CAMP Film Festival Kicks Off in Austin With Sold-Out Screenings, Workshops, and Big Creator Energy

Opening night at CAMP Film Festival packed the Paramount Theatre with filmmakers, dreamers, and a new wave of storytellers./Photo Credit: Sergio Villasano

We recently mentioned that the CAMP Film Festival was set to kick off — and yesterday, it officially launched with an impressive first day. Held at the iconic Paramount Theatre, the festival opened with short film screenings, live workshops, special events like the Filmmaking Is A Marathon talk, the Modern Filmmaker keynote, and the world premiere of Two Sleepy People. The night wrapped with a packed Opening Night party at LZR — a spot familiar to HMU fans from Travis’ Fantastic Fest adventures in Austin last year.

Backed by Patreon, the CAMP Film Festival is making a huge first impression, selling over 1,100 tickets for its debut. A major feat for a two-day event, it signals growing momentum for smaller, creator-driven festivals like this one to expand in the future. Expect even more updates soon as CAMP Film Festival 2025 — proudly powered by Patreon — concludes tonight.

The festival was founded by Max Reisinger, Simon Kim, and Chris Duncan, three young creatives who originally connected online through their shared passion for authentic storytelling. Disenchanted with the sensationalized content dominating social media, they escaped to Montana’s woods three years ago to reimagine the future of online storytelling — a movement that sparked the #YouTubeNewWave.

Since then, they’ve hosted creator gatherings across Colorado, Utah, New York, France, and most recently, a flagship summit in Switzerland that united filmmakers in a first-of-its-kind village. In Fall 2024, they announced Camp Studios — their official launch into film production and distribution, grounded in the belief that the next generation of great filmmakers are the ones currently telling raw, authentic stories from their bedrooms and connecting with audiences in ways traditional systems can’t.

In just six months, they’ve partnered with brands like Coca-Cola and Spotify, and funded 10 new films that premiered during this groundbreaking inaugural festival.

Stay tuned for closing night coverage and more from CAMP Film Festival, only at HMU!