Austin Spotlight Film Festival

Name: Austin Spotlight Film Festival
Address: 13729 Research Boulevard, Austin, TX, 78750, US
Telephone: (309) 251-0749
Price range: $

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Austin Spotlight Film Festival

Austin Spotlight is an international film festival held in Austin Texas. We accept all short films,

Austin Spotlight is an international film festival held in Austin TX. We accept all short films, music videos, docs, & even kickstarters.

07/23/2026

Today is your final chance to submit to the 10th Annual Austin Spotlight Film Festival.

On September 12, we'll bring together filmmakers, screenwriters, and film lovers for a full day of independent cinema at Southwest Theaters Lake Creek 7 in Austin, Texas. Whether you've created a bold short film, a feature, documentary, music video, or screenplay, we'd love to see your work.

🎬 Festival Date: September 12, 2026
📍 Southwest Theaters Lake Creek 7 — Austin, TX
🏆 IMDb-Accredited Film Festival
🎟 Official Selections receive a complimentary VIP Festival Badge and the opportunity to connect with fellow filmmakers, writers, and audiences.

Don't let your project spend another year on the shelf. Hit submit before the deadline closes tonight.

🎥 Submit now: filmfreeway.com/austinspotlight

Tag a filmmaker or screenwriter who still needs to submit!

07/17/2026

🚨 LAST CALL – JUL 23, 2026

LAST CALL for Austin Spotlight Film Festival 2026! 🎬 Submit by July 23 for your shot to be part of Austin’s boldest, weirdest celebration of storytelling and creativity.

🎥 Submit here: filmfreeway.com/AustinSpotlightFilmFestival

07/03/2026

🏆 AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD — AUSTIN SPOTLIGHT FILM FESTIVAL 2025
🎬 Never Free — Directed by Linden Dodson

A gripping, character-driven story of redemption and reckoning, Never Free resonated deeply with audiences for its raw emotion, striking performances, and powerful Southern atmosphere. Linden Dodson’s heartfelt direction and authentic storytelling earned Never Free the Audience Choice Award, chosen by viewers for its emotional depth and cinematic craft.

06/26/2026

🏆 BEST TV PILOT (SHORT FORM) — AUSTIN SPOTLIGHT FILM FESTIVAL 2025
✍️ Starving Artists — Written by Zane Taylor Hill

Sharp, funny, and painfully relatable, Starving Artists captures the chaos, comedy, and creative hunger of young dreamers chasing success. With authentic dialogue and heartfelt humor, Zane Taylor Hill delivers a standout pilot that perfectly embodies the grind and glory of artistic ambition — earning the Best TV Pilot (Short Form) award.

06/19/2026

🏆 BEST TWIST FEATURE SCREENPLAY — AUSTIN SPOTLIGHT FILM FESTIVAL 2025
✍️ Ramp Rats — Written by Tom Renville

Fast-paced, hilarious, and unexpectedly heartfelt, Ramp Rats turns the everyday grind of airport ramp work into a wild comedy full of chaos, camaraderie, and clever surprises. Tom Renville’s sharp writing and authentic insider humor earned Ramp Rats the Best Twist Feature Screenplay award for its originality and perfectly executed comedic turns.

06/12/2026

🏆 AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD — AUSTIN SPOTLIGHT FILM FESTIVAL 2025
🎬 Be Like Betty — Directed by Traci Symone Dargan

Stylish, sharp, and thought-provoking, Be Like Betty blends vintage flair with modern commentary on womanhood, identity, and self-worth. Audiences connected deeply with its wit, creativity, and heart — earning it the Audience Choice Award for its unforgettable voice and bold perspective.

06/05/2026

🏆 BEST TWIST SHORT SCREENPLAY — AUSTIN SPOTLIGHT FILM FESTIVAL 2025
✍️ UnChristmas in Bethlehem — Written by Bret Thurman

Blending humor, history, and a clever reimagining of the Nativity story, UnChristmas in Bethlehem turns a familiar tale on its head with wit and heart. Bret Thurman’s inventive storytelling and sharp dialogue deliver a refreshing twist on biblical drama — earning the Best Twist Short Screenplay award.

05/29/2026

🏆 BEST MUSIC VIDEO — AUSTIN SPOTLIGHT FILM FESTIVAL 2025
🎬 East Texas Son — Directed by Annie Gunn

Hauntingly poetic and visually mesmerizing, East Texas Son blends raw emotion with hypnotic black-and-white cinematography. Annie Gunn’s direction captures both the intimacy of Amy Annelle’s performance and the mystique of the Texas landscape — earning the Best Music Video award for its stunning artistry and storytelling depth.

05/22/2026

🏆 BEST TV PILOT (SHORT FORM) — AUSTIN SPOTLIGHT FILM FESTIVAL 2025
📺 Tunguska — Written by Lorenzo Vega

Set against the eerie backdrop of 1968 America, Tunguska is a haunting descent into madness, memory, and military conspiracy. Lorenzo Vega crafts a gripping, cinematic pilot that merges psychological tension with supernatural dread — earning the Best TV Pilot (Short Form) award for its originality and atmosphere.

05/15/2026

🏆 BEST COMEDY SHORT — AUSTIN SPOTLIGHT FILM FESTIVAL 2025
🎬 Basil King — Directed by Daryl Della

Dark, absurd, and hilariously self-aware, Basil King turns mob-movie tropes upside down with razor-sharp timing and gleeful chaos. Daryl Della delivers a slick, blood-soaked comedy that’s equal parts Scorsese and slapstick — earning the Best Comedy Short award for its killer mix of style and wit.

Address

13729 Research Boulevard
Austin, TX
78750

Telephone

(309) 251-0749

Website

https://www.austinspotlightfilmfestival.com/

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