Adult TV Camp: Co-Founders of ATX Discuss Establishing a Festival with a 'Stay Chill' Approach

      Caitlin McFarland and Emily Gipson were Hollywood assistants who, around 2010, decided they wanted to establish a TV festival in their native Texas. The challenge was that they couldn’t find one, so they initiated the ATX Television Festival, an Austin-based event now in its 14th year.

      This year’s festival, which begins today in Austin and runs through Sunday, maintains ATX’s commitment to being a casual gathering where television creators and fans can connect and discuss their favorite shows without pretentiousness. It aims to eliminate the pressure and competition that can make large film festivals feel daunting.

      “We loved movies and TV, enjoyed adventure, and had a tendency to quit our jobs and travel, which meant we were often starting over and couldn’t move beyond assistant roles,” McFarland chuckles.

      “We always wanted to return to Texas. I had a moment when I was leaving New York and could either go back to L.A. to restart my career or come to Texas to see what was happening.”

      McFarland and Gipson noticed they were increasingly discussing television. When they decided to create a TV-oriented festival, they began by attending various events to understand what worked well.

      “We attended everything—from South by Southwest and Comic-Con to the Austin Film Festival—anywhere we could conduct research,” Gipson recalls.

      She also visited many music festivals and wanted to capture their inviting atmosphere. They also launched a Kickstarter campaign for funding.

      “We received feedback from people wanting to watch ‘Friday Night Lights’ together in a parking lot. Creators weren’t getting that audience experience. Those who produce TV and those who watch it had never had the chance to enjoy it together,” McFarland explains.

      ATX started modestly, with around 700 attendees at its inaugural edition. HBO was one of the first companies to recognize the festival's vision.

      “In our initial pitch, they provided us with $2,000 and a rerun of ‘True Blood,’ but with the message, ‘We want to be here when you turn 10. We want to be part of this. We want to help it grow.’”

      Having surpassed that milestone, this year’s edition, known as Season 14, features stars like Seth Meyers, Christine Baranski, Jon Hamm, Steve Zahn, and Brett Goldstein, as well as Scrubs and Bad Monkey creator Bill Lawrence. A retrospective on The Leftovers will include co-creator Damon Lindelof and star Carrie Coon. Andor creator/executive producer Tony Gilroy and writer Beau Willimon will discuss the making of the acclaimed Disney+ Star Wars series. Additionally, Mike Judge and Greg Daniels will reflect on King of the Hill and preview the new Hulu revival.

      The festival ensures that everyone is there for their passion for TV.

      “We want everyone to enjoy a margarita and a taco and feel well taken care of,” McFarland states. “But it’s not about red carpets or appearance fees; it’s about participation in a community. You’re here to experience this, not to make money. We don’t offer appearance fees,” she clarifies.

      All attendees, including celebrities and fans, are encouraged to adhere to a straightforward motto: Be cool, which entails no egos or harassment of stars.

      “The essence of the festival, from both the panelist and attendee sides, has been the energy and vibe established from the start,” Gipson notes.

      “As newcomers enter the space, they pick up on it, and other attendees are quick to remind someone to ‘calm down’ if needed.”

      ATX Fosters Connection Between Fans and Industry

      (L-R) Sam Levinson, Zendaya, and Hunter Schaefer at ATX’s 2019 Euphoria panel. Photo by Jack Plunket, courtesy of ATX.

      This mutual approach extends to numbers as well: The festival attracts an almost equal number of fans and industry professionals. It offers a rare opportunity for industry members to celebrate their passion as fans.

      “Those who create TV love the medium, yet they rarely get to celebrate it,” McFarland observes. “One of our greatest joys is seeing showrunners eagerly attend an Aaron Sorkin panel or the ‘Presidents on TV’ session, where they want to sit in the audience and learn from their peers.

      “It’s wonderful to watch them engage beyond their panel and network meaningfully with one another.”

      There are opportunities for professional growth, including a pitch competition overseen by Gipson, where finalists present their ideas to showrunners and executives. They prepare both a four-minute elevator pitch and a more detailed 12-to-15-minute pitch for studio and network representatives, complete with visuals.

      However, the emphasis remains on enjoyment rather than acquisitions or profit. ATX prioritizes maintaining a sense of familiarity.

      “Our aim isn’t to rival SXSW or Austin City Limits. We prefer to be smaller, intimate, and accessible, because we believe what sets TV apart is that it’s often