ATX TV Festival Season 14 launched on Thursday with a full day of panels, screenings, and cast conversations across downtown Austin.
We attended three standout sessions:
Comedy & Whatnot with George Wallace
George Wallace and co-creator Dan Ewen discussed their upcoming Freevee comedy Clean Slate. Wallace shared his process behind writing comedy that lasts, and why he returned to TV now. His timing was sharp, and his delivery had the crowd laughing throughout.
ANDOR Conversation with Tony Gilroy
Tony Gilroy and writer Beau Willimon broke down the writing and political themes of Andor. Gilroy explained how they built tension without traditional action scenes. Willimon talked about writing under high stakes and collaborating with actors to refine scripts.
Seth Meyers: Late Night, Day Drinking, and Closer Looks
Seth Meyers shared behind-the-scenes stories from Late Night. He walked through how his team writes political jokes fast. He also explained how recurring segments like “A Closer Look” became central to the show’s voice. The session ended with clips and a live Q&A.
Other top panels and events from Day One:
- The Waterfront world premiere, with Kevin Williamson and cast
- The Four Seasons panel with Lang Fisher and Kerri Kenney-Silver
- Pilot showcase from TSTV student creators
- Pluto TV’s Pitch Competition Finale
- Fireside chat with Kevin Williamson, Julie Plec, and Kate Hoenigsberg
- Welcome to TV Camp intro with co-founders Emily Gipson and Caitlin McFarland
Day One wrapped with the official badgeholder happy hour and a packed TV trivia night.
The festival continues through Sunday with more panels, premieres, and live events across downtown.