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The Festival

We seek to provide a venue for films that might not otherwise be exhibited for the public, and virtually no genre or concept is excluded from consideration. However, films of a radical, critical, disaffected, progressive, provocative, confrontational, controversial, subversive, seditious, irreverent, illicit, offensive, obscene, rebellious, profane, pornographic, conspiratorial, corruptive, psychotropic, phantasmagoric, volatile, violent, anarchic, blasphemous or otherwise irresponsible nature are especially encouraged.

Let’s face it, most Hollywood films sound like this. We were also inspired to create the AUFF after attending many purportedly “underground” festivals and repeatedly finding that the primary thing that separated their content from the mainstream was the lack of money, not a particular theme, alternative perspective, or outsider spirit. Our hope is that together we can remind audiences that underground cinema, with its ability to experiment with unconventional formats and risque subject matter free from the constraints of censorship, isn’t necessarily a calling card for Hollywood; it can be an exciting end in itself.

Press

“A three-hour assault on conservative values.”
-The Austinist

“Subversive, irreverent, politically-socially incorrect–I ate it up! This festival definitely thinks OFF THE SCREEN!”
-Jim Dunn, Flicker Film Festival

“Austin has proven once again why it is a hotbed of independent film activity.”
-The Austin-American Statesmen

“The very notion of it conjures images of rebellion, like the “New Moon on Monday” video where Duran Duran brought down the totalitarian government just by passing out pamphlets and being cute. We’re kind of sad our mind works that way.”
-Sarah Lindner, Austin Movie Blog

“I think I’m in love.”
-Kill The Critic

“With offerings of film festivals (from the majors like SXSW and the Austin Film Festival, to the more intimate and diversified indie offerings at the Best of QT Fest, Blowing Up A Spot, and Austin Underground Film Festival) and UT’s film school, Hollywood doesn’t have to be done in L.A. smog for nearly $4 per gallon anymore.”
-Shia Shabazz, ATX Magazine

Read an interview with the ‘07 AUFF in Short End Magazine.

Read coverage of Austin Underground at Bad Lit.

Read an interview with Caitlin Leach, Andy Gately and Mike Z in the Austinist: [Short Version] [Long Version]

Read an article on Andy Gately and the AUFF in the North San Antonio Times.

The Organizers

[AUFF Founder, Director of Programming] — Andy Gately
Andy Gately holds a degree in Literature and a minor in Film Theory, is an original member of the Independent Filmmaker’s League, has worked for the Austin Film Festival and Troma Films, and has written for Cashiers du Cinemart, the Apalachee Tortoise, the San Antonio Express-News, Shortend Magazine, Directed By Magazine, Live Music Capitol, ILoveMikeLitt, and ATX Magazine. He was the original lead guitarist for The Strip Cult, and his own award-winning movies have been screened at numerous festivals around the country.

Andy [at] austinundergroundfilm [dot] com

[AUFF Public Relations Guru] — Caitlin Leach
Caitlin Leach holds a degree in Literature and a minor in Film Theory. She has collaborated on several films with Andy, was an original member of the Independent Filmmaker’s League.

Caitlinleach [at] austinundergroundfilm [dot] com

[AUFF Co-Director of Programming, Webmaster] — Jeremy Van Doren
Jeremy Van Doren holds a degree in Creative Writing and a minor in Film Theory. He is a filmmaker, video game enthusiast, prankster, and accomplished jaw-harpist.

Jeremy [at] austinundergroundfilm [dot] com

PREVIOUS EVENT CREDITS:

2005 Intern: Brittany Droddy
2005 Festival DVD Authoring: Jesse McAlpin, Austin Affordable Sound
2005 Webmaster: Justin Cox