Filmmakers

Join our mailing list!

Since 1983, more than 2,500 world-renowned writers, poets, newsmakers, and filmmakers have visited the NYS Writers Institute at the University at Albany.

More than 5,000 readers and book lovers receive our email updates. Sign up today!

Sign up for email updates

Announcing winners of the Albany Film Festival Short Film Awards

NYS Writers Institute

May 25, 20213 min read

Announcing winners of the Albany Film Festival Short Film Awards

We're pleased to announce winners of the inaugural Albany Film Festival Short Film Contest. Entries were limited to films shot primarily...

Bi-coastal collaborators: Filmmakers Kenn Rabin and Sheila Curran Bernard

NYS Writers Institute

May 7, 20203 min read

Bi-coastal collaborators: Filmmakers Kenn Rabin and Sheila Curran Bernard

UAlbany faculty member Sheila Curran Bernard and UAlbany alum Kenn Rabin (1974) co-authored Archival Storytelling: A Filmmaker’s Guide to...

A chat with Stephen Soucy: Filmmaker, theatrical producer, UAlbany alumnus

NYS Writers Institute

Apr 23, 20202 min read

A chat with Stephen Soucy: Filmmaker, theatrical producer, UAlbany alumnus

How does a UAlbany English major get to be a documentary filmmaker and theatrical producer? Aside from practice, practice, practice. We...

Hey Xavier Burgin, is this a good time to watch a horror movie?

NYS Writers Institute

Apr 15, 20202 min read

Hey Xavier Burgin, is this a good time to watch a horror movie?

We asked young filmmaker Xavier Burgin whether this is a good time to watch a horror movie. Xavier is the director of the acclaimed 2019...

Stanley Nelson, director of "Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool"

NYS Writers Institute

Apr 9, 20202 min read

Stanley Nelson, director of "Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool"

We got back in touch with Stanley Nelson, major documentary filmmaker and director of the current Netflix hit, "Miles Davis: Birth of the...

Can you help us create a mini virtual film festival this weekend?

NYS Writers Institute

Mar 28, 20203 min read

Can you help us create a mini virtual film festival this weekend?

By Paul Grondahl, DIrector, NYS Writers Institute We know that you are as disappointed as we are that we had to postpone the Writers...

Actor, author, storyteller Sean Penn, and a book contest for you.

NYS Writers Institute

Mar 21, 20202 min read

Actor, author, storyteller Sean Penn, and a book contest for you.

Sean Penn is a two-time Academy Award winner, for “Mystic River” in 2003 and his portrayal of UAlbany alum Harvey Milk in “Milk” (2008)....