2009 Austin Film Festival
Hey everybody -
I'm interning for the 2009 Austin Film Festival, and I thought I'd let you guys know about the new reduced rates. In an effort to aide in economic stimulus we've cut the costs for festival attendence -
AFF STIMULUS PACKAGE
Unless you're an AIG executive, these are difficult economic times. The AFF
Stimulus Package has been created to help you get through the recession with group and student discounts, travel and hotel assistance, and a number of other incentives to offer networking opportunities, entertainment, inspiration, and further your screenwriting and filmmaking careers.
BADGES
In order to help you make ends meet, we're slashing prices and offering
discounts left and right. In addition to our regular registration deadlines,
we're giving significant discounts and packages to AFF members, students,
teachers, Nicholl entrants, and members of writers groups and filmmaking
groups. Seriously, it's almost impossible to not fit into one of these
categories and be eligible to buy a discounted badge.
Group Discounts for 2009*
Weekend Badge
$200 (regularly $225)
Conference Badge
Through September 28th: $300 (regularly $350)
After September 28th: $325 (regularly $375)
Producers Badge
Through September 28th: $535 (regularly $585)
After September 28th: $600 (regularly $650)
Bonus: If there are 10 or more registrants from one Writers Group, the group
organizer will receive a complimentary Conference Badge which may be
upgraded to a Producers Badge for an additional $235 (by September 28th) or
$275 (after September 28th).
COMPETITIONS
Film - Are you a member of a filmmaking or screenwriting group? Submit 4
film competition entries for $100! That's a savings of over $80!
Each group of 4 films must be submitted in the same package. This discount
is valid for mail in submissions only, i.e., cannot submit through
Withoutabox. A separate entry form needs to accompany each film submitted.
Students must include a copy of their school ID.
Screenplay/Teleplay - Are you a currently enrolled student? If your school
can put together 5 or more entries, you can each take $5 off! If your school can put together 15 or more entries, you can each take $10 off!
Discounted entry fees for 5 or more entries are**:
Screenplays: $35 (before May 15), $45 (before June 1)
Teleplays: $25 (before June 1)
Discounted entry fees for 15 or more entries are**:
Screenplays: $30 (before May 15), $40 (before June 1)
Teleplays: $20
Bonus: If you are a Finalist in the AFF Screenplay or Teleplay Competitions,
you also get an All-Access Producers Badge (value: $650), and an Awards
Luncheon ticket (value: $45), and are eligible for the Writers Ranch and
included in the Producers Book, which puts you and your script in front of
Hollywood's top producers, studio reps, and agents (value: priceless).
If you are a Winner in the AFF Screenplay or Teleplay Competitions, you get
all of the above and reimbursement for your travel and hotel expenses, and
your prize money. You've made money off of the AFF before you've even sold
your script!
Bonus: If your film screens in competition at the AFF, you also get 2
All-Access Producers Badges (value: $1,300), and an Awards Luncheon ticket
(value: $45), and 10 tickets to your film ($90), and your film screened at
least twice at a festival with over 4,000 film-goers, including Hollywood's
top producers, studio reps, and agents (value: priceless).
If you are an AFF Film Competition Winner, you get all of the above and
reimbursement for your travel and hotel expenses, and your prize money.
You've made money off of the AFF before you've even sold distribution rights
to your film!
BUT HOW WILL I GET THERE? AND WHERE WILL I STAY?
Flights
Continental Airlines is the official carrier for the Austin Film Festival
and offers discounts off published fares of 2% to 15% or Zone fares. Call
your travel professional or Continental MeetingWorks at 800-468-7022 for
reservations. Refer to Z Code ZFCM and Agreement Code: ACW1QZ.
Or, save an additional 3% off by booking your own reservations at
www.continental.com. Choose your flight times and access your meeting
discounts by inserting ZFCMACW1QZ in the Offer Code box.
Hotels
The AFF offers discounts at surrounding area hotels for all registrants.
Hotel discounts must be booked through our office. You must be registered in
advance to receive discounts. Rates (per night):
The Driskill - $239
Intercontinental Stephen F. Austin - $205
Radisson - $155
Hilton Garden Inn - $139
Holiday Inn - $129
STILL ON THE FENCE?
Break it down like this. A discounted Producers Badge is $535. This covers:
food at a minimum of 5 parties (even on a diet, this would be a minimum of
$125);
open bar at 9 parties (if you only get a light buzz, this would be at least
$200);
almost 200 films (if you only see 5 films the whole time you're here, that's
$45);
over 80 panels (only interested in a few of the TV and 'breaking in' panels?
That would ballpark at $200);
shuttle service to theaters and French Legation for the Texas Film BBQ
($40); and
countless networking and socializing opportunities with Hollywood's finest
industry representatives and filmmakers and screenwriters like Paul Feig,
Chris McQuarrie, Melissa Rosenberg, Doug Ellin, Touchstone's Channing
Dungey, and Fox's Barry Josephson. Absolutely invaluable.
So what are you waiting for? Pick up the phone and buy your Badge now!
800-310-FEST (3378)
* Group members will need to call the office (512-478-4795) and speak with Alex McPhail or me, Maya Perez, in order to register with the discounts.
Group organizer must call and register the group with the Austin Film
Festival first. Group discounts are not valid with any other discount or
promotional price offered by the Austin Film Festival.
** All entries must be sent together with separate entry forms for each
entry and a letter on the school's letterhead with a contact for the group.
Notification letters will be sent to the entrants directly.
These discounts do not apply to the additional prize categories (Latitude
Productions Award and Sci-Fi Award). The students are welcome to enter these categories, but they must pay the full additional $20 per category. To enter one or both of these, mark the box on the entry form and include the additional fees