On Tuesday, June 17, and Wednesday, June 18, the North Fork TV Festival returned to Greenport for its 10th year, continuing its mission of celebrating independent storytelling and industry innovation. This milestone year brought fresh energy with a reimagined Inside the Actors Studio series a piano-bar-style experience that invited attendees into candid, back-to-back conversations with top TV names like Anna Chlumsky (“Veep”), Richard Kind (“Only Murders in the Building”), Susan Kelechi Watson (“This Is Us”), Jenn Lyon (“Claws”), and Chris Briney (“The Summer I Turned Pretty”), who also received the 2025 Rising Star Award.
Honors this year included the 2025 Breakout Performance Award for Severance star Tramell Tillman, and the festival’s Canopy Award went to “Law & Order: SVU” icon Christopher Meloni, who participated in a lively Q&A with Variety’s Jenny Maas. Meloni reflected on the highs and lows of his career, recalling the early days of auditioning, the masochism of acting, and the importance of believing in yourself. He pinpointed Season 5 of SVU as his “made it” moment and shared his love for the show’s camaraderie and powerful episodes. On fan-favorite duo Olivia and Elliot, he acknowledged social media’s role in spotlighting their chemistry and teased that their romance might remain unfulfilled. He also expressed enthusiasm about taking on a romantic comedy, quipping that it’s time for him to win—“Runaway Bride 2.” The weekend proved a fitting tribute to TV’s past, present, and future, with Meloni’s wit and wisdom a definite highlight.
The festival buzzed with energy as rooms filled with actors, directors, producers, industry professionals, television fans, and members of the Greenport community. Adding to the excitement was a surprise appearance by a longtime friend of the festival, Bridget Moynahan. This year also marked the launch of Behind the Pitch—a new initiative offering creators the chance to present bold, original concepts directly to leading TV executives. Participants pitched their ideas live, receiving real-time feedback and expert guidance to help sharpen their projects for the industry.
