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FROM STUDENT TO REAL WORLD INDUSTRY
Step into the world of post-grad filmmaking with the founders of Film Rookie Diaries. Amanda Diaz and River Montgomery will share insights from their podcast and real-life experiences on set, offering practical advice on how to break into the industry after graduation. Perfect for students, recent grads, and emerging filmmakers looking to get a head start in the real world of film.
AMANDA DIAZ
Co-Founder of Film Rookie Diaries
Amanda Diaz is a Mexican-American actress, screenwriter, and film director based in Austin, Texas. Last December, she graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a B.S. in Radio-Television-Film with Honors and a B.S. in Textiles & Apparel. Her most recent short film, Just A Girl, won Best Picture at the Austin Micro Film Festival and Best Dark Drama Micro Film at the Texas Short Film Festival last year.
Her latest screenplay, Lonesome Trails, won the "Excellence in Producing Prize" from the Longhorn Creators Foundation and was nominated as a "Semi-Finalist" at the Season 14 ATX TV Festival Pitch Competition.
Amanda is driven by a passion for storytelling that challenges perspectives and brings untold narratives to the forefront.
Co-Founder of Film Rookie Diaries
RIVER MONTGOMERY
River Montgomery is a film director and screenwriter based in ATX. She graduated cum laude from TXST with a BA in English, a film emphasis, and a minor in theater. In college, she realized her calling to work in film.
River aims to craft immersive stories that help audiences process life's challenges while taking them on thrilling journeys. Her goal is to direct features and be a showrunner.
While building her creative portfolio, she volunteers on multiple Committees for WIFT Austin, and assists on indie projects. Her shorts, “Hello Me” (Director/Writer) and “Bungalow”(Director), received honorable mentions at the ATX Short Film Festival. Additionally, her short film, “The Unlikely Survivor” (Director/Writer), has been screened at the Lost River, Scrambled Genius, and Mezzanine Film Festival.
She currently has several feature scripts and pilots in progress, with plans to direct her next short film in Spring 2026.
