It’s lights, camera, action for the fourth annual North Fork TV Festival.
The two-day showcase for independent television pilots kicks off today, Friday, Oct. 4 in Greenport. The festival features special screenings, panels and parties. It also honors innovators for their contributions to the silver screen.
This year, “Cheers” and “Frasier” star Kelsey Grammer will be the recipient of the annual festival’s Canopy Award, which honors a member of the New York television community. Also being recognized is Constance Wu, star of the ABC sitcom “Fresh Off the Boat” and the movie “Crazy Rich Asians.”
The schedule of events is as followed:
*All events will take place at the Greenport Theatre unless otherwise noted.
Friday, Oct. 4
1 p.m.: Screening of the thriller “Perception” and the festival’s Adelphi Aperture Award Presentation moderated by supermodel Frederique van der Wal.
3 p.m.: Screening of “Ups and Down,” the story of a young man with Down syndrome who tricks his sister into a road trip to go to a concert while being pursued by their mother. A post-screening Q&A moderated by David Greenwalt, co-executive producer of the TV series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
7 p.m.: Screening of “Distemper,” which tells the true story of pathologist and LGBT icon Louise Pearce as she works to find a cure for African Trypanosomiasis as it infects millions across the Belgian Congo. There will be a post-screening Q&A moderated by News 12’s Elisa DiStefano.
7 p.m.: Emmy Award, Golden Globe Award and Tony Award winner Kelsey Grammer (“Cheers,” “Frasier”) will be presented the Canopy Award by previous recipient Chris Noth. Ceremony will feature a conversation between Grammer and Noth with a Q&A with audience members to follow.
9 p.m. Opening night party at Claudio’s featuring DJ Theo.
Saturday, Oct. 5
11 a.m.: The theme for this year’s family-friendly workshop theme is “The Power of Kindness” and it honors children’s television executive Alice Cahn with the inaugural North Fork TV Festival Award for Achievement in Children’s Television. Cahn has worked on shows such as “Arthur,” “The Magic School Bus,” “Sesame Street” and “Peppa Pig.” An audience Q&A moderated by Sara Berliner will follow.
1:30 p.m.: Screening of “Rainbow Ruby,” the story about an ex–teen star from Manhattan Public Access TV in the nineties decides to relive her glory days. There will be a post-screening Q&A moderated by playwright, television writer and novelist Theresa Rebeck.
4 p.m.: Screening of “Otis,” plus Q&A with creators moderated by David Feige, co-creator of the TNT legal drama “Raising the Bar”
4 p.m.: The Inspiration Award presentation and conversation honoring British-American actor and comedian Aasif Mandvi presented and moderated by journalist Donna Freydkin. Mandvi occasionally serves as contributing correspondent on The Comedy Channel’s “The Daily Show.”
7 p.m.Screening of thriller “M” including Q&A with creators moderated by Rockne S. O’Bannon, who created five original television series, including “Farscape.”
7 p.m.: Greenport Mayor George Hubbard Jr. will present Constance Wu with the “Ambassador for the Arts” for her commitment to and promotion of the arts and for her work to encourage young people to excel in the arts. The event will be moderated by Cynthia Littleton of Variety.
9 p.m.: Closing night party at Green Hill Kitchen featuring a performance by The Simple Radicals
Festival passes and individual tickets are now available for purchase online at https://www.northfork.tv/tickets.
