We capture life’s
happy moments*
* Assuming that awesome, high-action cinematography makes you happy.
Some of our Action Alumni!
Welcome to the Austin Action Fest, a film festival, Film Market, live action event and video game tournament all jammed into one! General Action, Kung Fu Flicks, Shooters, Thrillers and Horror Films are all welcome. As long as there is either kickin, stabbin, chasin, shootin, or jabbin, we don’t discriminate! Submit! If you are purchasing tickets, BEWARE that these films are unrated and some of the titles may be rated R. We are an officially listed IMDB Event so winning in one of our categories will be visible there as well.
We ACTIVELY work to put these projects in front of audiences but even more importantly, right in front of DISTRIBUTORS, SALES AGENTS and FINANCIERS. We attend events like the American Film Market and SXSW to directly contact and invite film professionals to our event for you! Our motto is #WhoYouFeedin? So we try to exemplify that in our approach to getting our filmmakers seen and most importantly, paid. We allow industry professionals to peruse catalogs from previous years to ensure your submission has the longest possible shelf life with us!
Meet this year’s speakers
Joanne Butcher
Film Business Mentor
I work with independent filmmakers to create films that change the world AND make money! Here is a useful tool for you to avoid the most common fundraising errors: https://joannefilm.kartra.com/page/VFT
Independent Filmmaking is today’s most powerful tool to tell stories, express creative vision, and change the world.
Independent Filmmakers juggle a lot in order to achieve their goals: they work on their creative, passion projects; they often hold a job in order to pay the bills, and some even seem to think they should have a life – family, friends, partner, children, vacations. (I know. Crazy right? An independent filmmaker on vacation!)
Nikki Ackerman
Writer and Script Doctor
U.S. Army veteran Nikki Ackerman needed an outlet for her own work. She soon discovered that there was a need to help other aspiring screenwriters in her area, or those that had a story but didn’t know how to tell it.
Nikki didn’t always dream of opening her own business. However, she has always had a knack for helping others. Despite being a lifelong University of Florida fan, and due to family commitments, she ended up attending the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR). That’s where she discovered screenwriting, thanks to Dr. Dave Jauss, one of her many mentors.
After receiving her BA in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing and a minor in Film Studies, Nikki decided if she was going to do to grad school it was now or never. Enrolling that very summer at Full Sail University, she pushed through a few rough patches and eventually earned her MFA in Creative Writing for the Entertainment.
Brooks Rice
Entertainment Lawyer
Brooks Rice Law is a small, dedicated legal practice in Austin, Texas focusing on the Entertainment, Business, and Intellectual Property issues facing artists and content creators.
Licensed to practice law in both Texas and California, his firm specializes in trademark and copyright law registrations, business formations, internet, and new media issues, contract negotiations, small estate and legacy planning, and other matters facing our clients in the creative space.
Marissa Falsone
Crowdfunding Expert
Marissa Falsone is an award-winning actor, filmmaker, and voiceover artist of Italian descent. She is currently based out of Austin, TX where she is consistently working and training. Since 2017 she has been training in the Meisner technique with The Neighborhood Playhouse alumni and former Los Angeles casting director Laurel Smith Vouvray at In The Moment Acting Studio, as well as working with private coaches for voice and voiceover technique. She made her network television premiere on Lifetime and lent her voice to a series of horror podcasts for Macks Paranormal.
Marissa is also an accomplished producer and founded the company Reed Street Films. As an indie filmmaker with ten years of experience, Marissa knows what it means to have a tight budget and work outside of conventional fundraising avenues. She is a crowdfunding expert with a 100% success rate across a multitude of projects and platforms. How did she do that? Come listen and find out!???
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Join Us
For A Unique Physical and Virtual Experience 8/10/2024!
Yeah, we are THAT festival! We celebrate the overlooked group of films, actors and crew that take risks others will not. We educate and connect the creators to business resources and experts and we share these creations with enthusiastic viewers. Experience the world of adrenaline and high-action excitement with this Austin, Texas family of friends that appreciates and respects great storytelling in the coolest of ways.
Get your tickets here!
Screenings/Q&A
Watch the films and learn about the creative inspiration behind the storytelling.
Panels
Come share, learn and grow in a community conversation from some of the most talented industry professionals.
Distribution
Looking for a chance to pitch your product or gain access to the decision makers. Don’t come to this “table” without a game plan to take your business to the next level.
Community
Connect with other’s that get your vibe.
Some of our Industry Attendees!
Meet our team.
We’re a talented group of creative individuals interested in art, cinematography, design, music, and all niches in between.
Lord Benjamin N. Redic II
Founder & Festival Director
Benjamin Nathaniel Redic II aka “The Violence Conductor” is a producer, writer, cinematographer, fight choreographer and Military Brat. He is a successful CEO of Ballistic Blade Entertainment. A member of The Society of American Fight Directors and is the Festival Director of the Austin Action Fest and Market. He is martial artist and dancer.
Danyelle Cavaness – Weatherford
Creative Director
She is truly a Jack of All Trades and dynamically close to being a Master of them All. In her younger years, Danyelle was a competitive gymnast, twirler and basketball player and a highly skilled ballerina and jazz dancer who spent many weekends trying to emulate Nadia Comaneci, Lola Falana, Gene Kelly, Audrey Hepburn and Bruce Lee as she observed Saturday Kung Fu movies. From Financial Management, Marketing, Breast Cancer Advocacy, CEO/Owner of The Rokk Group Co., Customer Success and Entertainment – Acting, Producing and Directing, Danyelle loves the art of storytelling, a great cinnamon roll, elevating others to their potential, living in the moment and “Saving The World From The Ordinary”.
Ericka Redic
Conference Coordinator & Bookkeeper
Ericka is a business owner, host and actress. She is a trained accountant, working in the field for over 20 years, and an experienced conference coordinator. Ericka has been involved in many facets of the entertainment industry. She often hosts and produces high level podcast
Mandi Arches
Lead Designer
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Walter Bryce
Lead Developer
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Kim Rainier
Support Specialist
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Special thanks to our sponsors.
See what they’re saying.
Austin Action Fest is a great project for the indie artist support and you can feel that they love the action movies. i can´t wait to join my next project in this festival. Thanks guys!
Aridani Del
Rosario (Dani Medina)
I enjoyed attending this festival and was able to meet a few folks and network. Good communication and a nice venue for screening films. Thanks for having LILLIAN at the festival!
Many love to this festival. Thank you for selecting. It was a honor for us.
Kai Erfurt
Great festival that treated us very well! Thank you so much!
Russell Emanuel
Helpful organizers. Great communication. Incredibly friendly group of people.
Cullen Fleetwood
What an absolute honor to be chosen for best short script and best feature script at such a competitive festival! I know with COVID the AAF team worked around the clock non-stop to make sure the 2020 festival still ran flawlessly. Thanks to the entire AAF team.
Travis Davidson
Very warm, friendly group of people.
I was utterly DELIGHTED to be SEMI-FINALIST, it was a dream come true. At this grim time when I am isolated by COVID19, there is fighting in the streets, and I am under siege by tax inspectors, this was a fabulous ray of wonderful sunshine that lit up my whole life. Attentive and kind, their staff are always there to help. A gem of a festival
Robert Thompsett
Austin Action Fest is a great project for the indie artist support and you can feel that they love the action movies. i can´t wait to join my next project in this festival. Thanks guys!