Film festivals can tend to highlight actors and directors, but this week it’s all about the writers!
The 23rd annual Austin Film Festival AKA “The Writer’s Festival” returns this Oct. 13-20 and will feature a slate of over 150 films, 175 panels, and almost 200 confirmed guest speakers. Jack Ingram kicks off the fest by performing at the 14th annual Film & Food Fundraising party held tonight at the Driskill Hotel starting at 7 p.m. There are still a few tickets left for tonight’s kick-off event. If you are interested in attending, all badge holders can purchase tickets for a discounted price of $85 with discount code: BADGEFILMFOOD here.
Ingram will join Honorary Chair Phil Rosenthal, creator of “Everybody Loves Raymond” and creator/host of “I’ll Have What Phil’s Having.” New restaurants featured at the event include Bonneville, Buenos Aires Café, Juliet Ristorante, Lonesome Dove, and Searsucker who will be present some of their signature dishes alongside the culinary talents behind Eden East, Komé Sushi Kitchen, Cannon & Belle, Ranch 616, Moonshine Patio Bar and Grill,Siena Ristorante Toscana, and more.
The conference lineup will feature panelists Jeff Nichols (“Mud,” “Loving”), Jason Segel (“How I Met Your Mother,” “The Muppets”), Marta Kaufman (“Friends”) and James L. Brooks (“The Simpsons,” “As Good As It Gets”).
The marquee films set to screen include “Loving,” “La La Land,” “Jackie,” and more!

The Austin Film Festival Pitch Competition allows contestants 90 seconds to pitch their best ideas to a panel of judges made of up agents, producers, managers, and screenwriters in a constructive and friendly environment.
If you need some help getting excited, check out our 2015 coverage of the festival here.
What are you most excited to see at Austin Film Festival? Let us know!
You can follow Austin Film Festival on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and check their website here for the full live schedule!
Follow Shuffle Online on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Periscope and Snapchat @ShuffleOnline for exclusive reviews, behind-the-scenes coverage and interviews.
Catherine grew up watching action flicks at a very young age which led to her love of film. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelors in Radio-TV-Film in 2012. Always the adventurer, Catherine traveled and lived in Sydney, Australia for a year where she took a selfie with Brad Pitt. She runs Shuffle with passion, lots of caffeine and tacos. When she’s not editing or writing you can find her crafting and planning her next adventure.