Chronicle cineastes Kimberley Jones, Richard Whittaker, and Kat McNevins plot out the fall film festival season Credit: Lens of Athena Photography

Fantastic Fest

Sept. 17-24, Alamo South Lamar

The Drafthouse’s own festival returns for its 21st year with signature high strangeness and a heavy emphasis on horror starting with this year’s opening selection, creature feature Beware Boiúna. There’s also a big-screen viewing of Prime Video’s small-screen version of Stephen King’s Carrie, and a new adaptation of Resident Evil from Weapons director Zach Cregger. But it’s not all scares, with a special tribute to action direction legend Walter Hill, and Wild Horse Nine, the new black comedy from Martin McDonagh (The Banshees of Inisherin). There’s even music, with a closing night serenade by none other than the mighty Gwar! – Richard Whittaker

Austin Film Festival

Oct. 29-Nov. 5, multiple venues

Writers famously don’t get much respect from Hollywood, but not so at AFF, the long-running film festival and writers conference where the art, craft, and business of storytelling is the star attraction. The conference is a lively mix of practical advice, dishy stories from the trenches, and legit opportunities for normies to mingle with professionals, while the festival reliably provides a first look at Oscar contenders and first exposure to future A-list talent. This year’s honorees include Brad Bird (The Incredibles), Andrew Haigh (All of Us Strangers), and Aleshea Harris (Is God Is). – Kimberley Jones 

Austin Polish Film Festival

Nov. 5-8, Location TBD

For 20 years now, the Austin Polish Society has organized and co-sponsored the Austin Polish Film Festival, unique for bringing not only top-notch Polish filmmakers and their work to the Lone Star State, but also presenting a showcase of film posters each year. Catch a curated selection of Polish documentaries, narrative features, short films, and animation – typically all with English subtitles – and take in Polish art and culture at companion activities like the opening gala and poster show. – Kat McNevins

Still looking for more things to do this fall? Check out our Events Calendar, updated daily. Want us to know about your own event? Submit it to our online crowdsourced calendar.

This article appears in September 4 • 2026.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US

A graduate of the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas, Kimberley has written about film, books, and pop culture for The Austin Chronicle since 2000. She was named Editor of the Chronicle in 2016; she previously served as the paper’s Managing Editor, Screens Editor, Books Editor, and proofreader. Her work has been awarded by the Association of Alternative Newsmedia for excellence in arts criticism, team reporting, and special section (Best of Austin). The Austin Alliance for Women...

Kat grew up in Dallas and got to Austin as soon as she could, attending UT and sticking around afterward like so many Austinites. She started at the Chronicle as a proofreader in 2015, and became an events listings editor in 2020, covering community events, film screenings, summer camps, sports, and more.

The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.