ATX TV Festival 2025 Lineup to Feature
“Bill Lawrence and Friends,”
“UnREAL” Retrospective presented by A+E Studios
Live Table Read of Unproduced Mike Flanagan Script,
Acting Class with Henry Winkler,
and “Unsung Actors” Panel with Casting Directors & Actors

Submissions now open for the Annual ATX TV “Pitch Competition and Program”

October 15, 2024, Austin, Texas – ATX TV Festival has announced the first round of retrospectives, panels, and script readings that will be joining The Leftovers at next year’s event in Austin (May 29 – June 1, 2025).

The Leftovers Reunion, announced yesterday on the 13th anniversary of “the Sudden Departure,” will feature co-creators Damon Lindelof (Watchmen) and Tom Perrotta (Mrs. Fletcher), director/executive producer Mimi Leder (The Morning Show), and cast members Justin Theroux (White House Plumbers), Carrie Coon (The Gilded Age), Amy Brenneman (The Old Man), Christopher Eccleston (True Detective: Night Country), Ann Dowd (The Handmaid’s Tale), and Kevin Carroll (Snowfall). Head of Max Original Programming Sarah Aubrey , who also served as executive producer on the series, will join as a special guest moderator.

“We are beyond proud to share our first programming for 2025 with our community of fans and industry. This is the first time since pre-pandemic that we have been able to share this much with you this early, and our mighty team worked extremely hard to have it represent who we are as a festival – reunions, retrospectives, craft and industry conversations, beloved cast and creators discussing current and upcoming projects.” – Co-Founders Caitlin McFarland and Emily Gipson

“In addition, we recognize that we are a microcosm of the TV industry; therefore, we, too, have felt the difficulties of the last few years from strikes, mergers, acquisitions, and overall contractions. While it remains difficult and constantly evolving, we are excited for what is to come and stand with our creative partners in collaboration to continue telling entertaining stories through thought-provoking conversations.”
 

The latest programming added to the Festival’s 2025 lineup includes:

• Creator/showrunner Bill Lawrence will return to the festival for “Bill Lawrence & Friends,” a wide-ranging conversation with writers, actors, and other collaborators from his current and past series, including Bad Monkey, Shrinking, Ted Lasso, Scrubs, Cougar Town, and more. The special guests joining Lawrence will be announced at a later date.
• Creator/showrunner/director Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House) will be joined by a special guest cast for a live table read of an unproduced script (to be announced soon). Flanagan’s production company, Red Room Pictures , will also host a conversation on storytelling and filmmaking in the horror space, with panelists to be announced soon.
• A+E Studios will present a 10th anniversary retrospective for UnREAL , the hit Lifetime original drama that follows the producers, crew, and contestants behind the scenes of the fictional dating competition show, Everlasting. Co-creator Sarah Gertrude Shapiro , and cast members Shiri Appleby , Constance Zimmer , Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman , and Craig Bierko will reunite to reflect on the show’s exploration of the dark side of reality TV, the complex antiheroes at its center, its most memorable character moments and one-liners, and how the show’s recent debut on Netflix has led to a resurgence with both original fans and new viewers. (For co-promotion tag: @AEStudiosOfficial #UnReal)
• In a first for the Festival, casting directors Sherry Thomas (Breaking Bad), Jeanie Bacharach (The Bear), Bonnie Zane (Suits), and Felicia Fasano (Better Things) will come together for “Casting a Spotlight: Unsung Actors ,” where each casting director will shine a spotlight on a must-watch actor that they believe should be celebrated by TV fans and industry alike. The actors will be announced at a later date.
• TV, film, and stage legend — and Emmy Award-winning actor — Henry Winkler (Barry, Royal Pains, Happy Days) will return to the Festival to host a live acting class , delving into the art of performance, building a character, and connecting with your audience. Winkler, who previously received the Festival’s first-ever Achievement in Television eXcellence Award in 2014, will also join for a wide-ranging Q&A about acting, writing, creativity, and more.

 

The Festival has also opened submissions for its annual “The Pitch Competition,” which provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity for undiscovered TV writers to get their original idea and script in front of TV’s greatest writers, producers, and executives.

Writers have until January 17, 2025 to submit their best 90-second video pitch and writing sample for an original scripted series, which will be evaluated by several rounds of industry judges for a chance to pitch live during Season 14 of ATX TV Festival in Austin, Texas between May 29 – June 1, 2025.
 

The key dates and deadlines for the 2025 Pitch Competition are:

• OCTOBER 14, 2024 – Submissions Open
• DECEMBER 1, 2024 – Early Bird Submission Deadline
• JANUARY 10, 2025 – Regular Submission Deadline
• JANUARY 17, 2025 – Late Submission Deadline
• MARCH 3, 2025 – Semi-Finalists Announced
• APRIL 14, 2025 – Finalists Announced
• APRIL 28, 2025 – Finalists must confirm attendance for Pitch Competition Live Finale
• MAY 29 – JUNE 1, 2025 – Pitch Competition Live Finale atATX TV Festival, Season 14 (exact date/time to be announced at a later date)

Once the submission deadline passes, ATX TV will choose up to 35 semi-finalists, including selections from partner The Black List , to advance to Round 2 of The Pitch Competition. These semi-finalists will have their submissions reviewed by a special set of Round 2 judges, made up of writers, producers and executives, who will select 10 finalists. Those 10 finalists will go on to the Live Finale round, and are given four minutes to pitch their shows in front of a panel of judges and audience of ATX TV Festival attendees during Season 14.

Additionally, The Pitch Program gives those Top 10 finalists a year of support needed to make the next steps in their careers, including:

• Developing their project further, including one-on-one mentoring by Industry Professionals and peer-to-peer script feedback.
• Honing both a four minute “elevator” pitch and the full 12-15 minute version for studio and network executives, including visuals.
• Preparation for meetings with executives (generals and pitching), producers (staffing), and agents/managers along with gaining real world experience.
• Learning the (many) different protocols and structures of a writers’ room from those who have been through and led them all.

The Top 10 Finalists all receive a minimum one general meeting with Pitch Competition judges and/or ATX TV panelists; enrollment in the Pitch Program, including year-round virtual gatherings with writers, executives, and producers; and access to additional opportunities with The Black List.

The winner will receive the opportunity to pitch their series to one of the festival’s studio/network partners. Full details on how and where to submit can be found at atxfestival.com/pitch.
 

Buy your Badge or Pass now at: atxfestival.com/attend

Badges for all four days (May 29 – June 1) are on sale now, and include the following options:

• Camp Badge ($535)
• GP Badge ($335)
• TV Pass ($150)

LIMITED TIME OFFER: $100 OFF the first 100 Camp (reg. $535) or GP Badges (reg. $335) with code ILOVETV.
 

ABOUT ATX TV FESTIVAL
ATX TV Festival is an annual event produced by ATX TV, taking place each summer in Austin, TX. As the leading television festival, it brings together fans and industry to celebrate the television medium by looking at its history, where it is now, and where it is headed. The festival consists of screenings followed by Q&As, panel conversations, and events (parties, live music, happy hours, hosted receptions, etc) and is known for reunions of classic series and cult hits. Screenings include never-aired pilots, canceled-too-soon series, current favorites, and world premieres. Panels conversations range from industry deep-dives to fan-focused conversations, along with discussions on representation (in front of and behind the camera) and responsibility in storytelling. The ATX TV audience is comprised equally of consumers and industry professionals, and ATX TV Festival is the only place they come together as one community to discuss and celebrate all aspects of #TVTogether.

Subscribe to our Newsletter HERE for Festival updates, event alerts, Weekend Watch recommendations, and more.

Follow us: Facebook | X / Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube