by Jon Partridge
Austin is regarded as the live music capital of the world, but over the last few years it is starting to lay its own claim to being a place where film and television are equally cherished. Spearheaded by the Alamo Drafthouse together with Fantastic Fest, the Austin Film Festival, and of course SXSW, and in more recent years the ATX TV Festival, now entering its fourth season/year as well as the number of local production companies, Austin is certainly a place where music isn’t the only entertainment.
From June 4th-7th, this celebration of small screen programming will be taking over multiple venues in downtown Austin including the Alamo Drafthouse Ritz, the InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel and Google Fiber Space. The Fest is bringing in over 150 panelists to talk about the industry as well as their own shows, screenings of new and returning shows, and offering reunions of old shows. Oh, and there’s also the close to 2000 badge holders coming in from around the world.
ATX TV Fest Press Release
Austin, TX — ATX Television Festival announces additional panels and programming as this year’s festival draws closer, including “Empire: The Creatives;” a marquee event and screening of FX Networks comedies, including the world premiere of “Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll,” along with “Married” and “You’re the Worst,” plus a new episode screening of “The Comedians;” “Inside ‘Rick and Morty,’” presented by Adult Swim; the season two world premiere of “From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series,” presented by El Rey Network and Miramax; and the premiere of the new TV Land series “Teachers.” The ATX Television Festival will be back for a fourth year June 4–7, 2015, in Austin, TX.
Fox is bringing its massive hit series “Empire” to ATX, with “Empire: The Creatives,” featuring executive producers Danny Strong and Ilene Chaiken, and co-executive producer Wendy Calhoun. The conversation will take an in-depth look at this blockbuster show, how the writers and producers broke beyond stereotypes, and what they think attributes to its unprecedented week-to-week growth.
FX Networks will host a marquee event and screening of several of its comedy series, including the world premiere of “Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll,” with executive producer and star Denis Leary, and fellow cast members Elizabeth Gillies, Bobby Kelly, Elaine Hendrix and John Ales; an all-new episode from the upcoming season of “Married,” with creator and executive producer Andrew Gurland and cast members Nat Faxon and Judy Greer; and a screening of last season’s finale of “You’re the Worst,” with creator and executive producer Stephen Falk, along with cast members Aya Cash and Chris Geere.
FX is also presenting a new episode of its comedy series “The Comedians,” and will host a discussion with co-creators and executive producers Ben Wexler and Matt Nix, who was previously announced as part of the opening night premiere of his new USA series, “Complications.”
Adult Swim is presenting “Inside ‘Rick and Morty,’” featuring a behind-the-scenes discussion of the series with creators and executive producers Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland.
El Rey Network and Miramax are hosting their season two world premiere and Q&A for “From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series,” with creator and maverick filmmaker Robert Rodriguez. Rodriguez will be joined by executive producer and showrunner Carlos Coto, along with cast members D.J. Cotrona, Zane Holtz, Eiza González, Wilmer Valderrama, Madison Davenport, Brandon Soo Hoo, Jake Busey and Jesse Garcia. Following the premiere, El Rey Network will host a post-premiere happy hour at the badge-holder lounge, located at Stephen F. Austin Intercontinental Hotel.
TV Land is presenting the premiere of its new summer series “Teachers” with cast members/writers/creators Katie O’Brien, Caitlin Barlow, Katy Colloton, Cate Freedman, Kate Lambert and Katie Thomas, and showrunners and executive producers Jay Martel and Ian Roberts.
This programming joins previously announced panels for this year’s festival, “Boomtown;” “Boy Meets Girl Meets World;” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine;” “Bunheads;” the world premiere of USA’s “Complications” on Opening Night; a “Dawson’s Creek” writers room reunion, along with a first-ever “Dawson’s Creek” pilot script reading presented by creator Kevin Williamson; “Dream On;” “Drunk History’s History;” “The Fosters;” “Gilmore Girls;” “Hannibal;” “Journeyman;” “Justified;” “Playing House;” “Power;” “Queer as Folk;” “The Simpsons; “Suits;” and “Wayward Pines.”
In addition, television icon James L. Brooks will receive the second annual Achievement in Television Excellence Award. Confirmed panelists include Beau Willimon (“House of Cards”), Phil Rosenthal (“Everybody Loves Raymond”), Noah Hawley (“Fargo”), Marta Kauffman (“Friends”), Kerry Ehrin (“Bates Motel”) and Julie Plec (“The Vampire Diaries” and “The Originals”), among others.
While social media seems abuzz (a severe understatement to be honest) at the Gilmore Girls reunion, personally the insights into Hannibal with showrunner Bryan Fuller, The Leftovers with Damon Lindelof, and the Orphan Black panel are on top of my to do list. We’ll be posting coverage from multiple panels and screenings here at Cinapse, so stay tuned for that!
For information visit the ATX Television Festival official site www.atxfestival.com or follow them on Twitter at @ATXFestival. Badges for this season are sold out, but some passes for specific events will be available.
About the ATX Television Festival
Our focus is on the celebration of the television medium: looking back at its history, where it is now, and where it is headed. Our weekend consists of events where attendees can interact with actors, writers, directors, creators, showrunners, music supervisors, casting directors and studio executives involved in all stages of bringing their favorite series to the small screen. We have all the functionality of a traditional film festival — spotlighting classic shows, never aired pilots, cancelled too soon series, cult favorites, current hits, and premieres of new series. In addition, we focus on episode screenings with Q&A’s from the cast and creators; panels focused on industry related topics like streaming and innovative outlets to continue production outside of the network/studio system; and will include parties, live music, meet-ups, social media events, and “super secret happy hours.” Ultimately, ATX has the goal of serving both the community and industry professionals equally by giving them the opportunity to discuss and celebrate all aspects of TV.
You might be asking yourself, “What is a Television Festival?” Most people do. Though there are thousands of film and music festivals, in and out of Austin, there is nothing like ATX. Our focus is on the celebration of the medium: looking back at its history, where it is now, and where it is headed. Our weekend consists of panels, screenings and events where attendees can hear from actors, writers, directors, creators, showrunners, music supervisors, casting directors and studio executives involved in all stages of bringing their favorite series to the small screen.
We have the functionality of a traditional film festival with screenings followed by Q&A’s from cast and creators; panels focused on industry related topics, and an array of events that includes parties, live music, meet-ups, social media events, and “super secret happy hours.” Unlike traditional festivals, however, we celebrate the history of the medium as well as the future. We spotlight classic shows, never aired pilots, cancelled too soon series, cult favorites, current hits, and premieres of new series. Since we are geared 50% towards the biggest television fans and 50% towards those working or wanting to work in the industry, our panels range in topics from “behind the scenes” looks at your favorite series, to more technical topics on where the medium is headed and how technology and “where we are watching” effects content. Ultimately, ATX Television Festival has the goal of serving both the community and industry professionals equally by giving them the opportunity to discuss and celebrate all aspects of TV together.
Many people ask, “why Austin?” Clearly, these people have never been to Austin. As our answer is, “why not Austin??” We could write an essay on all the thoughts behind this choice; but ultimately, we believe festivals should be destinations (like camp for TV loving grown-ups). Austin is approximately in the middle of the United States, making travel from East or West coast more convenient. Texas TV production has a long history, not the least of which is strong current productions in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. We love our city and strive to be part of our community by showcasing small businesses, local food, and working with arts organizations like Austin Film Society, Texas Film Commission, and Austin Film Festival — though we are NOT the “Austin Television Festival.” We are a national (if not, international) event that works with major networks, studios, companies & brands, and bring in 150 panelists (98% of which are not local to Texas), in addition to our badgeholders coming from all over the world.
Co-founders Caitlin McFarland and Emily Gipson have spent the better part of a decade in a variety of areas of the entertainment industry — from film & television production to working within the network & studio systems; as well as being on the ground level of both the festival and filmmaker sides of Sundance, Tribeca and Doha Tribeca. Combining their knowledge, along with a wide number of prominent industry professionals that make up the Advisory Board, they are introducing a one-of-a-kind festival experience.