Festival Schedule
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM
In Talks With…Dinner Conversation - Actor Kelly AuCoin
HOSTED BY
PPX
MODERATOR
Ashley Bellman, Host NBC's New York Live & CBS Mornings
LOCATION
The Library, Sound View Greenport
DESCRIPTION
Pull up a chair for an intimate dinner and an unscripted conversation with Kelly AuCoin, best known for his role as "Dollar" Bill Stern on Showtime's Billions. From House of Cards and The Americans to Broadway opposite Denzel Washington, Kelly shares the real stories behind a career built scene by scene. Hosted by PPX.
PRICE
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM
In Talks With…Dinner Conversation - Actress Bridget Moynahan
HOSTED BY
DEADLINE
MODERATOR
Dade Hayes - Business Editor, DEADLINE
LOCATION
American Beech Hotel
DESCRIPTION
An evening of great food, good company, and a very special dinner conversation with Bridget Moynahan from Blue Bloods, Sex & The City and John Wick. Hosted by Deadline, this moderated evening goes behind the screen for the real stories of how careers are built, challenges overcome, and breakthroughs found.
PRICE
8:00 AM
Check-In and Pass Pick Up Opens
8:45 AM
Doors Open To All Festival Pass Holders
9:00 AM - RUN TIME 45 MINUTES
PANEL
Session 1
Industry Panel - Storytelling And Television In The Age Of AI
MODERATORS
Mark Ghuneim and Christina Wayne
location
The Piano Bar, Sound View Greenport
DESCRIPTION
This panel will lead the audience in an active, human-led storytelling environment, shattering the binary trap of automation versus total avoidance, replacing it with an actionable L0–L5 autonomy spectrum anyone can use.
Grounded in industry-standard workflows, the session will kick off with a high-stakes look at how fast the clock is running for modern creators and what the landscape looks like from both an industry and a tools perspective across the development pipeline. This conversation is not to be missed and promises to be an exciting and supportive look at how technology and creativity are converging.
PRICE
10:00 AM - RUN TIME 90 MINUTES
Indie Pilot Screening Block Session 1 - DIY Or DIE
Screening
Cell Block B
moderator
To Be Announced
panelists
Director Jan Prušinovský
location
The Piano Bar, Sound View Greenport
DESCRIPTION
Equal parts prison survival guide and comedic fever dream, Cell Block B finds absurdist ingenuity in the most unlikely places. It's a show about making do
and making mischief, when you've got nothing but time and a coat hanger.
PRICE
10:00 AM - RUN TIME 45 MINUTES
PANEL
In Talks With… Star Trek's Actor Melissa Navia -
The 2026 Arts & Science Inspiration Award Honoree
moderators
Elias Plagianos (Netflix Writer/Producer) and Jonathan Shafter (Co-Founder NFTV Festival)
location
The Library, Sound View Greenport
DESCRIPTION
Join us for an intimate conversation with Melissa Navia, who plays Lieutenant Erica Ortegas on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Navia will reflect on her journey into acting, the road that led to the Star Trek universe, and what it's meant to step into a role beloved by generations of fans. Expect candid stories about craft, career, and the surreal experience of joining one of TV's most iconic franchises.
To close the panel, Navia will receive The Arts and Science Inspiration Award, presented by BioAstra XX500 and Columbia University Professor Cody Paige, honoring her role in bridging storytelling and scientific imagination for audiences everywhere.
about 'In talks with…'
An exclusive, one-on-one conversation series where top TV talent reveal the real stories behind the screen in an intimate, off-the-cuff setting, where food and beverages are available for guests. Don't miss out on this exclusive backstage pass to the heart of the industry.
PRICE
12:00 PM - RUN TIME 90 MINUTES
Indie Pilot Screening Block Session 2 - THE UNDERSTUDIES
featuring
You Are Here and Matched
moderator
Michael Nathanson
location
The Piano Bar, Sound View Greenport
DESCRIPTION
From messy midlife friendships to a matchmaking scheme built on lies, these pilots ask what we'll pretend in order to be truly seen. In each story,
the found family turns out to be realer than the romance.
PRICE
12:30 PM - RUN TIME 90 MINUTES
In Talks With…Lunch with Actor Kelsey Grammer Presented By Ironwall by Incogni
hosted by
Ironwall and Incogni
moderator
Ron Zayas CEO Ironwall by Incogni
location
The Library, Sound View Greenport
DESCRIPTION
Lunch is on, and Dr. Frasier Crane is in. Take a midday seat with TV legend, Kelsey Grammer as he shares stories and insights from more than three decades in TV and film. With 6 Emmys, 3 Golden Globes, and countless other wins and nominations, Kelsey sits down for an intimate, off-the-cuff conversation about a career that shaped the sitcom world as we know it today. Presented by Ironwall by Incogni. Exclusive to full-price GOLD level pass holders.
about 'In talks with…'
An exclusive, one-on-one conversation series where top TV talent reveal the real stories behind the screen in an intimate, off-the-cuff setting, where food and beverages are available for guests. Don't miss out on this exclusive backstage pass to the heart of the industry.
PRICE
1:45 PM - RUN TIME 90 MINUTES
Indie Pilot Screening Block Session 3 - FIGHTING FOR IT
featuring
Burncoat and King's County
moderator
Artistic Director Mike Stern
panelists
Burncoat - Jay Martin (Writer/Director) , Jimmy Cash (Actor/Producer)
Kings County - K.M. Murphy (Writer/Director/Actor)
location
The Piano Bar, Sound View Greenport
DESCRIPTION
From a janitor chasing stand-up dreams to a detective stalking blood-soaked
fight clubs, these pilots follow men battling to become who they're meant to be.
In each story, the fight for a better life gets ugly before it gets honest.
PRICE
6:30 PM EST
RED CARPET
Red Carpet and Cocktails
The 11th Annual North Fork TV Festival
venue
The Halyard at Sound View Greenport
DESCRIPTION
Step onto the red carpet, strike a pose and toast to an unforgettable evening as we honor this year's Canopy Award Recipient, Anthony Anderson.
PRICE
All Gold Pass holders and ticketed dinner
guests are invited to join.
7:30 PM EST
DINNER
Awards Dinner Honoring
The 2026 Canopy Award Recipient Anthony Anderson
The 2026 Ambassador for the Arts Recipient Kate Walsh
Tribute to Indie Pilot and Script Competition Winners
DESCRIPTION
Join us as we honor the visionary creative teams behind the compelling works that won the 2026 Pilot and Script Competitions. Raise a glass for a celebratory toast to bold, original storytelling that’s pushing the boundaries of television.
Awards Dinner & Conversations
host
Michael Nathanson
moderator
Dade Hayes - Business Editor DEADLINE
DESCRIPTION
Join us for the high-light of the festival in an unforgettable evening celebrating the 2026 Canopy Award Honoree, actor Anthony Anderson and the 2026 Ambassador for the Arts Honoree, actress Kate Walsh. Dine with industry luminaries, actors, and special guests over a curated three-course dinner set against the breathtaking backdrop of Long Island Sound with local flavors and decadent cocktails. It's a true centerpiece of the North Fork TV Festival experience you won't want to miss.
The 2026 Canopy Award, the North Fork TV Festival’s highest honor, celebrates a member of the television community whose persistence, integrity, and collaborative spirit have elevated diverse storytelling and inspired generations of creative voices.
From his Emmy-nominated performance as Andre "Dre" Johnson on Black-ish, which he also executive produced, to his work as Detective Kevin Bernard on Law & Order and The Shield, to film roles in The Departed, Hustle & Flow, Barbershop, and Transformers (among others), Anderson has consistently delivered unforgettable characters with humor, heart, and emotional depth making him the ideal choice for this honor.
The Ambassador for the Arts award is a special honor recognizing actors and creators, not only for their commitment to promoting the arts, but also for supporting independent television, and inspiring and guiding young creative minds in the world of television.
For more than two decades, Kate Walsh has created characters audiences love, and her remarkable work across television and film has inspired viewers worldwide. Her commitment to the craft, and her generosity toward the next generation of storytellers, embody the spirit of this award.
The evening will feature an in-depth conversation moderated by DEADLINE's Dade Hayes and hosted by our MC, actor Michael Nathanson. An audience Q&A will follow. Don’t miss this exclusive tribute to a stand out talent and lifelong artist in television whose career continues to influence the industry.
10:30 PM EST
After Party with Live Performance by Just Juna
location
Piano Bar, Sound View Greenport
DESCRIPTION
Keep the conversation going and the cocktails flowing t the official afterparty next door in the Piano Bar. Enjoy a vibrant live performance by rising country-pop star Juna with fellow guests and talent, it's the perfect nightcap to end the festival.
PRICE
Complimentary for all dinner guests.
