The North Fork TV Festival will return with in-person screenings for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic. The festival is a celebration of independent scripted television and provides a platform for emerging creators. Events will take place on Saturday, November 18, at the Borghese Vineyard in Cutchogue, and the Sound View Hotel in Greenport.
The recipient of this year’s Canopy Award is Emmy Award-winning actress Carrie Preston. The Canopy Award honors a member of the New York television community and its recipient champions the creative ambitions of diverse storytelling through their persistence, integrity, and inclusive nature. Past honorees include J. Smith Cameron, Jeremy Sisto, Kelsey Grammer, and Aida Turturro. Preston will be introduced by her husband and Emmy Award-winning actor Michael Emerson. There will also be a Q&A with Carrie moderated by actress Jenn Lyon.
“We are honored to have Carrie Preston as this year’s recipient of the Canopy Award,” said festival founder Noah Doyle. “Preston is the embodiment of what this award stands for. Carrie’s artistic range, involvement in front of and behind the camera, and magnetic presence as an actress makes her a no-brainer when it comes to this award. Over the years, Carrie has been a distinctly powerful voice within New York’s television landscape, which is what the North Fork TV Festival aims to highlight each year.”
Preston’s TV credits include “Claws,” “True Blood,” “Person of Interest,” “Crowded,” “When We Rise,” “Brockmire,” “Dr. Death,” “Lost,” and “Desperate Housewives.” In film, she has appeared in “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” “Duplicity,” “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” “Transamerica,” “That Evening Sun,” “One of These Days,” “To The Bone,” “Space Oddity,” and “THEY/THEM.”
Trained at Juilliard, Preston made her Broadway debut playing Miranda to Patrick Stewart’s Prospero in “The Tempest” and later played Honey with Stewart and Mercedes Ruehl in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” at The Guthrie Theater.
Preston lives in New York City with her husband Michael Emerson and their adopted dog, Chumley. In her free time, she supports LGBTQIA+ rights and GLAAD, is an honorary board member for the new play development organization, the New Harmony Project, and is a supporter of Parkinson’s research.
We caught up with Preston to learn more.
You’re the recipient of this year’s Canopy Award at the North Fork TV Festival. Can you tell us about this honor and what it means to you?
First of all, to be thought of for any award is always a surprise and an honor, and I certainly don’t take it for granted. This particular award highlights qualities that I strive to bring to all of my work: integrity, persistence, collaboration, independence, and the importance of supporting diversity in storytelling. I think we are at an exciting time right now with the quality (and quantity) of stories being told on television and the audiences that are craving to hear them. I have been trusted with some wonderful roles as an actor in projects that have hopefully helped illuminate parts of society that might not have otherwise had as much attention. And the same can be said for my work as a director. I always try to honor, elevate, and celebrate the human condition through my work, and to be singled out for that is wonderful and also very humbling.
What are you most looking forward to at this year’s festival?
I am excited to see the independent TV pilots that the festival is highlighting and to celebrate the artists that brought them to light. I find that a lot of the most thrilling things happening in storytelling take place in the independent space. The artists are so passionate about their pieces that they take matters into their own hands and move mountains to make them happen. Having done a lot of independent projects myself, I know what goes into bringing those dreams to life, so I want to support these other fellow indie creators and enjoy and praise their work.
Do you visit the North Fork of Long Island often?
I confess that I have lived in New York for over 30 years and have never been out to the North Fork! I have heard nothing but positive things about the natural beauty of the area, the exciting cultural offerings, and the hospitality of the people there. So I’m looking forward to exploring the area and taking in what it has to offer. Also, my husband (Michael Emerson) and one of my best friends (Jenn Lyon) will be with me when I come, and they haven’t been there either. So we all plan to be intrepid together!
Do you have any places that you look forward to visiting while you’re in town?
I’ll be staying in Greenport and cannot wait to put my feet in the sand at one of the many beaches. I’m looking forward to strolling along the streets of the village and stopping into some shops and galleries and also taking in the sights along the waterfront and in Mitchell Park. And also relaxing at the Special Effects Salon and Spa for some glam time with Jenn before our event at the North Fork TV Festival.
You support LGBTQIA+ rights and GLAAD, the New Harmony Project, and Parkinson’s Research. Can you talk a little about some of the philanthropic work you do and why it’s important to you?
I do my best to cultivate compassion in my daily life. And giving time, money, and energy to organizations that are working to bring about positive changes in the world is important to me. I support LGBTQIA+ rights because it’s a community that I have always felt a part of, and at this point in time the community is simultaneously very visible and extremely vulnerable, so I want to do my part to help protect and strengthen it in whatever way that I can.
The New Harmony Project is a new play/screenplay development organization I’ve been supporting for decades. I believe stories can change the world, and that begins with great writing. Writers need support in bringing about those life changing scripts, and the New Harmony Project is one of the most unique and special organizations dedicated to doing just that.
As for Parkinson’s research, since my father passed away from complications around that disease, it is a cause that sits very close to my heart. There are so many strides being made in that field, and I want to do what I can to support the continuation of that research.
Individual tickets to screenings can be purchased at northfork.tv. Festival passes start at $200.
