Austin Film Society was founded as a non-profit in 1985 by filmmaker Richard Linklater. Its mission is to empower the community to make, watch, and love creative media. It screens and curates hundreds of international, repertory, and art house films annually at the AFS Cinema. It delivers financial support to Texas filmmakers through the AFS Grant. It also operates a 20-acre production facility, Austin Studios, and Austin Public. AFS is committed to encouraging media and film literacy by offering after-school classes, intern training, and the Ed Lowry Student Film program. It endeavors to allow youth of all backgrounds to gain access to tools for media production. While connecting Austin and Texas to the wider film community, AFS hosts premieres, special events, local and international industry events, and others. It is a registered 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. Its annual sponsors include The Austin Chronicle, Texas Commission on the Arts, and others.
