2018 Austin Film Festival and Conference Schedule

Clint Bentley's first feature (as co-writer and producer) was 'Transpecos', a thriller set in the U.S. Border Patrol that premiered at SXSW 2016, where it won the Audience Award and was distributed theatrically by Samuel Goldwyn Films. His latest short film (as a director) premiered... Read More →

C. Robert Cargill is a novelist, former film critic, and a screenwriter on Marvel’s Doctor Strange and both of the Sinister films. His recent novel Sea of Rust was shortlisted for the Arthur C. Clarke Award. He lives and works here in Austin, TX.

Sandrine Faucher Cassidy is USC School of Cinematic Arts Senior Director of Talent Development, Festivals & Distribution. As such, she counsels and mentors students and alumni on strategy for their shorts and independent features in the festival circuit and how to best utilize their... Read More →

AJ Feuerman is a public relations executive with experience representing clients across the entertainment, lifestyle, and technology industries. She specializes in planning and executing innovative campaigns that include both traditional and digital mechanics as well as blogger and... Read More →

Sean Flanagan is the Executive Director of Film Stem, a nonprofit that provides grants and educational opportunities to empower filmmakers of diversity. He is currently a consultant with Buffalo 8, BidSlate, Walla and Visual Data Media Services after previously working in distribution... Read More →

Darrien Michele Gipson is the Executive Director of SAGindie. An M.F.A. recipient from the Peter Stark Producers Program at the University of Southern California, Darrien was formerly the Vice President of Production for DEF Pictures. As Executive Director of SAGindie, Darrien leads... Read More →

A native Texan based in Los Angeles, Alana Hauser is Manager of Sundance Catalyst, which connects highly-anticipated documentary and fiction films with financiers, and Women at Sundance, which forges gender parity in media. She has played a key role in the outreach, selection, and... Read More →

Greg’s debut as a feature director was with TRANSPECOS, a thriller set within the United States Border Patrol. It had its World Premiere in competition at the 2016 SXSW Film Festival where it won the Audience Award. Transpecos was acquired by Samuel Goldwyn Films for theatrical... Read More →

My name is Garineh Nazarian and I handle festival and non-theatrical screenings of our titles at FilmRise, a major indie distribution company based in NY. Before joining FilmRise, I ran my own distribution company working with Iranian filmmakers predominantly presenting the Iranian... Read More →

Bryce Norbitz is the Manager of Artist Programs at Tribeca Film Institute where she empowers scripted and documentary filmmakers through grant programs, workshops, screenings and events. Bryce curates projects through TFI funding, including Tribeca All Access, TFI Latin America Fund... Read More →

Tony Piantedosi joined Gravitas as Director of Acquisitions in 2018, following development and acquisitions roles at Premiere Entertainment Group and Televix Entertainment. A lifelong cinephile, he strives to bring independent films to the largest possible audience, with past successes... Read More →