“Arrested Development” Creator Heads Up Stellar List of Television Show Creators at 16th Annual Screenwriters Conference

AUSTIN , Texas — The Austin Film Festival (AFF) proudly announces that “Arrested Development” creator Mitchell Hurwitz will accept the 2009 Outstanding Television Writer Award during the Festival’s annual Awards Luncheon on Saturday, October 24th. In addition to claiming the honor, Hurwitz will speak on panels during the Festival’s 16th Annual Screenwriters Conference, October 22-25, 2009.

Hurwitz is a television writer and producer, best known as the creator of the television sitcom, “Arrested Development,” which earned numerous Emmy Awards.  Prior to that he created “Everything’s Relative,” where he worked with Jeffrey Tambor and also co-created “The Ellen Show.”  Currently Hurwitz is partnered with Eric and Kim Tannenbaum running a television production company called Tantamount Studios – where he’s writing a project for Will Arnett, and another for Jason Biggs.  He also neither denies, nor confirms, the reality of an Arrested Development feature.

The Festival annually recognizes outstanding filmmakers and screenwriters for their accomplished bodies of work and contributions towards furthering the art and craft of filmmaking.  Previous recipients of the Outstanding Television Writer Award include Greg Daniels (“The Office”), David Milch (“Deadwood”), Garry Shandling (“The Larry Sanders Show”), David Chase (“The Sopranos”), Tom Fontana (“Oz”), Darren Star (“Sex and the City”), and Mike Judge (“King of the Hill”), among others.

Hurwitz will be joining a powerful group of television show creators confirmed to speak at the 2009 Conference that includes Matthew Weiner (“Mad Men”), Doug Ellin (“Entourage”), Damon Lindelof (co-creator “Lost”), Michael Green (“Kings”), Paul Feig (“Freaks and Geeks”), and Mike White (“Pasadena”).  Anyone else see a Brilliant but Cancelled panel in the works?

Since 1994, the AFF has been dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of writers and filmmakers while recognizing their contributions to film, television and new media. AFF prides itself on bringing great movies from independent writers and directors to Austin, Texas. Both Diablo Cody and Jason Reitman (writer and director, respectively) of the break-out film Juno attended the Festival in 2007. Danny Boyle was named the 2008 Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award recipient by AFF and attended the Festival, where he screened critically-acclaimed Slumdog Millionaire.

The AFF’s Screenwriters Conference offers over 65 panels, craft sessions and roundtable discussions led by more than 100 industry professionals. Focusing on the art and commerce of film and television writing and production, it provides registrants unparalleled access to the best writers in the field.  Past participants include John Milius (Apocalypse Now), Sydney Pollack (Tootsie), Harold Ramis (Groundhog Day), Barry Levinson (Diner), Robert Altman (Nashville), Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich), Wes Anderson & Owen Wilson (Rushmore), Joel & Ethan Coen (Fargo), Russell Crowe (Gladiator), Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio (Shrek), Bryan Singer (X-Men), Oliver Stone (Platoon), and Chris & Paul Weitz (About a Boy).

Already confirmed screenwriter speakers, schedules permitting, for the 2009 Screenwriters Conference include:

* Jessica Bendinger (writer/director Stick It, writer Aquamarine, Bring It On)
* Shane Black (writer/director Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, writer Lethal Weapon, The Long Kiss Goodnight, The Last Boyscout)
* Billy Brown (writer The Haunting Hour, John Carpenter’s Body Bags, “Night Visions”, “Goosebumps”)
* Jim Dauterive (writer “King of the Hill”, “Monsignor Martinez”)
* Doug Ellin (creator/writer “Entourage”)
* Paul Feig (creator/writer “Freaks and Geeks”, writer/director I Am David, writer/director Unaccompanied Minors, director “The Office”, “Mad Men”, “30 Rock”, and “Weeds”)
* Michael Green (creator/writer “Kings”, writer The Green Lantern ‘10, “Heroes”, “Everwood”, “Smallville”)
* David Hayter (writer Watchmen, X2, The Scorpion King, X-Men)
* Pat Hazell (writer “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”, “My Life In 3D”, “Showtime’s Aspen Comedy Special”)
* Lawrence Kasdan (writer/director The Accidental Tourist, Body Heat, The Big Chill, writer Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi)
* Damon Lindelof (co-creator/writer “Lost”, writer “Crossing Jordan”)
* Richard Linklater (writer/director Fast Food Nation, A Scanner Darkly, Before Sunset, Waking Life)
* Chris McQuarrie (writer The Usual Suspects, The Way of the Gun, Valkyrie)
* Daniel Petrie, Jr. (writer Beverly Hills Cop, The Big Easy, Shoot to Kill, writer/director “Framed”)
* Gina Prince-Bythewood (writer/director The Secret Life of Bees, Love & Basketball, writer “Felicity”, “A Different World”)
* Melissa Rosenberg (Twilight, New Moon, and Breaking Dawn, head writer “Dexter”)
* Danny Rubin (S.F.W., Groundhog Day)
* Chuck Sklar (“The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “Politically Incorrect,” “The Chris Rock Show”)
* Kirsten Smith (The House Bunny, Ella Enchanted, Legally Blonde)
* Matthew Weiner (creator/writer “Mad Men”, writer “The Sopranos”, “Dexter”)
* Herschel Weingrod (writer Trading Places, Brewster’s Millions, producer Falling Down)
* Mike White (producer/actor Gentlemen Broncos, writer The School of Rock, The Good Girl, Orange County)

For more information about the Austin Film Festival and Conference, purchasing a Badge, and the complete list of confirmed panelists, please call 1-800-310-FEST (3378) or visit the website at www.austinfilmfestival.com.

This entry was posted on July 7, 2009 at 11:13 am and is filed under Entertainment News, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.