On Saturday, March 26th, Austin Film Festival presented a series of panels focusing on how writers can launch their careers through screenplay competitions, fellowships and labs and how they can navigate their way through television and new media.  Presented in partnership with the Academy Education and Nicholl Fellowships Programs, the event took place at the Linwood Dunn Theatre in Hollywood.  The panels featured various industry gatekeepers, executives, and producers who shared what they look for in a script, the anatomy of a meeting, how to respond to notes, ways to position yourself for success, and what to do once you get your foot in the door. In anticipation of the rapidly approaching late deadline for Austin Film Festival’s screenplay competition, we’ve decided to bring you the highlights.

Today’s featured panelists in order of appearance include:

1. Matt Dy – The Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition Director
2. Greg Beal – The Director of the Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting
3. Ilyse McKimmie – Labs Director for the Feature Film Program at Sundance Institute
4. Angela C. Lee – Artist Development Manager at Film Independent
5. Karen Kirkland – Vice President of Talent Development and Outreach for Nickelodeon
6. Rebecca Windsor – Manager of the Warner Bros. Television Workshop
7. Amy Berg – Writer-Producer for Film and Television
8. Barry Josephson – President of Josephson Entertainment