North Fork TV Festival 2024 Unveils Star-Studded Lineup with Kelsey Grammer, Marcia Gay Harden, John Turturro, and More
Samantha Bergeson
The annual North Fork TV Festival has announced its 2024 lineup, full of beloved TV stars and recent Emmy nominees.
The ninth annual event will take place Tuesday, August 27th and Wednesday August 28th in Greenport, NY. This year, Emmy-nominated stars John Turturro (“Severance”) and Marcia Gay Harden (“The Morning Show”) will be among the honorees, as well as “Frasier” Emmy winner Kelsey Grammer and “The West Wing” Emmy-winning alum Richard Schiff.
Harden will be celebrated with the Canopy Award, while Schiff will be feted with the title of 2024 Ambassador for the Arts. Schiff also co-stars in the North Fork TV Festival comedy pilot winner “Swipe NYC,” which will screen.
“We are honored to present Richard Schiff with this year’s Ambassador for the Arts Award,” festival founder Noah Doyle said. “His remarkable talent and dedication across TV and film have inspired viewers worldwide. We look forward to celebrating his talent in Greenport.”
The annual festival curates independent pilots, hosts industry discussions, and honors distinguished innovators. The festival also hosts an annual Independent TV Pilot and Script Competition, providing a platform for emerging creatives. Founded in 2015, The North Fork TV Festival is a year-round 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
The winners of this year’s Independent Pilot competition include the aforementioned “Swipe NYC” created by Sue Zarco Kramer and co-produced by star Bridget Moynahan; drama winner “The Sessions,” created by Al Julian and Vince Eisenson; comedy runner-up “The Ladies,” created by Juliana Piscina; and sketch winner “Typical Dan Peterson Stuff,” starring and created by Scott Kruse, Josh Long, and Kurt Quinn.
“This year’s winners include a riveting therapy group for convicted killers, a coming-into-age comedy with a hilarious backdrop of online dating in Brooklyn, an off-the-wall sketch comedy, and the feel-good story of a high school girls basketball team,” Artistic Director Mike Stern said. “The eclectic creativity on display in this year’s winners once again cement North Fork as a premiere destination for the independent television movement.”
The pilot script competition winners are Gregory Abbey for “Shark” and Heidi-Marie Ferren for “Backwoods Chief.”
Highlights from the festival include a panel discussion with showrunners Kevin Wade (“Blue Bloods”) and Chris Brancato (“Hotel Cocaine”), and another panel with John Turturro discussing his TV career. Kelsey Grammer will also be in attendance.
Check out the full list of festival events below.
An Evening of Star-Studded Glamour at the North Fork TV Festival’s Opening Night Event
Tuesday, August 27th | 6:30PM | American Beech
Festival Open Night Event Featuring Ambassador for the Arts Honoree Richard Schiff. A conversation will be moderated by Adrienne Rose White. NFTV Artistic Director Mike Stern will present awards to this year’s TV Script Competition winners.
Exclusive Breakfast with TV Industry Insiders: Join Jessica Daniels and Max Jenkins at the 2024 Casting Director Panel!
Wednesday, August 28th | 10:00AM | Soundview Library
Join us at the 2024 Casting Director event at the Sound View Library in the iconic Sound View Greenport Hotel, where the spotlight shines on television’s unsung heroes – Casting Directors. In this exclusive fireside chat between Emmy award-winning casting director, Jessica Daniels, and beloved actor, Max Jenkins, you will learn about the magic behind the scenes as they share their insights on script selection, ensemble creation, and the delicate dance of creativity and commerce.
Exclusive Screening of the Winners of the Indie Pilot Series (Comedy Category)
Wednesday, August 28th | 12:00PM | Soundview Library
SWIPE NYC
Winner (Comedy)
Writer/Director: Sue Zarco Kramer
Producers: David Kelsey, Bridget Moynahan, Cheryl Bayer
Starring: Lisa Edelstein, Bridget Moynahan, Richard Schiff, David Walton, David Kelsey, Omari K. Chancellor, Justin Marcel McManus, Angela Wong Carbone, and Richard Radutsky
After the screening of SWIPE NYC, don’t miss the chance to participate in a Q&A with writer/director Sue Zarco Kramer, actress/producer Bridget Moynahan, actor David Kelsey, and actor Richard Schiff, moderated by Mike Stern, Artistic Director of the North Fork TV Festival.
THE LADIES
Runner-Up (Comedy)
Writer/Director: Juliana Piscina
Producers: Cailin Lobb-Rabe, Gillian Mahar
Starring: Gia Blakey, Jessica Toltzis, Caroline Hendrick
After the screening of The Ladies, don’t miss the chance to participate in a Q&A with the Writer and Director of the series, Juliana Piscina, as well as the Producer of the series, Cailin Lobb-Rabe, which will be moderated by Mike Stern, Artistic Director of the North Fork TV Festival.
A Journey Through the Evolution of TV with John Turturro
Wednesday, August 28th | 2:00 PM | The Halyard at the Soundview
An Exclusive Interview with Emmy Award Winning Actor, John Turturro, Hosted by Elisa DiStefano from Newsday and Erik Warner, Co-Founder of Eagle Point Hotel Partners.
Inside the Minds of TV Showrunners with Roy Ashton
Wednesday, August 28th | 4:00 PM | The Halyard at the Soundview
Showrunner Panel About the Process of Making a TV Show, Sponsored by the Gersh Agency
Celebrate the Work of a Hollywood Icon: Join Us in Honoring Marcia Gay Harden at the North Fork TV Festival’s Canopy Award Night
Wednesday, August 28th | 6:30 PM | The Halyard at the Soundview
The North Fork TV Festival closing night reception will honor the recipient of the Canopy Award Honoree Marcia Gay Harden. The event will feature a red carpet, three-course seated dinner, presentation of the awards to this year’s TV Pilot Competition winners.and a conversation with Ms. Harden and Variety’s Jenny Maas.
