CODE OF CONDUCT

OTHER WORLDS AUSTIN PRIDES ITSELF AS BEING AN INCLUSIVE, SAFE SPACE WHERE FILMMAKERS AND FILM FANS – NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE OR HOW YOU LOOK – COME TOGETHER TO ENJOY GENRE CINEMA AND EVENTS.

The OWA Festival should be a platform for thought-provoking conversations, inspiring networking, and life-long friendships. To that end, all attendees, staff, filmmakers, sponsors and volunteers at OTHER WORLDS AUSTIN are required to comply with the following code of conduct leading up to and throughout the entire event.  There is a NO STRIKE POLICY for violations of this Code of Conduct.   Anyone not complying with the Code of Conduct will have their badge confiscated immediately WITHOUT REFUND at the sole discretion of OWA Festival Staff.  Other Worlds Austin also reserves the right to ban the violator from future events. This code exists to ensure a safe environment for all OTHER WORLDS AUSTIN participants and attendees.

OTHER WORLDS AUSTIN is dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, physical appearance, race or ethnicity. This applies to all in-person and online/email interactions between participants & attendees. WE ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT TOLERATE HARASSMENT IN ANY FORM.

Harassment includes, but is not limited to: offensive verbal or online comments related to gender, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, physical appearance, race or ethnicity, sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of films, Q&As or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention or advances, physical or verbal, publically or through online communication channels. In short, DON’T BE A F-ING JERK.

Please use common sense and common courtesy.  If a person tells you “no,” your business with them is done. If they ask you to “stop,” stop. “Go Away” always means go away, and attire is not an invitation and is NEVER consent.

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of OWA staff immediately. OTHER WORLDS AUSTIN staff can be identified by “staff” T-shirts, and there will always be at least two staff members at the registration/merchandise table during OWA Festival events.  You may also always reach us by email.  Feel free to contact Director of Operations Courtney Hazlett (operations@otherworldsaustin.com), Founder Bears Fonte (executivedirector@otherworldsaustin.com), or Associate Artistic Director Jordan Brown (submissions@otherworldsaustin.com).

OTHER WORLDS AUSTIN staff members are happy to help participants contact local law enforcement, to escort you to your vehicle, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the festival. We value your attendance, and we want everyone to enjoy all that OTHER WORLDS AUSTIN has to offer.

There will be no exceptions to this established Code of Conduct.