If you love TV, then there’s no better convention or festival (in my humble opinion) than ATX TV Festival in Austin, set for May 28-31. The festival is an annual love-letter to television, both the behind-the-scenes making of it, to creating indie series, to celebrating the big, splashy network series we all love.
They’ve just added several new panels to this year’s programming, adding guests like Acorn TV’s You’re Killing Me star Brooke Shields, as well as Survivor, The Amazing Race, and Traitors star Rob “Boston Rob” Mariano.
While partially an industry event, ATX is also open and welcoming to fans, with badges on sale now starting at $150 (which includes up to four panels and one Marquee Programming event), and up to $535 — giving fans several ways to experience the festival. Single tickets are also available for select panels.
New programming joining the lineup includes:
- You’re Killing Me: Conversation & Happy Hour with Brooke Shields and Amalia Williamson presented by Acorn TV – Star and executive producer Brooke Shields and co-star Amalia Williamson will host an inside look at Acorn TV’s highly anticipated new mystery series, You’re Killing Me, premiering on May 18. Set in a quaint, New England town, the six-part series follows bestselling novelist, Allie (Shields), who forms an unlikely alliance with Andi (Williamson), an aspiring writer and podcaster, to find the killer of a close friend. To close out our first day of TV greatness, this conversation will include a themed happy hour for attendees, with drinks, bites, and premium giveaways provided by Acorn TV.
- Unscripted Casting Conversation with Rob “Boston Rob” Mariano and Christine Cowan (SVP, Talent & Casting, Bravo, NBC and Peacock Unscripted) – “I Know You!: How Familiar Faces Drive Fandom Across NBCUniversal” will pull back the curtain on casting unscripted hits, exploring how recognizable talent is strategically deployed across series to spark fan devotion, amplify cultural moments, and turn familiarity into franchise value. From breakout personalities to iconic repeat players, Christine Cowan (SVP, Talent & Casting, Bravo, NBC and Peacock Unscripted) and The Traitors and Survivor star Rob “Boston Rob” Mariano will delve into how casting fuels buzz, nurtures talent and keeps audiences coming back for more.
- Hallmark’s The Way Home returns for a Conversation with Cast Ahead of Series Finale – The Way Home will return to ATX TV Festival for a conversation with stars Chyler Leigh, Evan Williams, and Sadie Laflamme-Snow ahead of the series’ final episodes. The hit Hallmark Original Series, which follows three generations of women living together in the small farm town of Port Haven who embark on a journey across multiple eras, is currently airing its final season, which will conclude in June. All seasons of The Way Home are currently available to stream on Hallmark+.
- Case Study: Rise of the Mini Studio – A look at the rise and influence of “mini studios.” From first looks and development deals, to producing global hits alongside premium networks and streamers, join the studio heads, development executives, and producers who are coming together to forge a new TV landscape. Confirmed panelists include Kathleen McCaffrey (Little Gems), Ryan Rasmussen (Bad Wolf), Patrick McDonald (Cut To), and Alissa Bachner (Tomorrow Studios), with additional panelists to be announced.
- A Conversation with the Cast of Masterpiece PBS Favorite All Creatures Great and Small – Masterpiece PBS will make its ATX TV Festival debut with a conversation featuring the cast of the long-running fan favorite All Creatures Great and Small, based on James Herriot’s adventures as a veterinarian in the 1930’s Yorkshire Dales. The conversation will revisit favorite character moments from the series and give fans an inside look at the process of filming the animal-friendly period piece. The series, which aired its sixth season in the US earlier this year, has already been renewed for seasons seven and eight. Panelists will be announced soon.
- Grit, Guts & Stunts: Inside CBS’s Marshals – Join the cast and crew of Marshals for an inside look at the high-stakes stunt work driving the record-breaking CBS phenomenon. Creator/showrunner Spencer Hudnut, Arielle Kebbel (“Belle Skinner”), and stunt coordinator Matthew Taylor break down the intensive training, choreography, and on-set coordination behind the series’ action, revealing how its grounded, neo-Western world comes to life. From designing practical stunts to executing complex sequences under tight timelines, the panel explores the craft powering one of broadcast television’s most-watched new series.
There’s also a Mystery Screening, which is — of course — a mystery. Though with the addition of AMC Global Media for You’re Killing Me, this writer at least is hoping for the possibility of The Vampire Lestat, even if that may be a pipe dream.
