Necessary television
Houstonian Caitlin McFarland cofounds TV-centric "film" festival, to hit Austinthis June
Make room, SXSW: You've got a little sister joining you on the festival circuit in Austin.
The ATX Festival, the first festival of its kind, devoted to the past, present and future of television, is buzzing into vivid life on June 1. The three-day festival will function like the movie festivals that abound, but its focus will be entirely on the small screen: its stars, writers, unaired pilots and shows canceled too soon. Think of it as your favorite nostalgic friends, back for one more romp in your living room.
"Television has changed so much over the years, and now there are so many options available to young and creative television writers and directors," says one of ATX Festival's creators, Houstonian Caitlin McFarland. "We realized a festival would be the perfect atmosphere to welcome people back into the lives of the characters they love and hear directly from the creators of these communities."
ATX Fest is the brainchild of McFarland and fellow Texan and TV junkie Emily Gipson. McFarland was raised in Houston and Gipson in Wichita Falls, and both dreamed of working behind the scenes of their television screens. After college, McFarland worked for directors like Nora Ephron and Mira Nair and was involved extensively with film festivals such as Sundance, Tribeca and Doha Tribeca. Gipson, meanwhile, learned the studio side of the industry over at Fox, TLC and the Discovery Channel.
"Television has changed so much over the years, and now there are so many options available to young and creative television writers and directors," says one of ATX Festival's creators, Houstonian Caitlin McFarland.
Together, the two women assembled an advisory board of writers, directors, producers and executives who are helping the duo guide their ship and fill their programming panels with big names like directors Betty Thomas and Richard Linklater. The festival will keep its scope broad in its first year, says McFarland, inviting representatives from serials like Life Unexpected, reality shows like Austin City Limits, sitcoms and even web series.
"We also realize how all-encompassing television is for entertainment, including music, food, travel and lifestyle," adds McFarland. "So we're excited to announce partnerships with a number of Austin sponsors who are helping us with food programming and after-parties as well. We'll even have bands that were featured as guests in episodes of your favorite TV shows."
When the festival launches in June, Alamo Drafthouse will host screenings and artist Q&As at their South Lamar Austin location. The Intercontinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel will host the industry panels and meet-ups. And the Hotel San Jose will host special ATX Fest/Drafthouse Rolling Roadshow screenings of popular favorites.
McFarland says the programming for ATX Fest is still being negotiated; industry artists are waiting for legal clearance before being announced on the website. In the meantime, a Kickstarter campaign launched Wednesday to get ATX Fest on its feet. Pledges on the campaign will double as pre-sales for badges to the festival in June. If you'd like to attend, badges range from $45 for a basic Screening badge to $195 for an all-access Industry badge.
Learn more about ATX Fest by watching the video below:
