I go every year. I'll be there again this year...See you in the Driskill bar...

What a line up! Hope some of these sessions find their way to the internet.

Jealous much, Kiwichick? Oh yes.

I'll be there. And it looks like I'll be using the time planning out my panel schedule.

Steve,

There is a method to planning out your time at the festival, if you've not been there before. If you have, ignore my comments.

First is to identify what you really want to accomplish. There are panels on TV writing, film, filmmaking, pitching, agents and managers, craft, etc...I usually do my first pass on eliminating the panels that are of no interest to me given what my goals for the conference are.

On the next pass of the schedule, I look at the names on the panels. I've already decided that what is left on the list holds some interest for me topically, so now, who am I seeing? List the top 5 people you want to see on panels. Identify panels where you can see several of these people together on the SAME panel. Do you need to see Shane Black on three different panels (maybe you do)? If not, rank the order of preference.

Then you start looking at conflicts...and there are ALWAYS conflicts. It never fails: two panels going on at the same time, each of interest, each meeting your goals and with people you want to see. Refer back to the previous two points: is there another panel at another time that meets your needs for one of the conflicts? Maybe on a different day?

Now where ever I have gaps in the schedule, I tag those times with alternate ideas -- panels I am not dying to see but might be of interest, or using that time period to sign up for one of the Roundtables.

Of course, once I get there, this plan usually goes out the window. Because above all, AFF is about meeting other writers, connecting and sharing with them, and spending an inordinate amount of time on the leather couches in the Driskill bar.

Good times.