The NYU Production Lab is thrilled to announce the finalists selected for our second annual Artist In Residence program. This June, the Production Lab will serve as a workspace for the fellows, who also receive financial and mentorship support.
Follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter to follow the fellows’ journeys
Breaking into the industry starts with making the work only you can make 🎬
From finding your voice to building your style, our panel shared honest advice on carving your own creative path.
Huge thanks to our incredible speakers for keeping it real and inspiring the next generation of filmmakers ✨
A quick recap of the 2026 Feature Film Development Studio kickoff weekend 🎬
Pitch workshops, industry insights, and the first steps toward bringing these feature films to life.
Once again a huge thanks to our brilliant guests:�🎥 Production Designer + Director @racheldirects �🎥 @brycenorb of @Tribeca Studios�🎥 Sara McFarlane of @es_collab �🎥 Producer @davidbnewhouse �🎥 Jackie Miller of @bespokencoaching �🎥 Producer @leahchenbaker
…and to Head of Programs @lizfilm and Creative Development Fellow @devawn for leading the way.
About last weekend…
The 6th annual NYU Sports Film Festival brought three days of packed screenings, industry conversations, and a global community of storytellers to New York.
We opened with our flagship Pitch Contest hosted by @playerstv , where Nic Chang’s Jürgen Locadia took home both the jury and audience awards, setting the tone for a weekend built on bold ideas and real opportunity.
Opening night delivered a full house with Unraveling George and Open Book, alongside unforgettable appearances from Walt “Clyde” Frazier, Bill Bradley, and William “Worldwide Wes” Wesley, and a powerful Q&A with Emmanuel “Book” Richardson that set the energy for the weekend.
Through Gersh U with the @gershagency , voices from across sports, media, and culture came together to explore where the industry is headed, reinforcing what NYUSFF continues to build: a space where connection meets creativity.
Across Nights 2 and 3, 13 short films from around the world took the screen, followed by filmmaker conversations that carried well beyond the credits.
We closed with our awards ceremony, celebrating standout work across all categories:
Jury Grand Prize — La Liga
Audience Award — Lunch Box
Best Open Documentary — Shifting Courts
Best NYU Documentary — Hold On
Best Open Narrative — Showtime
Best NYU Narrative — Bleeding Edge
Photography Award — Fight Night
With over $4,000 awarded, official selections for the SNY TV Special announced, and the launch of our Inaugural Sports Photography Competition, the 2026 festival marked a new level of scale and impact.
From packed theaters to late-night conversations, this weekend was a reminder of what happens when sport and storytelling meet.
Thank you to everyone who made it part of something special.
@nyuproductionlab@nyutischsport@playerstv@snytv@gershagency@nyustudentgov
A couple of weekends ago, our Lab hosted an inspiration-filled kickoff as the 2026 Feature Film Development Studio cohort came together for their first intensive.
Fellows workshopped their pitches, industry experts shared insights on everything from budgeting to world-building, and each team moved closer to building finance-ready packages for their first feature films.
Huge thanks to our brilliant guests: 🎥 Production Designer + Director @racheldirects 🎥 @brycenorb of @Tribeca Studios 🎥 Sara McFarlane of @es_collab 🎥 Producer @davidbnewhouse 🎥 Jackie Miller of @bespokencoaching 🎥 Producer @leahchenbaker
…and to Head of Programs @lizfilm and Creative Development Fellow @devawn for leading the way.
Follow their journey to our industry pitch night this fall 🎬
Meet the 2026 NYU Production Lab Artist Development Program for Dance Fellows ✨
David Attenberger Demetris Charalambous Iliana Penichet-Ramirez Isa Spector Malcolm Miles Young Yvonne Huatin Chow | 周化
An intensive, cohort-based incubator supporting NYU alumni dancers as they take the next step in their careers. Running May–September 2026, we’re excited to welcome this year’s six artists.
Close out the 6th Annual NYU Sports Film Festival with a night dedicated to the filmmakers and stories that defined this year’s program.
Join us for our official Awards Ceremony & Networking Reception, where we celebrate our selected films and bring together students and professionals across film and sports for an evening of connection, recognition, and community. Throughout the reception, honorable mention films will also be showcased on screens for continued viewing.
📍 NYU Production Lab
🗓 Sunday, April 19
⏰ 8:00–9:00 PM (Seating begins 7:45 PM)
🎟 Tickets in bio (free – first come, first serve)
This year’s awards include $4K+ in prizes, professional mentorship, MLS media passes, and broadcast opportunities, with select films airing on SportsNet New York (SNY).
🏆 Grand Jury Prize — $1,000
🏆 Audience Award (Live Vote) — $800
📺 SNY Special Selection — 3 films featured on TV
Additional awards include:
Best NYU Documentary — $300
Best Open Documentary — $300
Best NYU Narrative — $300
Best Open Narrative — $300
🎤 Pitch Contest — $500
📸 Photography Competition — $500
From the jury’s top selection to the audience’s voice, this is where the festival’s biggest moments are recognized.
Celebrate the stories. Meet the creators. End the weekend together.
#NYUSFF #FilmFestival #AwardsNight #SportsFilm #SportsStorytelling #NYUEvents #Networking
Throwback Thursday to Mastering Personal Finance for Artists & Freelancers 💼✨
From budgeting and saving to taxes and long-term planning, this session focused on building sustainable creative lives not just for your projects, but you.
Thank you to Gloria and Rose Dios for sharing thoughtful, practical insights with our community.
The full schedule for the 6th Annual NYU Sports Film Festival is officially live.
From April 17–19, NYUSFF returns to New York City for three days of films, conversations, and live experiences that bring together the worlds of sport, storytelling, and culture. What began as a student-run festival has grown into a global platform—and this year’s lineup reflects that evolution.
Opening Night sets the tone with a double feature screening of Unraveling George and Open Book, spotlighting two powerful stories from the world of basketball, followed by an official reception at the NYU Production Lab with a live DJ, drinks, and the full NYUSFF community. Earlier that day, the PlayersTV Pitch Contest gives emerging creators the chance to present original ideas to industry judges—with live “wild card” pitches from the audience.
On Saturday, we introduce Gersh U, a new partnership bringing a series of panels to the festival exploring generational impact, community, and athlete branding—offering a behind-the-scenes look at how the sports industry is evolving today. Across both Saturday and Sunday nights, we showcase a curated selection of short films from around the world, highlighting the diversity and depth of sports storytelling, followed by live filmmaker Q&As.
Sunday also features a showcase of original work from NYU’s Sports Documentary course before closing out the weekend with our Awards Ceremony and final reception—celebrating the filmmakers, stories, and community that define NYUSFF.
Whether you’re a filmmaker, athlete, student, or fan of the game, NYUSFF is a space to watch, connect, and be part of the future of sports storytelling.
🎟️ Tickets + full program at the link in bio
📍 NYU Production Lab & Cantor Film Center
📅 April 17–19
#NYUSFF #SportsFilmFestival #SportsMedia #FilmFestival #NYU #SportsStorytelling #Filmmakers #AthleteStories
What has the NYU Production Lab given you? 🎬
From mentorship and funding to creative community and career-shaping opportunities, the Lab supports artists at every stage.
This NYU One Day, help us keep empowering the next generation of storytellers. 💜
Support the Production Lab through the link in bio.
Join us for the 6th Annual NYU Sports Film Festival Athletics Film Workshop on Friday, March 27th at the Paulson Center— a live, documentary-style production experience.
This isn’t a staged shoot.
Think Hard Knocks: NYU student-athletes run their normal training sessions, and filmmakers embed alongside them to capture real moments, real intensity, and real stories as they unfold.
Led by Prof. Ronnie Kay and a team of sports media professionals, the session begins with a quick creative briefing before shifting straight into production — where you’ll shape narrative, identify moments, and build a story in real time.
🎬 Film live from 1:00–4:30 PM
🚪 Doors at 12:45 PM (prompt start)
📍 181 Mercer St, New York, NY
After the workshop, you’ll have 7 days to edit and submit your piece for:
• Festival reception screenings
• Features across NYUSFF, NYU Athletics & Production Lab platforms
• Future NYUSFF opportunities
Open to students + alumni. Limited capacity.
Sign up at the link in our bio — registration closes March 23.
#NYUSFF #SportsFilmFestival #NYUCommunity #SportsMedia #StudentFilmmakers
