Austin Film Festival Celebrates 2025 Script and Film Winners

The Austin Film Festival (AFF) has unveiled the winners of its 2025 Script and Film Competition Awards, celebrating a diverse array of storytellers at an awards luncheon held on October 25, 2025. This year marks the 32nd annual event, which recognized talents across 33 categories, awarding each recipient with AFF’s distinctive Bronze Typewriter Award.

Founded in 1994, AFF is dedicated to honoring screenplays and serves as a vital platform for emerging talent. The festival’s annual Writers Conference and competitions aim to connect new writers with industry veterans through mentorship and professional development opportunities. This year, the festival received over 17,000 submissions from 112 countries, with 35 individuals honored for their exceptional contributions to film and television.

Barbara Morgan, executive director of AFF, expressed pride in the festival’s role amid the changing landscape of the entertainment industry. “For over three decades, our competitions have served to highlight emerging creatives and recognize original storytelling,” Morgan stated. She emphasized the importance of collaboration with industry leaders to foster the next generation of screenwriters.

Industry partners, including AMC Networks, Enderby Entertainment, and the Writers Guild of America East, presented accolades to the winning writers and filmmakers. Notably, winners in the Narrative, Documentary, and Animated Shorts competitions are eligible for Academy Award consideration, adding further prestige to their achievements.

The festival also launched a new initiative this year, partnering with the Wonder Project to find scripts that embody humor, heart, and hope. The inaugural Wonder Project | Stand Together Fellowship was awarded to Christopher Holt for his script titled 27 Cows. This fellowship, overseen by former Marvel executive and producer Jeremy Latcham, provides a one-year screenwriting opportunity where participants are compensated at a union-comparable rate.

Holt expressed his gratitude for the fellowship, stating, “To win the Wonder Project | Stand Together Fellowship is unbelievable. I’m over the moon, and I just want to do the best job I possibly can.” This year’s program also includes partnerships with Big Indie Pictures and The Donners’ Company, among others.

The winners this year join a prestigious lineup of previous AFF alumni, which includes notable names such as Clint Bentley, Zarna Garg, and Megan Park. Projects were evaluated by a panel of industry veterans with credits spanning iconic works like The Bear, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Top Gun: Maverick.

2025 Script Competition Winners

The 2025 Script Competition featured 22 categories, with the following notable winners:

– **Drama Screenplay Award**: *The Other Side of 25*, Becca Hurd
– **Comedy Screenplay Award**: *Lauren Lindsay Can Go To Hell*, Kate Beacom & Lacey Jeka
– **Big Indie Pictures Fellowship**: *Roots of Conflict*, Ari Mostow
– **Enderby Entertainment Award**: *The Other Side of 25*, Becca Hurd
– **Wonder Project | Stand Together Fellowship**: *27 Cows*, Christopher Holt

Additional categories recognized works in television and digital media, showcasing a range of creative talents.

2025 Film Competition Winners

The Film Jury Competition presented awards in eleven categories. The following projects received top honors:

– **Narrative Feature**: *A Man Walks Down the Street*, written and directed by Yuval Hadadi
– **Documentary Feature**: *Searching for Satyrus*, written and directed by Rena Effendi
– **Comedy Vanguard Feature**: *Theatre People*, written and directed by Michael B. Breen
– **Narrative Short**: *Foxhole*, written and directed by Nick Dugan

The AFF continues to support and promote the art, craft, and business of writing and filmmaking, underscoring its commitment to recognizing contributions to film, television, theater, and new media. The festival is partially funded by the Cultural Arts Division of The City of Austin Economic Development Department and the Texas Commission on the Arts. The event ran from October 23 to 30, 2025, marking a significant celebration of creativity in the film industry.