Abortion storylines are becoming more commonplace, but many still aren’t reflective of the real-life circumstances of most abortion patients in the U.S. - from representation of race and class, to access and parental status. This panel will explore how TV can further improve depictions of abortion onscreen, and how by creating awareness and lowering the disparities between fictional representation and real-world statistics, the industry can use its power on and off screen to encourage proactiveness around reproductive health.

ATX will feature a panel for CBS’ Emmy Award-winning reality series “The Amazing Race,” which celebrates its 20th Anniversary this year. The conversation will feature Host and Executive Producer Phil Keoghan, as well as fan-favorite teams from across the series’ impressive 32 season run. Koeghan and the Racers will give fans a behind-the-scenes look into their time on the show, and discuss the series’ lasting impact on both viewers and their own lives.

ATX TV Festival is honored to present its annual “Award in Television eXcellence” to five-time Emmy award winning and four-time Golden Globe winning actor, producer, activist, and New York Times best-selling author Michael J. Fox. First given in 2014, the award seeks to recognize individuals whose career reflects the very best of television, through work that is thought-provoking, genuine, expansive, and ultimately, entertaining. As this year’s honoree, Fox will join the festival for an intimate, retrospective conversation spanning his iconic performances on "Family Ties" and "Spin City", critically acclaimed guest turns on "The Good Wife" and "Rescue Me," his recent memoir, “No Time Like the Future,” and more.

ATX is honored to present its very first “Breakthrough Award” to actor, writer, producer, and human rights advocate Angelica Ross ("Pose"). The inaugural award seeks to recognize a creative voice who has made a unique and substantial imprint on TV, and exemplifies not only the current moment in television, but the possibilities of its future. Ross will be joined by a special guest moderator for a one-on-one conversation about her multi-hyphenate career, her advocacy work, and her work in TV, which includes Emmy-nominated web series "Her Story," "Danger and Eggs," "Claws," "Transparent," and her breakthrough role on FX’s critically-acclaimed series "Pose" as "Candy Ferocity" from the House of Abundance. In 2019, Ross made history by becoming the first trans actress to secure two series regular roles with "Pose" and "American Horror Story: 1984." She can next be seen in "American Horror Story: Double Feature," premiering later this year on FX.

Join us and some of our favorite FNL family members for a look back to the start of this beautiful friendship. In 2012, we had our very first festival in Austin, and we launched it with a series that had just ended and would become a classic.... Friday Night Lights. There’s no better way to kick off ATX Season 10 than with a virtual pep rally that looks back at some of our favorite Friday Night Lights moments, and includes some of our favorite people from the show (or who just love it as much as we do). Complete with clips and live guests, pop open a Topo Chico or a cold beer, and get ready to cry happy tears.

Join ATX and Hulu as we celebrate Pride Month with LIVE TV Trivia! From special guest contestants, speed rounds, and witty banter... who doesn't love a good game of Trivia. Be sure to follow along to see if you can play with us live or just yell at your screen from home. Either way, expect an amazing evening of trivia about series exclusively available on Hulu!

The fundamental aim of Horror may be to thrill, spook, and scare -- but like any genre, great horror can also transcend its conventions, providing a unique kind of emotional catharsis by serving as a “safe” space to process real-life fears and anxieties. Join the creatives behind TVs creepiest fare for a conversation about using horror/genre elements to subvert audience expectations, explore complex concepts like grief and trauma, and restore agency to characters that have traditionally been depicted as "victims."

FOX will premiere their new dramedy “The Big Leap,” a modern tale about second chances, chasing your dreams and taking back what’s yours. From creator/executive producer Liz Heldens, director/executive producer Jason Winer and executive producer Sue Naegle, the show revolves around a group of diverse, down-on-their-luck characters attempting to change their lives by participating in a potentially life-ruining reality dance show that builds to a live production of “Swan Lake.” Attendees will get an early look at the pilot episode of the series, which was recently picked up to series, followed by a Q&A with cast and creatives.

Freeform’s "The Bold Type" will feature a farewell panel with cast & creatives to mark the series' final episodes and reflect on its five-season run. The final season of "The Bold Type" premieres May 26th on Freeform.

Heading in to 2020, the TV business was already facing seismic shifts brought on by multiple factors such as new direct-to-consumer streaming services entering the marketplace, declining ratings for ad-driven outlets, a changing international market, and a reckoning on agency packaging fees, to name a few. Add in an unprecedented global pandemic that halted production on 200 shows overnight, and you’ve got the makings of a disruption that could change TV economics forever. What does the business look like as we emerge from this pandemic and what lies ahead? Hear from studio, network, streamer, and production company executives as they reflect on 2020 and predict the future state of buying and selling a TV show in 2021. 

Casting directors take us into the unique world of non-fiction casting, including everything from cooking, singing, and drag competitions, to strangers searching for friends or romance.

The star-studded cast and creative team behind Apple’s critically-acclaimed, hit animated musical comedy series, “Central Park,” will join the festival for a virtual panel and share a first look at the highly anticipated sophomore season premiering June 25 on Apple TV+. In season two, created, written and executive produced by Loren Bouchard, Josh Gad and Nora Smith, the Tillerman family continues to navigate living in and caring for the world’s most famous park.