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Austin Film Festival to Honor Christopher McQuarrie, With Writers Conference Panels to Include ‘Wicked,' ‘The Studio' and More (EXCLUSIVE)
Austin Film Festival will honor writer, director and producer Christopher McQuarrie with the 2025 Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award at the Awards Luncheon on Saturday, Oct. 25. Additionally, McQuarrie will join a panel conversation exploring his creative process and celebrated career during the 2025 Writers Conference, Oct. 23-26, which will also showcase the bold creative voices behind critically acclaimed titles such as 'Wicked,' 'The Studio,' 'Abbott Elementary,' 'Big Mouth,' 'Past Lives' and more. The overall festival will take place Oct. 23-30.
The Austin Film Festival hosts the world's largest screenwriters conference and has championed the art and craft of storytelling for more than three decades.
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McQuarrie said of his award, 'I've always held the AFF in the highest esteem. It's a sincere privilege to return to Austin after so much time away and for such a distinguished honor.'
McQuarrie is an acclaimed director, producer and screenwriter. His 1995 screenplay for 'The Usual Suspects' was named by the Writers Guild of America as one of the greatest screenplays of all time. In 2008, he co-wrote and produced 'Valkyrie,' starring Tom Cruise, a film which would lead to many more McQuarrie/Cruise collaborations, starting in 2012 with McQuarrie's sophomore directorial effort, 'Jack Reacher.'
As a writer, producer and director, he went on to helm the last four installments of 'Mission: Impossible' ('Rogue Nation,' 'Fallout,' 'Dead Reckoning' and 'The Final Reckoning'), comprising some of the largest and most complex practical action films ever made. In between these, he continued to work as a writer-producer on such films as 'Edge of Tomorrow' and 'Top Gun Maverick.' In addition to his credited work, McQuarrie is known throughout the industry for his uncredited contributions as a writer, editor, 2nd unit director and production consultant.
AFF will honor McQuarrie at the Awards Luncheon alongside screenwriting awardee Rian Johnson, producing awardee Christine Vachon, and television writer awardee Yvette Lee Bowser. The luncheon features awardees honored for their career achievements, Script and Film competition winners, and the recipients of industry-sponsored fellowships. Past recipients of the Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award include Ron Howard, Danny Boyle, Frank Darabont and Jonathan Demme.
AFF has also announced the first wave of Writers Conference panels, including WGA nominees Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, the acclaimed screenwriters of Universal Pictures' Academy Award-nominated 'Wicked' and its upcoming conclusion, 'Wicked: For Good.'
On : A Conversation with Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox
Speakers: Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox
Description: Step into the world of Oz with the brilliant minds behind the Wicked stage-to-film adaptations. Tony and Emmy nominated screenwriter Winnie Holzman and acclaimed screenwriter Dana Fox will delve into the monumental task of bringing this beloved Broadway phenomenon to the big screen. From the joys and challenges of adapting an iconic stage musical book, to the thrills of expanding upon that universe for film, Holzman and Fox will discuss how they crafted a cinematic experience that reaches its epic, electrifying conclusion this November with Wicked: For Good.
The Writer-Producer Relationship with Christine Vachon and Celine Song
Speaker: Christine Vachon and Celine Song
Description: Join acclaimed writer-director Celine Song and legendary independent producer Christine Vachon for a conversation about building and sustaining the essential writer-producer relationship. Song and Vachon will share insights into the nuances of their own successful collaborations, including Past Lives and Materialists, offering advice on how to foster trust, manage expectations, and effectively navigate the creative and business challenges inherent in bringing a story from script to screen.
Inside the World of Indie Film Financing
Speakers: Kara Durrett, Jesse Burgum, and Dave Caplan
Description: Navigating the complex landscape of independent film financing can be a filmmaker's greatest challenge. Join producers Kara Durrett and Jesse Burgum of Pinky Promise (Eleanor the Great, Bird, The Last Showgirl), and Dave Caplan of C2 Motion Picture Group (Longlegs, The Monkey) as they pull back the curtain on securing funding for indie projects, and what they look for in a script.
Inside the Writers Room:
Speaker: Alex Gregory
Description: Celebrated for its biting satire, relentless pace, and immersive peek behind Hollywood's curtain, The Studio offers a heightened, hilarious insider's perspective of today's film and TV industry. Co-creator and showrunner Alex Gregory will discuss how the show's writers mined their own experiences to develop its uniquely dysfunctional characters and kinetic storytelling style.
On : A Conversation with Justin Simien
Speaker: Justin Simien
Description: Explore the impactful world of Dear White People with its creator, Justin Simien. This conversation will delve into the origins of the acclaimed film and series, Simien's approach to social commentary, and the show's signature character-driven storytelling. Gain insights into the challenges of tackling complex themes with humor and poignancy.
On Grounded Storytelling:
Speakers: Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen
Description: Go behind the scenes of the Peabody Award-winning HBO series Somebody Somewhere with co-creators and showrunners, Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen. The pair will explore their longstanding creative partnership and their knack compelling character dynamics that turn small moments into universally human stories.
Three Page Challenge with Craig Mazin and John August
Speakers: Craig Mazin and John August
Description: In this live, interactive session, Craig Mazin and John August will offer their insightful feedback on submitted screenplays – focusing on the all-important first three pages. Learn firsthand what makes a script demand attention, the common pitfalls to avoid, and essential techniques for hooking your audience from the very start.
Inside the Final Season:
Speakers: Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett
Description: As Big Mouth takes its final bow, join co-creators and EPs Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett to explore the evolution of the show, from its initial concept and controversial humor to its nuanced portrayal of adolescence. Hear how they crafted the final season's emotional arc, brought beloved characters to a conclusion, and navigated the challenges of ending such a beloved and impactful show.
On the Making of
Speakers: Patrick Schumacker
Description: Go behind the scenes of ABC's Emmy, SAG and Golden Globe-winning sensation, Abbott Elementary, with one of the show's executive producers, Patrick Schumacker. Hailed by critics as a refreshingly authentic and heartwarming mockumentary comedy, Abbott Elementary has been celebrated for its sharp humor, relatable characters, and poignant exploration of community.
Austin Film Festival's Writers Conference, happening Oct. 23–26, 2025, will present over 150 panels on the art, craft and business of storytelling, featuring a slate of prominent industry professionals working in film, television and new media.
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