North Fork TV Festival To Celebrate Star of 'Severance'

The North Fork TV Festival will mark its 10th anniversary this June with a two-day celebration of television’s boldest voices — and a spotlight on breakout star Tramell Tillman.

Tillman, best known for his performance as Seth Milchick in Apple TV+’s “Severance,” will receive the 2025 Breakout Performance Award during the festival, taking place June 17 and 18 at the Sound View in Greenport.

“The Breakout Performance Award was created to honor rare talent — performances that don’t just entertain, but redefine the possibilities of television,” said festival founder Noah Doyle. “Tramell Tillman’s work on ‘Severance’ is just that — unforgettable, precise and boundary-pushing.”

Tillman’s role in “Severance” has earned him SAG and Independent Spirit Award nominations. This spring, he’ll appear alongside Tom Cruise in “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning,” which just recently premiered at Cannes Film Festival.

He also recently wrapped production on Amazon MGM’s “Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother” and previously starred in “Dietland,” “Godfather of Harlem,” “Hunters” and the Max film “Sweethearts.” His stage credits include “Good Night, Oscar” with Sean Hayes and “The Great Society” opposite Brian Cox. Tillman resides in New York City.

This year’s festival also introduces “Inside the Actors Studio (Reimagined)” — a relaxed, piano-bar-style series of back-to-back, in-depth conversations between acclaimed actors and moderators. Guests will include Anna Chlumsky, Richard Kind, Susan Kelechi Watson, Chris Briney, Jenn Lyon and Tillman himself.

In addition to Tillman’s honor, actor Christopher Meloni, best known for his portrayal of Detective Elliot Stabler in “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and most recently, “Law & Order: Organized Crime,” will receive the 2025 Canopy Award, which celebrates a career of lasting impact and innovation in television.

Festival Artistic Director Mike Stern also announced this year’s winners of the Independent Pilot and Script Competitions — a cornerstone of North Fork’s mission to champion independent storytellers.

Festival passes and individual event tickets are available at northfork.tv/tickets.