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The Attic Film Festival
The Attic Film Festival (TAFF) is a 501(c)3 faith based and redemptive American film festival with an international audience that takes place each Spring in Austin, Texas. The festival showcases films that “explore, explain or exemplify the Gospel of Christ or examine redemptive themes of the Bible” from independent filmmakers. TAFF utilizes a stringent selection system for submissions based on the premise of “good stories, well told, with the greatest message.” Films are selected and nominated for awards using specific criteria by a team of judges. Submissions are open from Oct 1st to Feb 1st. The festival screens narrative feature films, documentaries, short films, music videos and animation. Films compete for cash awards and additional screenings throughout the city.

Additionally, TAFF hosts a filmmaker dinner on the Thursday evening prior to the Festival. Awards and accolades are given during desert and filmmakers are encouraged to network. Competition begins Friday afternoon and continues through Saturday evening. Venues for TAFF have included Alamo Drafthouse, Regal Cinemas, The For The City Center and various Churches throughout Austin.

TAFF also hosts several screening events throughout the year at Alamo Drafthouse Theatres. These screenings include a Q and A session with the production team/film representatives, and an after party Meet and Greet session at the conclusion of the evening. Each March, TAFF also hosts a Shorts Showcase of the year’s best shorts during the week of South By SouthWest (SXSW) Film Festival. Directors and production team members participate in a panel Q and A after the screenings. “Like SXSW, TAFF showcases some of the best films from around the world. Unlike SXSW however, TAFF focuses on faith-based Christian films.” Dale Ward, sonomachristianhome.com, 5/24/2012.

HISTORY
TAFF had its earliest roots in 2007 as a film exercise for students in the Youth Group at Grace Covenant Church in Austin, Texas. The students met in an iconic teenage space in the attic of one of the buildings on campus. “The Attic,” as it was affectionately known, was uniquely and intentionally suited to the teenagers. The first Attic Film Festival’s intention was to create an opportunity for these students to express their thoughts and feelings about their faith through film. The films were then to screen for their peers and parents. The exercise itself failed, as the students did not enter any films. But the organizers of the event decided to proceed anyway. A total of five films were quickly recruited and the event went on as planned. One film, a short documentary, "Binding Faith", about an Indian Pastor who risks his life to preach the Gospel to his countrymen, resonated with many of the students and adult audience members. Intense discussion and strong emotion among the audience followed the screening of this film. The organizers of the evening realized the impact of this particular film and realized the potential of repeating the effort.

The following year (2008) TAFF was retooled and rebranded with the image of a dark house with a lighted window. Founder Dr. Jamee Kennedy also changed the mission and focus of the previous year’s efforts. The new mission was to screen high quality faith-based and redemptive films and to support and empower Christian films and filmmakers. Kennedy quickly found like-minded volunteers who donated time, energy and funding to the mission.

The first actual Attic Film Fest was held in “The Attic” at Grace Covenant Church in March of 2008. The fest featured the films "Lord Save Us From Your Followers", "Hearing Everett" and "Pendragon." "Lord Save Us From Your Followers", highly influenced by the book "Blue Like Jazz," was awarded Best Film by TAFF and went on to earn a national theatrical release.

TAFF continued to host the festival at Grace Covenant Church until audience growth forced a change of venue in 2010. The For the City Center was host to TAFF from 2011-2013. In 2014, TAFF held its 7th Fest at the Austin original dinner and movie theatre chain, Alamo Drafthouse.

“In our conversations at TAFF, they expressed their hopes for the festival: to connect Christian filmmakers and facilitate relationships that continue to further the faith-based film industry. One weekend at TAFF was enough to change my paradigm about the faith-based film industry, and it prompted me to be more forgiving of a still very young industry that is rapidly growing and changing.” Melinda Ledman, “A Change of Mind: There’s Hope for the Faith-Based Film Industry”, 4/27/12.

GROWTH OF THE FESTIVAL
Several factors have helped propel the growth of TAFF. A contingent of Christian filmmakers now make Austin, Texas home. These include: Michael Landon, Jr (Love Comes Softly), Clayton Miller (The Redemption of Henry Meyers) and T. C. Johnstone (Rising From Ashes), among others. TAFF’s marketing reach has steadily and carefully grown due to marketing consultant Corrine Rotan and the Rotan Group’s marketing strategies. Key executive staff, including Laurinda Rohrer (now retired), Loretta Mach and Midori Campbell, have contributed greatly to the organization’s growth. In addition, business leaders and practices have greatly influenced the growth of TAFF. Mark McClain (Waveset, Sailpoint) Bill Kennedy (Waveset, Hyper9) and Dave Dlouhy (DuPont, Photronics) have contributed business model leadership, business development, funding and mentorship to the organization. The Alamo Drafthouse Theatre chain has contributed significantly to the success of TAFF events. Offering non profit rates and incentives for screenings have helped TAFF screening and are key partners in developing TAFF's reputation for high quality and intimacy with audiences and filmmakers. TAFF has also added Category Awards at each competition. As of 2014, TAFF has gives 18 Awards (including Judges Awards and TAFF Board Awards) per fest. Some of the Judges Award include: Best Film, Best Feature, Best Short, Best Documentary, Best Directing, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Male and Female Performance, Best Music, Best Production Design, Best Technical Achievement. Board Awards include: TAFFY, Great Commission, Good Humor Award, Family Film Award, Rising Star (One time tuition payment for 18 and under filmmakers) and Waymaker Award (funding for filmmakers to make a short into a feature).

STAFF
Executive Director	Dr Jamee Kennedy, Marketing Director	Corrine Rotan, Marketing Team		Loretta Mach, Cheryl Danks, Photographers		Cheryl Danks, Nijalon Dunn, Videographers		Clayton Miller, Jamie Moulton, Event Managers		Midori Campbell, Kate Fullilove, Volunteer Coordinator	Susan Peterson, Media/Web		Bill Kennedy

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ali Dlouhy Dave Dlouhy Mark McClain Marj McClain Clayton Miller Monique Miller

TAFF AWARD WINNING FILMS
2008 Binding Faith

2009 Hearing Everett, Lord Save Us From Your Followers

2010 Final Prophesies, Forgive Me, Ragman, More Than Walking, A Mysterious Way

2011 Butterfly Circus, Fountain of Youth, Honoring a Father’s Dream: Sons of Lwala, I Had Weekends In Paris, I Wore Sparkly Things, JC, Liv, Most-Special screening The Night We Died

2012 A Call To India, Hiding in Plain Sight, Journey To Jamaa, Promised Land, The Remdemption of Henry Myers-special screening Reconciliation, Rogue Saints, The Man Who Never Cried

2013 Crossroad, Falling Plates, Head Over Heels, Jatku Leiba: May We Always Have Bread, Jump Shot, Rising From Ashes, Static, The Ride, What If. ..

2014 The Audition, Fading West, Jimmy, Let God, Linsanity, Living Hope, New Year’s Resolutions, Something More, Unburden, Where We Belong

QUOTES
“The Attic Film Festival contribution will impact culture with the films they screen and bridge the gap between pop culture and the Church.” Dallas Jenkins- Director (The Ride, What If ...) Director, Producer

“The Attic Film Fest is among the most important festivals for Christian filmmakers to showcase independent, real, Christian messages through the art of film.” M. Legend Brown-"Hiding In Plain Sight" Writer/Director

“Being a part of the Attic Film Festival was an incredible experience that encouraged both David and I to continue making inspirational films that glorify our Lord Jesus Christ and I recommend all filmmakers to submit their work for the coming year.” Shervin Youssefian-"Crossroad" Writer/Director/Producer,