SAYVILLE, NY: The inaugural Sayville International Film Festival (SIFF), scheduled for August 13 to 16, 2026, is proud to announce that Sayville natives and industry veterans Paula Hart and Melissa Joan Hart of Hartbreak Films will headline the festival as the inaugural recipients of The Vanguard Legacy Award. Positioned geographically and culturally as a vital mid-island bridge between the Tribeca and Hamptons International Film Festivals, SIFF offers a premiere cinematic experience at a fraction of the cost of its neighboring giants. The festival arrives in response to overwhelming support from the South Shore community, providing a professional landing for the region’s vibrant arts scene.
Founded by award-winning filmmaker and Producers Guild of America (PGA) member Maria Capp, SIFF’s mandate is to bridge over a decade of Capp’s Los Angeles industry relationships with her hometown of Sayville. The festival is dedicated to providing vocational connections and professional tools to emerging and underserved filmmaker voices who lack ready access to the business. SIFF focuses on the critical “what’s next” in the filmmaking lifecycle; helping creators navigate the transition from earning creative laurels to building a sustainable career.
Quotes from Industry Leaders
Festival Founder and Director Maria Capp stated: “Paula and Melissa have shown audiences worldwide what it looks like to live the dream and master the reality of this vocation. Their journey, a Long Island mother and daughter breaking into the industry to build a global, multi-generational brand, is the perfect alchemy of art, persistence, and elite business acumen. Whether making us laugh, bringing vital social issues to light, or creating beloved holiday classics, they have navigated it all while keeping family at their core. They are the ultimate blueprint for the emerging filmmakers we are championing at SIFF.”
Mark Myers, CEO of Citizen Skull:
“I am beyond excited to be participating at SIFF in August. I look forward to meeting diverse, emerging filmmakers as well as old pros in this expertly curated event.”
Paul Sinacore, CSA (Casting Director/Producer):
“I’m honored to join the inaugural Sayville International Film Festival as a guest speaker, sponsor of the casting and table read, and part of its Industry Day programming. As a Casting Society member and Television Academy member… I’m excited to share practical industry insight… Sayville is building something special, a community-driven, industry-connected festival where filmmakers, actors, representatives, and audiences can come together in a meaningful way.”
Marc Hollid-Ausset, CEO & President, CM Performing Arts Center:
“We are incredibly excited and honored to host the closing ceremony for the inaugural Sayville Film Festival here at CM Performing Arts Center. Supporting local artists, storytellers, and community-driven creative efforts has always been deeply important to us, and this festival represents a wonderful celebration of the talent and passion that exists right here on Long Island. We believe the arts bring people together, strengthen communities, and create opportunities for voices to be heard. It is a privilege for our theatre to be part of this exciting new tradition, and we look forward to celebrating the filmmakers, artists, and community members who made it possible.”
Industry Programming & Gala Events
The festival features a high-caliber roster of jurors and guests, including:
- Artios Award-Winning Casting: Liz Lewis and Angela Mickey of Liz Lewis Casting Partners.
- Literary & Studio Leadership: Greg D’Alessandro, WGA member and CEO/Chief Editor of Weekly World News Studios.
- Television Academy Insight: Paul Sinacore, CSA, renowned Casting Director and Producer.
- Talent Management & Production: Mark Myers, CEO and President of Citizen Skull, a talent management and production company.
The four-day event will culminate in a professional table read cast and sponsored by Paul Sinacore, CSA, featuring professional talent from SAG-AFTRA and AEA. The festival will conclude with a prestigious Awards Ceremony hosted by the CM Performing Arts Center (CMPAC). Tickets go on sale early June.
Community Support and Discovery
SIFF is a 501(c)(3) supported by Cornerstone Partners including Sayville Ford, Five Towns College, the Sayville Movie Theater, and CM Performing Arts Center. Screenings and live industry / podcast events will be held at the historic Sayville Movie Theater, anchoring the festival in the heart of the community.
With over $25,000 in industry prizes from AVID, Entertainment Partners (Movie Magic), and Celtx, SIFF ensures that emerging talent and underserved independent filmmakers are equipped with the professional tools necessary to move past the festival circuit and into the business of show business.
About The Vanguard Legacy Award and Hartbreak Films
Presented to Sayville’s own Paula Hart and Melissa Joan Hart in celebration of a groundbreaking producing partnership that redefined independent and studio television and film. From their Long Island roots to the heights of Hollywood, they have masterfully blended immense talent and relentless persistence with elite business acumen, breaking industry barriers to build a global brand. Through Hartbreak Films, they have spent decades bringing laughter, light, and truth into our living rooms, creating generation-defining, beloved characters, while fearlessly producing vital stories that champion the extraordinary in the ordinary. This award honors their enduring legacy of living the dream, mastering the vocation, and leading with authenticity and family.
About Maria Capp
Maria Capp is an independent filmmaker, director, and writer whose work includes the Hulu holiday favorite Four Cousins and a Christmas, the psychological thriller The Lady of the Lake (starring Seth Gilliam and Nia Sioux), and Lifetime’s My Life Is On The Line. The latter two filmed on location in the local communities. She also produced the award-winning film Reach. An advocate for emerging talent and mental health awareness, she is a university professor and an accredited teacher of the Ivana Chubbuck 12-Step Method.
Media Contact:
Rick Eberle
Magnetic Vine | G&R Events
516-729-6872 | rick@magneticvine.com
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Festival Information:
https://filmfreeway.com/SayvilleInternationalFilmFestival
@SayvilleFilmFest
