Diversity Programming At The Austin Film Festival
Coverage from the Austin Film Festival, highlighting some panels and films that emphasized the importance of diverse and inclusive storytelling.

Zhu Zhu and Wang Wang's family lived on the edge of the desert in the northwest region. To combat desertification, the family began planting trees. Braving sandstorms and scorching sun, they carried seedlings on their shoulders, hauled water bucket by bucket, and trekked dozens of miles daily for irrigation. Their persistent efforts over decades began to bear fruit. However, Wang Wang was unfortunately diagnosed with bone cancer and passed away soon after. Despite this setback, Zhu Zhu did not give up. She continued to lead her family in tree planting and desert reclamation. Through their indomitable spirit, they transformed thousands of acres of barren land into a green oasis.
Coverage from the Austin Film Festival, highlighting some panels and films that emphasized the importance of diverse and inclusive storytelling.
Seeing that the film was essentially his first big, mainstream feature, and with garnering a leading role — portraying the revolutionary ball-player Jackie Robinson — Boseman, without question, delivered a performance that is still so incredibly moving, respectful, genuine, and true to the core of his obviously sincere, artistic heart; and with that, it is indeed so saddening to see him pass.
I write for a diversity-focused film review blog, so I’ll be honest: I really wanted to like Pretty Lethal. Starring Maddie Ziegler, Lana Condor, Iris Apatow, Avantika, and Millicent Simmonds, Amazon Prime’s new thriller seemed like it would be a girl power movie about dancers with a horror action twist. Sort of a Suspiria for teens. But with shallow and unlikeable characters, a confusing plot, an overreliance on violence, and cringey dialogue, any fun the movie started out with was quickly lost. What was left was a faint echo of greater horror movies about dancers made before.
Even after a history changing event, the 93rd Oscars proved it always had the space for more inclusivity in its award ceremony. But it this enough to change the boycott?
In the shadow of towering film production companies lived dozens of grindhouses, genres, and low-budget films deemed too “unclean” for the modern film audience.
Starring Jake Gyllenhall and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, 'Ambulance' is a film not only about a bank heist gone wrong, but also about brotherhood.