Austin Film Festival | Jim Franklin “The Armadillo Man” Film Fellowship

Overview

Austin Film Festival is proud to partner with Armadillo World Headquarters to create a unique opportunity for an emerging, Texas-affiliated filmmaker to gain professional experience through development of a short documentary film. Over the course of six months, the fellowship will provide a $25,000 budget, creative support, and a producing mentor for one-on-one creative guidance. Often referred to as “The Armadillo Man,” Jim Franklin became a cultural icon of Austin’s burgeoning music and counterculture scene. One of the most famous concert poster artists of all time, Jim became the on-stage emcee at the Armadillo World Headquarters, where his antics matched the performances of Willie Nelson, AC/DC, and Bruce Springsteen. Through his poster designs and connections within the music world, Jim Franklin’s armadillo become a mascot and symbol for the counterculture community rising through Austin in the 1970s. Jim Franklin’s career, that extended far beyond AWHQ, was profiled in many major publications including The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, and SPIN Magazine. The film will be executive produced by Armadillo World Headquarters’ agency, Passion Point Collective, a film production and marketing agency. Armadillo World Headquarters is reinventing the original AWHQ brand, with a mission to bring back the original Armadillo culture and build a community of fans from all walks of life.

Last updated Sep 19, 2026

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