ATX TV Festival and Human Rights Watch to present
The Diplomat Creator, Showrunner and Writer Debora Cahn with
“Impact of Storytelling” Award
“Showrunner State of the Union” and “Showrunners & Authors”
Conversations join 2025 Festival Line-Up
ATX TV Festival has announced new additions to its 2025 festival line-up, taking place May 29 — June 1, 2025 in Austin, TX.
- Debora Cahn to receive “Impact of Storytelling” Award presented with Human Rights Watch — The Diplomat creator/showrunner/writer Debora Cahn will receive the Festival’s first ever “Impact of Storytelling Award,” presented in partnership with the global research and advocacy organization Human Rights Watch. The award honors a creative and/or series that has highlighted socially relevant issues through scripted or unscripted episodic storytelling, and foregrounded narratives that advocate for humanity, dignity, and equality.
“Storytelling is a critical part of the everyday fight for human rights,” said Amanda Alampi, Director of Campaigns & Public Engagement for Human Rights Watch. “Television shows like The Diplomat give us hope for the future and inspire us to stand up for what we believe in. We are honored to partner with ATX TV Festival to showcase excellence and impact in storytelling.”
As part of the Award presentation, Cahn will join for a one-on-one conversation to discuss Netflix’s hit series The Diplomat, the nuances of crafting narratives about diplomacy and international relations, the impact of reuniting with fellow West Wing alum Allison Janney for the show’s critically-acclaimed second season, and much more.
- “Showrunner State of the Union” — The festival’s annual “Showrunner State of the Union” panel will return for a conversation with showrunners across broadcast and streaming, including Debora Cahn (The Diplomat), Raamla Mohamed (Reasonable Doubt), Hank Steinberg (Doc), and Saladin K. Patterson (King of the Hill), who will join to discuss the current and future state of TV, production, and leadership within the industry.
- “Showrunners & Authors” — The line-up will also feature a conversation with the showrunner/author teams from The Leftovers and We Were Liars, which will delve into the unique collaborations behind each series, the creative process of adapting a best-selling novel for the small screen, and the ways in which both the showrunner and author perspectives helped to shape their respective adaptations. Panelists will include The Leftovers co-creator/showrunner Damon Lindelof and author/co-creator/executive producer Tom Perrotta, along with We Were Liars co-showrunners/executive producers Julie Plec & Carina Adly MacKenzie and author/executive producer E. Lockhart.
Badges, TV Passes, and Single Tickets for select events are on sale now: atxfestival.com/attend
Previously announced Programming includes:
- Late Nights, Day Drinking, and Closer Looks with Seth Meyers presented by NBCUniversal
- The Leftovers Reunion with EPs and Cast
- Mad Men Revisited with Jon Hamm
- UnREAL 10th Anniversary Retrospective presented by A+E Studios
- Bill Lawrence & Friends
- Achievement in Television eXcellence Award: Christine Baranski
- King of the Hill Revival Sneak Peek presented by Hulu
- Andor with Tony Gilroy & Beau Willimon
- The Waterfront World Premiere with Kevin Williamson & Cast
- We Were Liars Conversation & Sneak Peek
- The Long Long Night with Mark Duplass
- Anatomy of an Acorn TV Series
- A Conversation with the Cast of Animal Control
- Elsbeth with Carrie Preston
- Ladies of Law: Crime Dramas and the Women Who Run Them presented by Pluto TV
- Independent Series You Belong Here with Steve Zahn, Rick Gomez, and Chef Ouita Michel
- A Late Night Show with Greg Iwinski presented by Plex
- Vampires, Witches, and Other Secret Societies: Inside AMC’s Anne Rice’s Immortal Universe presented by AMC/AMC+
- Finding Mr. Christmas presented by Hallmark
- Casting a Spotlight: Unsung Actors with casting directors and actors
ABOUT ATX TV FESTIVAL
ATX TV Festival is an annual event produced by ATX TV, taking place each summer in Austin, TX. As the leading television festival, it brings together fans and industry to celebrate the television medium by looking at its history, where it is now, and where it is headed. The festival consists of screenings followed by Q&As, panel conversations, and events (parties, live music, happy hours, hosted receptions, etc) and is known for reunions of classic series and cult hits. Screenings include never-aired pilots, canceled-too-soon series, current favorites, and world premieres. Panels conversations range from industry deep-dives to fan-focused conversations, along with discussions on representation (in front of and behind the camera) and responsibility in storytelling. The ATX TV audience is comprised equally of consumers and industry professionals, and ATX TV Festival is the only place they come together as one community to discuss and celebrate all aspects of #TVTogether.
Tickets are available on atxfestival.com
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