‘Paper Plane,’ ‘Helicopter’ and ‘Old Bogus Massacre’ Among Austin Film Festival Script and Film Competition Award Winners (EXCLUSIVE)

The Austin Film Festival has announced the winners of its script and film competition. The 33rd annual event received more than 12,500 submissions, with 78 scripts advancing to the finalist round before the festival selected 21 writers and writing teams as winners. Those honored received their awards during the Awards Luncheon on Saturday in Austin, Texas. “For more than 30 years, our competitions have been about recognizing great scriptwriting,” Barbara Morgan, Executive Director of Austin Film Festival, said. “We want talented storytellers to leave Austin with more than an award. We want them to leave with new relationships, meaningful industry access and opportunities that can help move their careers forward. This year’s winners represent exactly the kind of bold, original voices we are proud to champion.” These awards aim to help emerging talent be discovered by agents, managers, producers, executives and other industry leaders seeking new voices. AFF connects competition finalists with industry professionals through its Writers Conference and Producers Book, which features finalist projects and contact information for writers. Many awards include tailored fellowship opportunities designed to provide mentorship, industry access and career development. Winners in the narrative, documentary and animated shorts competitions are also eligible for Academy Award consideration. A panel of showrunners, creators, producers, and writers with credits including “Widows Bay,” “The Bear,” “Succession,” “Parks and Rec,” and more selected the winning projects. See the full list of winners below. 2026 Script Competition Award & Fellowship Winners Drama Feature Award Presented by Writers Guild of America, East — “Sisters” by Zenas Cao Comedy Feature Award — “Pure Intentions” by Sarah Peele YMH Studios Comedy Fellowship Award — “Derek Darling” by Robert Barker and Jim Russo The Donners’ Company Screenwriting Award — “Filthy” by Lisa Cole The William N. Collage Screenwriting Award — “Helicopter” by Keith Rubin The Enderby Entertainment Award — “Helicopter” by Keith Rubin The Valhalla Entertainment Award — “Devilish” by Eric Goldberg Horror Feature Award — “Dyscopia” by Bobby Marino The Chronology Screenwriting Award — “Method” by Matt Foss and Cora Vander Broek Sci-Fi Feature Award — “Louis and Puck” by Parker Rawlins and William Cowser The Roadmap Writers Representation Fellowship Award — “I Want My Present Back” by Haley Mancini Drama Teleplay Pilot Award — “Gay Harlem” by Eric Williams The AMC One-Hour Pilot Award — “House of Devlin” by Michael Connors Comedy Teleplay Pilot Award — “Arkadelphia” by Mac Alsfeld Adult Animated Comedy Teleplay Fellowship Award Presented by Starburns Industries — “Evolved” by Chase Norman Drama Teleplay Spec Award — “Dexter: Resurrection: The Gamblers” by Laura Hunter Drago Comedy Teleplay Spec Award — “Hacks: Chicken and Egg” by Dawn Cowle Short Screenplay Award — “The Semicolon” by Aaron Roman Stage Play Award — “Body of Work” by Rigel Harris Fiction Podcast Award — “The Cold Plunge” by Sunny Bleckinger Scripted Digital Series Award — “Old Bogus Massacre” by Matthew McFadden, Dawn Cowle and Baylor Knobloch 2026 Film Competition Award & Fellowship Winners Narrative Feature Presented by Valhalla Entertainment — “Sweet Milk Lake” Writer/Director: Harvey Zielinski Comedy Vanguard Feature — “Pickpockets” Writer: Lucy Green & D.C. Fairhurst; Director: D.C. Fairhurst Documentary Feature — “Strange Ashes: The Untold Story of Elisabeth Elliot” Writer/Director: Laura Waters Hinson Dark Matters Feature — “All the Way Down” Writer/Director: Collin Davis & Matthew Valdez-Litwiller Narrative Short — “Paper Plane” Writer/Director: Saoirse Ronan / Honorable Mention: “Don’t You Want Me Baby?”; Writer/Director: Gabriel Foster Prior Student Short — “Rabbit Heart” Writer: Anna Leah Bolln; Director: Stella Fachinger Documentary Short — “Buried Under Years of Dust” Writer: Emily Grodin; Director: Sophie Sartain Animated Short — “How Not to Die on an Alien Planet” Writer: Carlos F. Puertolas, Anthony Hodgson; Director: Carlos F. Puertolas Produced Digital Series — “Matched” Writer: Dominique Salerno, Director: Elvira Ibragimova Kilter Films Filmmaker Fellowship Award (Feature) — “Rated” Cowriters: John Fortson & Christie Lynn Smith, Director: John Fortson Kilter Films Filmmaker Fellowship Award (Short) — “Assembly Required” Writer/Director: Andy Volk Enderby Entertainment Filmmaking Fellowship Award — “Soul Heirs” Writer: Harrie Hayes & Tom Machell; Director: Richard Turley