News & Testimonials
Read through the program's press releases and testimonials from the industry and students
News & Press Releases
Stony Brook’s MFA in TV Writing Scores Big at Austin Film Festival for Second Consecutive Year
Following two first-place wins in 2025, students and alumni of Stony Brook’s MFA in TV Writing have earned six semifinalist placements in the 2026 Austin Film Festival Script Competition. All six entries remain in contention for top honors.
In 2025, recent alum Anna Zabel won the AMC One-Hour Pilot Award for Courier Girls, while current student Cynthia He received the Best Drama Teleplay Spec Award for her episode of Yellowjackets.
This year’s semifinalists build on that success:
- Carol Garcia’s Achievement Inc is a semifinalist for both Best Drama Pilot and the AMC One-Hour Pilot Award. Garcia wrote the script in her first-year television writing class with Program Director Alan Kingsberg.
- Cynthia He is in contention for a second consecutive Best Drama Teleplay Spec Award for her episode of Heated Rivalry.
- Nelson Downend’s The International School, developed in Stony Brook’s post graduate TV Pilot Incubator, is a semifinalist for Best Drama Pilot.
- Dawn Cowle is a semifinalist in two categories: Best Comedy Teleplay Spec for her episode of Hacks and Best Digital Series for Old Bogus Massacre, which she created with fellow alumni Baylor Knobloch and Matthew McFadden.
Anne Hathaway Stars in 'Fear Not' Limited Series Ordered by Paramount+ From Bash Doran
& MGM Television
Congrats to Stony Brook’s MFA in television writing alums now working on the new Paramount+ series Fear Not, starring Anne Hathaway and showrun by Bash Doran, a friend of the program. Alum Mallory Baysek will be co-producer and in the writers room, and alum Anna Zabel will be a writers assistant and showrunners assistant. Read more
MFA in Television Writing Students, Christine Vachon Win Top Honors at Austin Film Festival
October 28, 2025 — Two talented students from Stony Brook University’s MFA in Television Writing Program have earned first prizes at this year’s Austin Film Festival (AFF), one of
the most prestigious events celebrating screenwriting and storytelling in film and
television.
In addition, Christine Vachon, artistic director of the MFA Programs in Film and Television Writing and co-founder of Killer Films, was honored with the Polly Platt Award for Producing, recognizing her outstanding career supporting bold voices in cinema and television.
Award-Winning MFA Students
Anna Zabel won the AMC One-Hour Pilot Award for her pilot Courier Girl, a tense and deeply human historical drama that follows Kasia as her already dangerous life in the Jewish ghetto of 1940 Warsaw becomes even more perilous when she takes on her greatest acting challenge yet: dyeing her hair blonde and enlisting as one of the Aryan-looking “courier girl” spies. Zabel’s story explores courage, identity, and survival in a time of darkness.
“This recognition at Austin is a tremendous honor,” said Zabel. “Courier Girl is inspired by the real women who risked everything to fight oppression with intelligence and bravery. I’m grateful to the MFA in Television Writing faculty and peers who supported this story from its earliest drafts.”
Cynthia He won the Drama Teleplay Spec Award for her episode of Yellowjackets: Thicker than Water. In this chilling and psychologically rich story, a desperate Shauna — pregnant
and starving — discovers a taste for her own blood. Overcome with shame, she resists
until Lottie presents a brimming bowl of blood, freely given by her followers, drawing
Shauna toward the seductive and terrifying power of the Wilderness. He’s script impressed
judges with its fearless tone, emotional depth, and masterful craft.
“These wins are a testament to the strength of our students’ voices and the quality of storytelling our program nurtures,” said Alan Kingsberg, program director of the MFA in Television Writing. “We’re incredibly proud of Anna and Cynthia, whose bold, imaginative scripts have been recognized on one of the most respected stages in the screenwriting community.”
Christine Vachon Receives Polly Platt Award
Adding to the celebration, Vachon received the Polly Platt Award for Producing, which honors creative producers who
exemplify vision, innovation, and a commitment to championing unique voices in storytelling
— qualities that define Vachon’s career and her work mentoring the next generation
of television writers and filmmakers. Killer Films has produced a long list of award-winning
films, including Carol, Boys Don’t Cry, and May December, among others.
“Christine’s recognition at Austin underscores what makes our programs so special,” said Kingsberg. “Our students are learning from one of the most respected producers in the industry, someone who has spent her career elevating daring, original stories.”
Located at the Stony Brook Manhattan Center for Creative Writing and Film, the MFA in Television Writing program continues to distinguish itself as a leader in developing the next generation of storytellers — writers who bring daring, authentic, and unforgettable stories to the screen. Read more
Stony Brook MFA in TV Writing Launches Groundbreaking TV Pilot Incubator
September 16, 2024 — In a pioneering move for television education, Stony Brook University’s MFA in TV Writing has announced the launch of its innovative TV Pilot Incubator. This new initiative is the first of its kind at any university and is designed to nurture, inspire, and develop four original TV series so they can advance toward production.
The incubator aims to equip participants with the essential tools and industry insights needed to bring their creative visions to life. A select group of industry heavyweights will act as project mentors, including:
- Bryan Goluboff – Executive Producer of Elsbeth and Law and Order: Organized Crime and George and Tammy
- Michael Rauch – Showrunner on Instinct and Royal Pains
- Jacquelyn Reingold – Executive Producer of The Good Fight, Writer, Grace and Frankie
- Steve Basilone – Writer on Community and The Goldbergs
The mentors will work closely with the lab participants, providing invaluable guidance and expertise throughout the development process.
The program will be led by faculty member Kristen Lefcoe and MFA in TV Writing Director Alan Kingsberg. Notable guests, including John Coles, Tom Sellitti, Dan Perlman, L.E. Correia, Mary Rohlich, and Stephen Gates, will lead workshops on verbal pitches, look books, pitch decks, budgeting, packaging and marketing opportunities.
Participants in the inaugural incubator, which is only open to Stony Brook MFA in TV Writing graduates, include Walter Stafford ‘22, Jeff Bernier ‘22, Nelson Downend ‘22, Tristan Rodriguez ‘23, and Greg Abbey ‘23.
The lab will culminate in a pitch competition scheduled for January, where participants will present their concepts to a jury of industry buyers, producers, agents, and showrunners.
Looking ahead, Part Two of this groundbreaking program is slated for the Fall of 2025, with the goal of producing one of the four pilots, supported by funding raised from private foundations and industry partnerships.
Stony Brook University’s MFA in TV Writing, a 2+ year program, associated with Killer Films is located in the heart of Manhattan and is part of the prestigious Lichtenstein Center. The MFA prepares students to join the expanding frontier of television story-telling that is becoming the predominant form of entertainment around the world.
The Wrap Puts Christine Vachon on the Cover, Ranks Stony Brook 28th in Top US Film Schools
Christine Vachon, award-winning producer and artistic director of the Stony Brook
University MFA in Film program, is on the cover of The Wrap‘s annual College Issue, in which Stony Brook is ranked 28th among the top 50 film schools in the United
States.
Vachon was interviewed for the cover story, subtitled “An indie legend hits the classroom,” and discusses film schools, first-time directors, and the changing face of the entertainment industry.
Stony Brook moved up eight spots on the list, with the magazine touting not only Vachon and the MFA in Film but also the MFA in TV Writing, run by Alan Kingsberg.
“Over the course of 30 years and more than a 100 films, Christine Vachon has become one of the most impactful producers in independent film. And, as the artistic director at Stony Brook Manhattan, one of the most intriguing film educators as well,” the article states. “At Stony Brook, Vachon said that she and Killer Films ‘set out to build a new type of curriculum—a practical education in all forms of visual storytelling, and at state university prices.’ ”
Read more at SBU News and the interview in The Wrap.
Stony Brook’s TV Pilot Showcase Is a Smash Hit
Caveat, the Lower East Side cabaret, filled with students, faculty and industry insiders to watch staged readings of six TV pilots. Two fully produced webisodes were also screened to a packed crowd. All were part of the Spring Showcase hosted by the exciting MFA in Television Writing that’s bringing world renown to Stony Brook University.
“The pilots showcased are on a par with what’s streaming and airing on major platforms and networks today,” said MFA Program Director Alan Kingsberg. “The ideas are cutting-edge and each has a powerful emotional or comedic core.”
Read the full story on SBU News
MFA in Television Writing Program Builds Pipeline to TV Industry
One of the first stand-alone Television Writing MFAs in the world, Stony Brook’s graduate program is being recognized by the industry as a top source of talented writers. Recent
graduates are hard at work on shows at Showtime, Hulu, Netflix, ABC Signature and
more.
During a recent thesis review, MFA director Alan Kingsberg was joined by Bash Doran, showrunner of Traitors and writer from Boardwalk Empire and Looming Tower. Doran was not only Mallory Baysek’s second reader for her thesis script but has hired Baysek to work on a number of high profile projects from Hulu, ABC Signature and Netflix.
Doran and Baysek are also partnering to develop Baysek’s thesis project SHESPN, a one-hour drama about a woman’s sports show. Baysek is the second Stony Brook MFA student hired by Doran; MFA student Talisa Chang joined the writers’ room on a new Hulu show Doran is developing.
Also joining Stony Brook thesis reviews were Lesley Arfin, showrunner and creator of Netflix’s Love, and Will Dowsett, head of development for the Duplass Brothers. Together they helped critique a heartfelt magical-reality drama written by graduating student Tamar Haviv. Julie Bean, showrunner from Grownish, rounded out the group by advising Omani McDaniels on her irreverent comedy, Fallen Grace, a show about race and class.
“Having top industry insiders give notes and advice on a thesis script is invaluable as it brings the real world of writing, selling, developing and getting hired to the student just as they are about to graduate,” Kingsberg said.
Read the complete story on SBU News
Stony Brook’s MFA in TV Writing Holds Sold-Out Showcase at Manhattan’s Famed Asylum Theater
Two fully produced webisodes were screened and excerpts from eight original TV pilots were performed by professional actors in front of a sold-out crowd of students, faculty, and industry professionals at the Asylum Theater on West 26th Street in New York City in a showcase hosted by the MFA Program in Television Writing.
Read the full story in SBU News
Stony Brook’s MFA Students Sweep TV Academy Writing Fellowships
Mallory BaysekTwo students from Stony Brook’s MFA in Television Writing program have won coveted Television Academy Writing Fellowships. Mallory Baysek, a first-year student, won in the Drama category with her Good Fight spec, A Clusterf*ck of Karens, which explores themes of racism, privilege, and cancel culture.
Galen Foote, currently in his second year, won for Comedy with his Big Mouth spec, Big Boys, an adventure into the ramifications of becoming a big boy, both figuratively and literally.
“Winning one highly competitive fellowship is a big achievement for any program, but for our new MFA in Television Writing to bring home two in one year speaks to the enormous talent of our students and the effectiveness of our curriculum and faculty," said Alan Kingsberg, director of Stony Brook’s MFA in Television Writing. Christine Vachon, artistic director for Film and TV, added that “our TV Writing curriculum is now one of the most extensive in the world".
The TV Academy fellowships include one-on-one mentoring by industry professionals, high-level training seminars, and networking opportunities with Hollywood writers, agents, and producers. Academy host companies include ABC/Disney, CBS/Nickelodeon, Hulu, NBC/Universal, and HBO.
Galen FooteMallory Baysek is a NYC-based writer and actor and a graduate of Yale University. Prior to graduate school, she collaborated in the development and performance of numerous new plays and musicals in New York City and on national tours.
She likes Bob Dylan, women's soccer, and telling stories that probe the complexities of intersectional identity. You can find her on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, where she lives with her girlfriend and their two cats, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin.
Hailing originally from Washington DC, Galen Foote spent several years writing scripts, sketches, and commercials before deciding to take his writing to the next level with an MFA in Television Writing at Stony Brook. Currently a second-year student, he's focused on building a portfolio of scripts that will help him reach his goal of becoming a TV series staff writer.
Galen also works full time at a tech company managing partnerships with national brands. He recently became dog dad to a rescue pup named Louise and sometimes manages to carve out time for his nascent passion for surfing.
Stony Brook Adds First MFA in Television Writing in the SUNY System
Stony Brook University announced today that the New York State Education Department has approved SUNY’s first-ever Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Television Writing. This stand-alone MFA is one of a handful in the country to offer in-depth graduate studies in the burgeoning field of TV Writing.
Read the complete press release
Jared Szafman Wins Page Award for Drama Pilot Script
Jared Szafman, a student in the Stony Brook University MFA in Film and Television
Writing program, won the Gold Prize in the TV Drama Pilot category at the 2020 Page
International Screenwriting Awards.
Szafman's pilot script, RX, topped a field of more than 8,000 script submissions from over 97 countries.
Szafman entered the MFA in Film program in 2015, as part of the first film cohort, where he studied screenwriting and directing. With the introduction of Alan Kingsberg's TV Writing curriculum, Jared took a deep dive into TV Writing and wrote a spec script and three pilots.
Film and television industry judges read and evaluate all the contest submissions at the Page Awards, searching for the best new screenplays and teleplays. Each year the Page Awards presents Gold, Silver, and Bronze Prizes in ten genre categories, plus a $25,000 Grand Prize.
Learn more about the Page Awards at the contest website.
Halofsky's 'Going Out of Business' Wins Award at Women's Comedy Film Festival
Ada Lee Halofsky's mircro-short screenplay, Going Out of Business, was just named winner Best Romantic Comedy at the Women's Comedy Film Festival. The script was written as an exercise in her TV Writing class at Stony Brook Manhattan's MFA program.
The Women’s Comedy Film Festival is described as "a comedic haven, existing to elevate writers with fun, unique, and female-centric stories."
Documentary Executive Produced by Simone Pero wins Gracie Award
This Changes Everything, a documentary film executive produced by Stony Brook Killer Films MFA in Film Visiting Faculty Simone Pero, was among 100 winners at the 45th Gracie Awards, announced today by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF). Told first-hand by some of Hollywood’s leading voices in front of and behind the camera, This Changes Everything takes an incisive look into the history, empirical evidence, and systemic forces that foster gender disparity in Hollywood. CONTINUE READING >
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Testimonials
From the Industry
"Alan is a phenomenal teacher, who taught me everything about TV writing, from story structure to dialogue. In his class, I wrote and revised the scripts that launched my career in the industry."
Vanessa Reisen, Supervising Producer, WEEDS, CALIFORNICATION, Co-executive Producer EXTANT, TYRANT, VEGAS.
"I went into Alan's Workshops clueless and came out with a pilot script that sold
to HBO. I landed an agent at CAA and I'm now working with an amazing team of managers
and producers. Alan genuinely loves teaching and giving his students the tools and
confidence they need to launch their TV careers."
Natalie Prisco, Show Creator/Writer, HBO.
"Alan has some kind of Jedi genius for feedback. He's lightning fast and right on
target. This class was invaluable. In all my years working in entertainment, I've
never come across someone whose notes are as specific and helpful."
Eden Wurmfeld; Producer: KISSING JESSICA STEIN, THE HAMMER.
"Alan has been an invaluable guide in helping me turn hair-brained ideas into structured
scripts. His emphasis on Character, Story and Structure gets TV Writing into your
bones, and the nurturing environment of the class keeps you writing. He manages to
pinpoint every storyline's root problem, and poses that question you've been avoiding,
and need to answer. I cannot recommend his classes more highly."
Nina Bradock, Staff Writer, BERLIN STATION, THE SINNER, SERVANT
"I had the privilege of taking several TV writing classes from Alan Kingsberg. Not
only is he able to present students with an effective method for building a great
script, but he is also an excellent resource on television business as a successful,
prolific writer himself. His classes were among the most valuable I took as an MFA
student."
Grace Edwards, INSECURE, INSIDE AMY SCHUMER, UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT.
From the Students
Alan Kingsberg – Writing the Original Series
To study with Alan Kingsberg is to know that you are under the tutelage of someone with a supreme command of his craft; someone who seemingly by instinct or dead-reckoning can sense the places where a story needs course-correcting and, perhaps even more impressively, can explain why. In addition to the excellent instruction he offers as a professor, Alan repeatedly demonstrates his concern for the quality of the MFA program as a whole and for the success of every student therein. – Walter Strafford, MFA Graduate
Any aspiring TV Writier should be so lucky to be taught by Alan. Not only because he knows the business inside and out but because he’s able to guide your creativity into something tangible. He’s not one to sugarcoat so if something doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. But he can spot gold from a mile away and that’s what you want from a teacher. I speak for all of my classmates when I say we wish we could have year round class from Alan The Pilot Whisperer but we’re lucky enough to have him sculpt this program into the gem that it is. – Omani McDaniels, MFA Graduate; Turner Scholar
Alan Kingsberg’s pedagogy has been a North Star for my writing throughout grad school.
His focus on character and conflict has helped me write stories grounded in heart
and humanity. I feel so lucky to grow as an artist in this singular program he’s designed.
– Emma Gutt, MFA Graduate; Writers Assitant, The Diplomat
Michael Rauch – Showrunner Workshop
The intensive course with showrunner Michael Rauch has been one of the highlights of the MFA in TV Writing program at Stony Brook. Michael speed-walked us through the process of how to break season-long character arcs and how to weave together multiple storylines into a single, cohesive episode outline. Along the way, he offered numerous, helpful reflections from his many years of professional experience. – Walter Strafford, MFA Graduate
In “The Showrunner” class, Michael Rauch brought the experience of a professional
writer’s room to Stony Brook and it was terrifying! (And also brilliant.) In this
intense module, my cohort worked as a team to break an episode of “Instinct.” Michael
shared his industry expertise and opened the room to all of our questions (we discussed
everything from working with Network executives to assistant jobs to getting staffed.)
The class broke down my “how could I ever actually write for TV??” imposter syndrome
and introduced us to the fractal fun of writing episode arcs inside of season arcs
inside of series arcs. – Emma Gutt, MFA Graduate; Writers Assitant, The Diplomat
Scott Burkhardt – Revision
Going into Scott Burkhardt’s revision class, I knew my pilot needed substantial work, Scott helped me develop relationship subplots between characters that gave the story more emotional depth, and increased the potency and relevance of the themes. Scott has the ability to cut to the core of what a script is missing, and helps you take it to the next level in a way that’s both honest and approachable. – Kate Levitt, MFA Graduate; Winner, Best Pilot Script, Nantucket Film Festival
Scott Burkhardt was the magic weapon when it came to revising a beloved pilot that
I knew needed structural and thematic adjustment, but was at a loss at how to fix.
Scott’s incisive thinking when it comes to story problems is well, genius. I came
out from his class with a pilot that working TV writers have read and loved, and also
a new appreciation for how exciting it can be to break open story possibilities and
then put it back together again. – Vivien Jastrzebski, MFA Graduate; Showrunnner's Assistant, Titmouse Animation Studios
Stephen Gates – Business of TV
Stephen demystifies the busines of the TV world and how a writer can navigate through it. Taking his class is like getting a crib sheet of the business because Stephen’s perspective is that of a working manager (and former agent) bearing deep knowledge of the industry, how to spot trends in streaming and developing a nose for what will likely stick—or fade away. – Ada Lee Halofsky, MFA Graduate; Winner: Best Romantic Comedy, Women’s Comedy Film Festival
I feel so honored to have gotten to workshop my pilot pitch with Stephen Gates. Stephen
broke down all of my cynical misconceptions around “selling projects” and I fell in
love with the art of pitching. – E.G., MFA Student
Ethan Berlin – Comedy Writing
During our Comedy Class we all realized that being witty and being able to write jokes are very different things. Ethan provided us with a safe space to embarrass ourselves and gave us the tools we desperately needed to tap into our funny bones. This class was by far the hardest but was made really fun by a teacher who knows the comedy world like the back of his hand. And getting Ethan to laugh at one of your jokes meant you were riding a mental high for the rest of the day. – Omani McDaniels, MFA Graduate; Turner Scholar
Ethan T. Berlin’s Comedy class was incredible and surprising. By learning about the
unique field of late-night comedy in my first semester of grad school, I was able
to practice skills and forms that were WAY outside of my comfort zone. Ethan taught
us how joke writing is really a boiled down version of story writing. – E.G., MFA Student
TV Writing Guest Series
In a way, the launch of my career began in the TV Writing Guest Series at Stony Brook where two different writers mentioned the discipline required of them at Tom Fontana’s company. I knew I had to pursue an internship there and was fortunate enough to land the position. But most importantly, and thanks to the understanding of TV writing I had developed at SBU, I was able to take the internship one step further, becoming the writers’ assistant for Tom Fontana’s show, CITY ON A HILL. – Sam Nosratian, MFA Graduate; Writer’s Assistant, City on a Hill; TV series in development at Levinson/Fontana
The Guest Series program at StonyBrook was a mini-event that I looked forward to every
time. There is nothing like hearing directly from staffed TV writers that are producing,
selling, and writing for major networks and getting to soak up their words of wisdom.
The guests were also so generous in sharing their knowledge, and as an added bonus
the interviews as facilitated by Alan Kingsberg’s great questions, were done in a
limited capacity room which gave every event an intimate feel. It’s a real standout
gem of the program. – Vivien Jastrzebski, MFA Grduate; Showrunnner's Assistant, Titmouse Animation Studios
Adam Yaffe – Limited Series
Adam is very skilled at teaching you how to come up with fictional stories inside
an existing true story, and how to make it yours. When I was recently hired to adapt
the story of the FIFA Gate scandal, which involved dozens of countries and characters,
it felt overwhelming until I methodically and calmly reviewed how Adam taught us to
pull the threads of the yarn-ball and pick the right ones. The six part series is
completely written and awaits post-pandemic production. – Nathalie Perus, MFA Graduate; Writer, The Beautiful Game, Alef One Productions; Producer,
Murder Club
Kristin Lefcoe – Web Series
Despite being a badass on all fronts, Kris is an immensely approachable instructor
and an inspiring mentor. During the semester, Kris was directing an episode of Superstore
and she generously shared stories from the set. From Kris I learned that directing
isn’t magic, but being super conscientious in pre-production: having a plan, understanding
characters’ wants, the emotional turns of every scene and how to best communicate
with the crew while earning their trust. When you leave Kris’s class, you will have
a short web pilot that can serve as a calling card. Of more value to me, was that
Kris made directing less intimidating—and even fun. – Ada Lee Halofsky, MFA Graduate; Winner: Best Romantic Comedy, Women’s Comedy Film
Festival
The MFA in Television Writing
Discovering the Stony Brook MFA in Television Writing is definitely a highlight in my artistic career. The teachers and the cohort offer a supportive, collaborative environment that has given me the tools (and the courage) to take my writing to the next level over the last two years. The Guest Speaker Series also gave us the opportunity to hear from current writers in the TV industry and how their experience directly correlates with our own classroom learning. You just can't beat that. – Noelle P. Wilson, MFA Graduate; Winner Best Pilot Script, North Fork TV Festival