveals 2026 Script And Film Competition Award Winners - Variety

Austin Film Festival Reveals 2026 Script And Film Competition Award Winners – Variety

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The Austin Film Festival has announced 21 winners of its 2026 script and film competitions, selected from over 12,500 submissions to its 33rd annual event. The awards were presented at the Awards Luncheon on Saturday in Austin, Texas, following 78 scripts advancing to the finalist round. “For more than 30 years, our competitions have been about recognizing great scriptwriting,” said Barbara Morgan, Executive Director of the Austin Film Festival. “We want talented storytellers to leave Austin with more than an award. We want them to leave with new relationships, meaningful industry access and opportunities that can help move their careers forward.” The winners were chosen by a panel including showrunners, creators, and writers with credits such as “The Bear,” “Succession,” and “Parks and Rec.”

The festival connects finalists with industry professionals through its Writers Conference and Producers Book, which features finalist projects and writer contact information. Many awards include tailored fellowships offering mentorship and career development. Winners in narrative, documentary, and animated shorts categories are also eligible for Academy Award consideration.

Script and Film Competition Winners

Among the script competition winners, Keith Rubin’s “Helicopter” secured two awards: the William N. Collage Screenwriting Award and the Enderby Entertainment Award. Saoirse Ronan’s “Paper Plane” won the Narrative Short award, while Dawn Cowle received dual honors for the Comedy Teleplay Spec Award and the Scripted Digital Series Award. In the film competition, “Sweet Milk Lake” by Harvey Zielinski won the Narrative Feature, and “Strange Ashes: The Untold Story of Elisabeth Elliot” by Laura Waters Hinson took the Documentary Feature. Additional script competition winners include “Derek Darling” by Robert Barker and Jim Russo, which received the YMH Studios Comedy Fellowship Award, and “Filthy” by Lisa Cole, which won The Donners’ Company Screenwriting Award. The Valhalla Entertainment Award went to “Devilish” by Eric Goldberg, while “Dyscopia” by Bobby Marino claimed the Horror Feature Award.

Awards Include Fellowships and Industry Access

The festival’s awards aim to provide emerging talent with mentorship, industry access, and career opportunities. The Drama Feature Award was presented to “Sisters” by Zenas Cao, and the Comedy Feature Award went to “Pure Intentions” by Sarah Peele. The Roadmap Writers Representation Fellowship Award was given to “I Want My Present Back” by Haley Mancini. Winners also gained eligibility for Academy Award consideration, with the festival’s panel of judges including industry figures linked to shows like “Widows Bay” and “Parks and Rec.” Additional fellowships included the Sci-Fi Feature Award for “Louis and Puck” by Parker Rawlins and William Cowser, and the Chronology Screenwriting Award for “Method” by Matt Foss and Cora Vander Broek. Fairhurst won the Comedy Vanguard Feature, while “All the Way Down” by Collin Davis and Matthew Valdez-Litwiller took the Dark Matters Feature.

Austin Film Festival Reveals 2026 Script And Film Competition Award Winners - Variety
Photo: artsandvoices.com

Additional Competition Highlights

The 2026 script competition also recognized works in specialized categories. The Drama Teleplay Pilot Award went to “Gay Harlem” by Erin Williams, and the AMC One-Hour Pilot Award was awarded to “House of Devlin” by Michael Connors. The Comedy Teleplay Pilot Award was given to “Arkadelphia” by Mac Alsfeld. The Adult Animated Comedy Teleplay Fellowship Award, presented by Starburns Industries, went to “Evolved” by Chase Norman. In the film competition, the Documentary Short category was won by “Buried Under Years of Dust” by Emily Grodin and Sophie Sartain, while the Prior Student Short award went to “Rabbit Heart” by Anna Leah Bolln and Stella Fachinger.

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