The Austin Film Festival has named its first two honorees for the 2026 edition. Nina Jacobson and Eric Kripke will receive the festival’s most prestigious awards at the awards luncheon on October 31. Fans and industry insiders alike are excited to see two creators celebrated for their impact on film and television.
Nina Jacobson Receives Polly Platt Award
Nina Jacobson will be presented with the Polly Platt Award for Producing. The award, created in 2019, honors producers who champion great storytelling and help new talent succeed. Jacobson founded Color Force and has guided projects such as the Hunger Games movies and the Love Story documentary about John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. Her work shows how a producer can shape both blockbuster hits and intimate stories.
Eric Kripke Honored for Television Writing
Eric Kripke will accept the Outstanding Television Writer Award. He created the hit Prime Video series The Boys and expanded its world with the spinoff Gen V. Kripke also wrote for Supernatural and Timeless. He first earned recognition at the Austin Film Festival in 1997 when his student short Truly Committed won an award. This new honor celebrates his continued influence on serialized television.
New Fellowships Support Emerging Talent
Alongside the two awards, the festival unveiled a slate of industry‑sponsored fellowships for 2026. The fellowships aim to help new writers and filmmakers launch their careers. Highlights include the AMC One‑Hour Pilot Award, the Donners Company Screenwriting Award, the Enderby Entertainment Award, and the Roadmap Writers Representation Fellowship. The festival also offers the Valhalla Entertainment Award, the William N. Collage Screenwriting Award, and the YMH Studios Comedy Feature Fellowship.
How to Submit Your Work
The Austin Film Festival 2026 runs from October 29 to November 5 in Austin, Texas. Submissions for the screenplay competition are now open. Writers can enter drama pilots, comedy features, genre scripts, and animated series. The festival encourages fresh voices to apply for the new fellowships and competition categories.
With two high‑profile honorees and a robust set of fellowships, the Austin Film Festival 2026 promises to be a landmark event for creators and fans. Whether you are a seasoned professional or an emerging artist, the festival offers opportunities to learn, network, and celebrate great storytelling.
Source: Variety
