Austin Film Festival 2025 Unveils Full Lineup of Films and Writers

The 32nd annual Austin Film Festival (AFF) returns October 23–30, 2025, with a dynamic showcase of cinema and storytelling that celebrates the voices of writers and filmmakers from around the world. Known as the premier festival championing the craft of writing for film, television, and new media, this year’s event will feature 183 films from 32 countries along with a robust Writers Conference full of industry-leading panels and discussions. Badges are on sale now, with individual tickets to be announced soon. The full schedule can be found on the website.

Opening and Centerpiece Films

AFF will kick off with Christy, directed by David Michôd and starring Sydney Sweeney as legendary boxer Christy Martin. Based on a true story, the film captures Martin’s rise in the boxing world and the personal battles she faced outside the ring. Michôd, co-writer Mirrah Foulkes, and Christy Martin herself are slated to attend.

The festival’s Centerpiece Film, Eternity, stars Elizabeth Olsen and Miles Teller in a moving afterlife drama about love, loss, and impossible choices. Olsen is expected to appear at the screening.

Highlights and Premieres

This year’s lineup includes an exciting mix of world premieres, Texas premieres, and marquee screenings. World premieres include the dark comedy Forelock, starring David Krumholtz; the survival drama Not Without Hope, directed by Joe Carnahan; and the intimate documentary The Boy from St. Croix, an inside look at NBA legend Tim Duncan.

Texas premieres bring major star power, with films such as:

• A Private Life starring Jodie Foster
• Dead Man’s Wire with Bill Skarsgård, Colman Domingo, and Al Pacino
• Is This Thing On? directed by Bradley Cooper, starring Will Arnett and Laura Dern
• La Grazia from acclaimed director Paolo Sorrentino
• Rental Family starring Brendan Fraser

Retrospective screenings add to the excitement, including a 4K restoration of A Knight’s Tale with director Brian Helgeland in attendance, and a special showing of Se7en presented by writer Andrew Kevin Walker.

Featured Talent

AFF 2025 is set to welcome an impressive roster of filmmakers, writers, and actors. Attendees will include Rian Johnson, this year’s Bill Wittliff Award recipient, along with David Michôd, Christy Martin, Elizabeth Olsen, Joe Carnahan, Zachary Levi, Mira Sorvino, and many more. Additional guests will be announced in the weeks leading up to the festival.

Writers Conference

Running October 23–26 alongside the film screenings, the Writers Conference will once again provide a hub for aspiring and professional storytellers. Panels will feature some of the industry’s most influential voices, including:

• On The Naked Gun with Dan Gregor and Doug Mand
• The Art of Time Travel with Rian Johnson and Christopher McQuarrie
• Live From New York: It’s Saturday Night Live with former head writer Tim Herlihy
• On Writing A Great First Act with Academy Award winner Michael Arndt
• On Sorry, Baby: A Conversation with Eva Victor

The full conference schedule is available on the website

A Global Celebration of Storytelling

With its diverse programming, star-studded premieres, and thought-provoking discussions, Austin Film Festival 2025 continues to be a destination for storytellers and audiences alike. Whether you’re a cinephile, an aspiring writer, or simply looking to experience great films in the heart of Austin, this year’s festival promises a week of discovery, inspiration, and unforgettable moments.