The North Fork TV Festival celebrates the craft of television with top industry panels, artist development workshops, networking parties, and highly curated programming. The team behind the festival is dedicated to highlighting the best in independent TV from around the world for well-known industry talent, professionals, and engaged local audiences. The festival has had over 4,000 attendees, 60 million media impressions, and has been consistently featured in Variety Magazine.

Stars and showrunners in attendance in past festivals include: Kelsey Grammer, John Turturro, Marcia Gay Harden, Christopher Meloni, Carrie Preston, Constance Wu, Aasif Mandvi, Bridget Moynahan, Richard Schiff, Jeremy Sisto, Chris McDonald, Abigail Hawk, Julie Klausner, Cat Greenleaf, Aida Turturro, Jackie “The Jokeman” Martling, Sarah Treem and Janine Sherman Barrois.

About the 2025 Independent TV Pilot & Script Competition

This year we are accepting submissions for independently produced TV pilots and scripts in all genres (drama, comedy, thriller, etc) . Our celebrated judges and selection committee will select projects that best reflect the spirit of independent storytelling to celebrate at the 2025 North Fork TV Festival. Winning pilots and scripts will be honored during the festival programming.

THE 2025 COMPETITION JUDGES & READERS
* JT Tsou, Producer | Writer, Producer & Director
* Kristine Patnugot | Screenwriter & TV Producer
* Todd Lituchy | Founder & CEO, New Media Vision
* Devin DiGonno | Producer
* Lindsay Alexa Maizel | Media & Entertainment Executive
* David Campbell | Executive Producer, Writer
* Mike Stern | Film and TV Producer, Director, Screenwriter, Actor

* Brooke Lubarsky | Producer, Content Creator
* Nick Lambrou | Producer, Writer
* Gabrielle Nicole Woods | Playwright, Screenwriter
* Cricket Leigh Alexander | Actor, Writer

2026 GENERAL RULES & TERMS

1) Scripts must be in English or subtitled in English. Pilots can be in any language but, if other than English, require subtitles.

2) All pilot and script submissions must be received through FilmFreeway.

3) All submissions must be accompanied by the appropriate submission fee. All submission fees are nonrefundable. The submission fees for pilots & scripts range from $75-$125 each, depending on the time of submission. There is no limit to the number of pilots and scripts you may submit.

4) Eligible submissions cannot be produced by currently employed professional showrunner or screenwriter currently staffed on a professional show. Pilots must have been produced without participation or funding from an institutional TV studio, streamer, or production company with a overall deal with studio or streamer.

5) There is no restriction on the date your pilot was completed or your script was written.

6) Narrative genres will be given preferential judging and are preferred. However, all genres are eligible for submission EXCLUDING pilots and scripts that depict pornography.

7) By submitting, creators grant The North Fork TV Festival the right to use the submission and any other promotional materials, photos and information submitted by creators to communicate to the public in all media, including via our website and publicity materials, or to advertise and promote NFTV events, its products, and services, or all.

8) All submitted projects are screened and read.

SCRIPT COMPETITION RULES & TERMS

1) Scripts should be submitted as PDF files.

2) TV scripts should not exceed 65 pages.

PILOT COMPETITION RULES & TERMS

1) NFTV does not provide transportation or accommodations to selected creators. However, in order to screen your pilot, at least one of the creators must be able to attend the 2025 North Fork TV Festival.

2) Pilot submissions must be under 59 minutes in length.

3) Winning pilots may be selected to be screened at the 2025 North Fork TV Festival. Creators must provide both a DCP and a Pro-Res export.

4) Pilot creators must also supply 5 high-resolution photos for promotional purposes, a pilot poster and a trailer of the pilot if possible.

5) All pilots must have opening titles and end credits, without exception.

6) It is not required that your pilot premiere at the North Fork TV Festival, but please let us know if your pilot will be premiering so that we can celebrate that information with our guests.

7) NFTV reserves the right to alter the Festival schedule and venue at any time for any reason. NFTV does not accept any liability for any costs claimed to arise as a result of a change in the scheduling.

8) Creators must represent and warrant that they have all the necessary licenses, rights, consents, and permissions NFTV needs to screen the pilot, and creators must provide evidence of such if requested.

9) NFTV accepts no responsibility for any damage, loss, liabilities, injury or disappointment incurred or suffered by any person as a result of submitting the pilot and related events.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Josh Long

    We had a fantastic time at North Fork TV Fest! We had one of the winning pilots there this year (Typical Dan Peterson Stuff), met a bunch of great creators and up -and-comers, and really enjoyed all the events the fest put together. Two amazing dinners as well! Greenport was beautiful, and I look forward to getting back there again!

    September 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Josh, it was great having you at the festival!

  • Thank you for selecting "Abadai". It was great to have its International Premiere at your festival. Looking forward to cooperating with you again.

    November 2020
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks, Asaf!!