As part of the celebrations of its 20^th anniversary, the Austin Film Critics Association is proud to announce Marjorie Baumgarten as the organization’s first Member Emeritus.

A founding member of the AFCA, Baumgarten’s legacy in the Austin film scene predates the association by decades. She entered film journalism by collating and mimeographing the program notes for UT’s groundbreaking CinemaTexas, a graduate-student-run film society (a position she has called the best job she ever had). In 1982, she joined the staff of the newly-founded Austin Chronicle, quickly becoming a mainstay of the film desk and finally becoming Film Editor in 1991. During her time as critic, editor, and then contributing writer her byline has remained a must-read, and her views on the art and industry of cinema have held weight since the time she called out Nicolas Cage as a future star back in 1983. Across the years, she has always been a pivotal part of building Austin’s film appreciation scene and its growing film industry, an impact matched by her role as a mentor to an immeasurable number of writers. All that time, she has retained her wit, her insight, and her reputation as one America’s most important critics, treating micro-indies and blockbusters equally.

AFCA President Jon Partridge said, “Marjorie has contributed her insights and incisiveness not just a film critic, but also as a member of the AFCA for the duration of it’s existence. As a group, we’re thrilled to confer upon her this well-earned Emeritus status and see her remain as a valued member for the years to come ”

“It’s safe to say that I would not be the critic I am now without Marjorie,” said AFCA Vice-President Richard Whittaker. “It has been my honor to work alongside her at the Austin Chronicle, and it’s impossible to contemplate what Austin’s film scene would have been without her. Her role in professionalizing the job of film critic in Austin, and in ensuring that this is a place where films and filmmakers would find an appreciative and educated audience, is monumental.”

To be eligible to become Member Emeritus, a critic must have been a member in good standing of the AFCA for 20 years. They are then nominated for the position by another member, and that nomination is voted on by the whole body.

Save the Date: The Austin Film Critics Association will be announcing its nominees for the 2025 AFCA Film Awards on Dec. 10, and the final winners, including the Best Austin Film award, will be announced on Dec. 18.

Founded in 2005 by Cole Dabney & Bobby McCurdy, the AFCA has seen its membership grow from single digits to well over 35 members. The diverse outlets our members contribute to include the Austin Chronicle, Bullz-Eye, But Why Tho?, Certified Forgotten, Cinapse, Cinema Scholars, Consequence, Daily Grindhouse, Double Toasted, Dread Central, Edge Media Network, Fangoria, Film School Rejects, Hyperreal Film Club, Indiewire, Horror’s Not Dead, Junkfood Cinema, KOOP 91.7 FM Radio, Mendowerks, One Movie Punch, One Of Us, Paste, The Playlist, Sightlines, Slashfilm, True View Reviews, Uproxx, and We Got This Covered.