September 24th, 2026

TRIBECA FESTIVAL AND AT&T OPEN SUBMISSIONS FOR 10TH ANNIVERSARY AT&T UNTOLD STORIES PROGRAM, FEATURING $1.2 MILLION PRODUCTION PRIZE

Landmark Filmmaker Program Celebrates a Decade of Supporting Independent Voices with the Largest Film Production Award of Its Kind in the World

2026 AT&T Untold Stories winners Sid Gopinath and Alifya Ali with Greenlight Committee members Isabel Sandoval, Kellyn Smith Kenny, Phoebe Robinson, Lilian T. Mehrel, and Moisés Zamora, and host Brooke Baldwin at the Tribeca Festival. Photo courtesy of Tribeca.

New York, NY — September 28, 2026 — Tribeca Festival and AT&T today opened submissions for the 10th anniversary of AT&T Untold Stories, the groundbreaking initiative that provides emerging filmmakers with the funding and support to bring their feature films to the screen. The program’s production prize increased from $1 million to $1.2 million in 2026, reinforcing its status as the largest unrestricted film production award of its kind in the world.

AT&T Untold Stories has become a cornerstone of Tribeca’s artist development efforts and a transformative force in the film industry. Each year, five finalist teams pitch their projects at the Tribeca Festival, where one filmmaker receives full production funding, comprehensive support from Tribeca Studios and a guaranteed premiere at the following year’s Festival. Every winning film to date has gone on to reach audiences in theaters or on major streaming platforms, including Netflix and HBO Max. In 2026 alone, David Fortune’s Color Book, Liz Sargent’s Take Me Home, and Lilian T. Mehrel’s Honeyjoon secured theatrical releases.

Since launching in 2017, the program has awarded over $9.2 million in funding, supported more than 45 projects, and produced eight feature films.

Previous winners include:

2018: Nigerian Prince directed by Faraday Okoro

2019: Lucky Grandma directed by Sasie Sealy

2020: Marvelous and the Black Hole directed by Kate Tsang

2021: Land of Gold directed by Nardeep Khurmi

2022: Smoking Tigers directed by So Young Shelly Yo

2023: Color Book directed by David Fortune

2024: Honeyjoon directed by Lilian T. Mehrel

2025: Take Me Home directed by Liz Sargent

2026: Minnesota Goodbye directed by Sid Gopinath

“Tribeca is incredibly proud of our decade-long collaboration with AT&T and the success of the filmmakers who have come through Untold Stories,” said Bryce Norbitz, VP Tribeca Studios & Artist Development. “We’ve watched pioneering storytellers take bold new ideas from concept to screen, garner the support of major distributors, and reach the audiences their stories deserve. The continued growth and endurance of the program is a testament to the power of investing in emerging voices, especially at a time when independent filmmaking has never been tougher.”

One filmmaker will receive the $1.2 million production prize at the 2027 Tribeca Festival, along with year-round mentorships and a guaranteed premiere at the 2028 Festival.

Filmmakers can apply through January 18 at tribecafilm.com/attuntoldstories.

TRIBECA ENTERPRISES

Tribeca Enterprises is a multi-platform media and entertainment company that owns and operates the Tribeca Festival, content division Tribeca Studios, film distribution label Tribeca Films and production company m ss ng p eces. With strong roots in independent film, Tribeca is synonymous with creative expression and entertainment. Founded in 2003 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff, Tribeca Enterprises brings artists and audiences together to celebrate storytelling in all its forms, including film, TV, music, audio storytelling, games, and immersive. Tribeca champions emerging and established voices, discovers award-winning talent, curates innovative experiences, and introduces new ideas through exclusive premieres, exhibitions, conversations, and live performances.

Press Contact:

Annie Davis – adavis@tribecafilm.com

Mia Ogle – mogle@tribecafilm.com