Interception: Jayne Kennedy, American Sportscaster
Directed by Safiya Songhai
The tumultuous story of Jayne Kennedy, the first African-American woman to boldly run interception on the racial lines of American sportscasting.
3rd Annual
NYUSFF
April 21–22, 2023 · Village East by Angelika & NYU Production Lab
The 3rd Annual festival screened 12 official selections at the Village East by Angelika, with honoree Q&As featuring Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez and director Jeremiah Zagar.
- Official selections
- 12
- Honorable mentions
- 6
- Honorees
- 2
- SNY broadcasts
- 8
Festival
Highlights
In 2023, the festival screened 12 official selections from around the world at the Village East by Angelika, where honoree Q&As were held with Laurie Hernandez and Jeremiah Zagar.
Speaker panels featured WME agents Carlos Fleming and Benjamin Simoné, and award-winning producers Carolyn Hepburn, George Veras, and Andrew Mayz. After the jury — including representatives from Point Road Productions and Cinetic Media — convened, the festival hosted a networking reception and awards ceremony.
The 3rd Annual SNY Special featured four award-winning films, event highlights, and director interviews, broadcasting eight times over August and September 2023. Four official selections went on to re-screen at the Catalyst Content Festival and Lake Placid Film Festival.
April 21–22, 2023Event Schedule
Friday, April 21
- 3:00–4:00pmWME Agent PanelNYU Production Lab
- 6:00–7:00pmHonoree Q&A with Laurie HernandezVillage East by Angelika
- 7:00–8:30pmScreening: Part 1Village East by Angelika
Saturday, April 22
- 2:30–3:30pmSports Film Production PanelNYU Production Lab
- 5:00–6:00pmHonoree Q&A with Jeremiah ZagarVillage East by Angelika
- 6:00–7:30pmScreening: Part 2Village East by Angelika
- 7:45–9:30pmNetworking Reception + Awards CeremonyNYU Production Lab
2023 Award WinnersAwards & Recognition
Film Awards
- Jury Grand Prize And of the Son: The Legacy of David and Jackie Robinson — Alrick Brown
- Audience Award Interception: Jayne Kennedy, American Sportscaster — Safiya Songhai
- Best NYU Documentary And of the Son: The Legacy of David and Jackie Robinson — Alrick Brown
- Best Non-NYU Documentary Jayro — Wojciech Lorenc
- Best NYU Narrative Fool’s Mate — Jason Adam Maselle
- Best Non-NYU Narrative Chin Up, Dude! — Florian Moses Bayer
- NYU Athletics Award Violet World: “Fresh Start” — Sebastian Alonso Carrillo
SNY Final Four
- Featured on SNY Fút, Fool’s Mate, Interception: Jayne Kennedy, American Sportscaster, and And of the Son: The Legacy of David and Jackie Robinson
Safiya Songhai — Audience Award, Interception: Jayne Kennedy, American Sportscaster
Jason Adam Maselle — Best NYU Narrative, Fool’s Mate
12 films, two nights at the Village EastOfficial Selections
Screening Night 1 · Friday, April 21
Hop Heel Drop
Directed by Sania Bhatia
Tap dancer Sydney Barnas shares her story and passion for the art of dance.
State of the Game
Directed by Robert Daniel Martin
A young hockey player discovers he doesn’t fall in line with his new team’s warrior code when he must stay silent through a rite of passage that will expose his secret crush.
Fool’s Mate
Directed by Jason Adam Maselle
Quincy is trying his best to get better at chess. When an unlikely opponent takes interest, he must decide if he’s ready to open himself up to the challenge.
The 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame Knocks on the Door
Directed by Eric Welshenbaugh
Inside the Hall of Fame’s emotional tradition of knocking on the door of each newly elected member — a moment preserved forever in Canton, Ohio.
Chin Up, Dude!
Directed by Florian Moses Bayer · Austria
Gery makes the leap from the youth soccer team to the testosterone-overloaded combat team, pushed from all sides into futures he isn’t sure he wants.
Screening Night 2 · Saturday, April 22
And of the Son: The Legacy of David and Jackie Robinson
Directed by Alrick Brown
David Robinson, youngest son of Jackie Robinson, spent 35 years immersed in African tribal culture — where coffee became the fuel for his mission for social change.
Jayro
Directed by Wojciech Lorenc
A seven-year-old Texas boxer steps into the ring in an allegory for the challenges faced by people of color and immigrants in the U.S.
Fút
Directed by Eric Zhang
A teenage boy struggles with his desire for better soccer gear.
The Show
Directed by Jesse Gi
A high school student looks to join his school baseball team by any means necessary.
Jumptown
Directed by Jesse Handsher (edited by Kyle Sykes)
Two legendary northeast Portland high school basketball teams and the African American community that houses them, as it struggles with gentrification.
The Opponent (L’avversario)
Directed by Federico Russotto · Italy
Aureliano and Simone seem to belong to different planets. Their common language is fencing — and each lunge tests their talent and loyalty.
Shown during the reception viewingHonorable Mentions
Kings’ Court
Directed by Rebekka Schlichting & co.
University of Kansas journalism seniors follow the nationally ranked Kansas City Kings basketball team to the 2022 national tournament.
Uncharted Waters
Directed by Anestis Iosifidis
The true story of Chrysostomos, who overcame severe mental health struggles to win a 26km swimming race across Greece’s Toroneos Gulf.
Violet World: “Fresh Start”
Directed by Sebastian Alonso Carrillo
A documentary series on NYU Men’s Basketball as a new head coach and two D1 transfers chase the UAA title.
Cowboy Jim
Directed by Jakob Roston
An Iranian-American cowboy wrangles horses and the past on his ranch.
The Human Etch-A-Sketch Documentary: Running for Armstrong
Directed by Carter Wells
Runner Rik Zortman traces the names of children with cancer via GPS, inspiring thousands around the world.
3, the Hard Way
Directed by Nathan Godwin
Basketball player Bennie Murray battles through a health crisis and injury to return to playing professionally.
Industry panelsSpeakers
WME Agent Panel
Friday, April 21 · 3:00–4:00pm · NYU Production Lab
The 3rd Annual festival kicked off with WME agents discussing sports media and marketing, moderated by Professor Gina Antoniello.
Benjamin Simoné
Partner, WME
Represents talent including Serena Williams, David Beckham, and Questlove, and documentary production companies across the industry.
Carlos Fleming
Department Head, WME Basketball
Has represented Venus Williams, Cam Newton, Christian Pulisic, and Michelle Wie, and now oversees 60+ NBA clients.
Gina Antoniello
Moderator · Assistant Clinical Professor of Sport Management, NYU
A sports communications executive formerly with the XFL’s New York Guardians, the Brooklyn Nets, and the Golden State Warriors.
Sports Film Production Panel
Saturday, April 22 · 2:30–3:30pm · NYU Production Lab
Day two opened with award-winning sports film producers sharing how they bring sports stories to the screen.
Carolyn Hepburn
Producer, ESPN Films
An Emmy and Peabody-winning producer of over 50 titles, including One Child Nation and Life, Animated.
George Veras
Former COO & Producer, Pro Football Hall of Fame
A 10-time Sports Emmy-winning producer and director of live events and documentaries.
Andrew Mayz
Archival Producer
Archival producer and researcher whose credits include Netflix’s Bill Russell: Legend and HBO’s Hostages.
Honoree Q&AHonorees
Laurie Hernandez
Friday, April 21 · 6:00–7:00pm · Village East by Angelika
Olympic gold and silver medalist at Rio 2016, Dancing with the Stars champion, and New York Times best-selling author. At the time of the festival, Laurie was studying drama at NYU Tisch while working as a gymnastics analyst for NBC.
Jeremiah Zagar
Saturday, April 22 · 5:00–6:00pm · Village East by Angelika
Director of Hustle, starring Adam Sandler, which debuted at No. 1 on Netflix’s global top 10, and of the Sundance award-winning We the Animals. His documentary debut, In a Dream, was shortlisted for an Academy Award.
The people behind the festivalJury & Team
Festival Jury
- Judith BalkinNYU Arts & Entertainment
- Russ FinkSNY
- Joshua FosterCinetic Media
- David HollanderNYU SPS
- Matt HuckNYU Athletics
- Billy RafteryPoint Road Productions
- Stuart RobinsonNYU Athletics
- George VerasSports Film Producer
- John TintoriNYU Production Lab
Festival Team
- Allegra CameronFestival Director
- Bennett GarciaProgrammer & Head of Videography
- Amaara BahandaHead of Event Production
- Paree ChopraHead of Marketing
- Tommy HoffmanPartnerships & Event Manager
- Milan VeissiPR & Event Manager
- Annelise LeeDesign Manager
Tap a page to view it full sizePrinted Program
On SportsNet New YorkThe 2023 TV Special
The 3rd Annual SNY Special featured the SNY Final Four — Fút, Fool’s Mate, Interception, and And of the Son — with festival highlights and director interviews, airing eight times in August and September 2023.