Tribeca opens race for $1.2 million Untold Stories prize

$1.2 million is on the table for one emerging director.

The Tribeca Festival and AT&T have opened submissions for the 10th anniversary of AT&T Untold Stories, the development programme that funds a first feature from start to premiere, according to Variety.

Submissions are open through Jan. 18. Five filmmaking teams will be shortlisted to pitch their projects live on stage at the 2027 Tribeca Festival in New York. One winner takes the prize.

The winner receives $1.2 million to put toward production. The film is then guaranteed a premiere at the following year's festival, in this case the 2028 Tribeca Festival. The recipient also gets year-round mentorship and production support from Tribeca Studios, the festival's production arm.

Organisers bill the $1.2 million award as the largest unrestricted film production prize of its kind in the world. Unrestricted means the money goes directly into making the film, rather than being tied to specific vendors or services. The prize rose from $1 million to $1.2 million in 2026, according to Variety.

The numbers add up. The programme launched in 2017 and has since awarded more than $9.2 million in funding. It has supported more than 45 projects and produced eight feature films.

The most recent winner was Sid Gopinath with Minnesota Goodbye, selected at the 2026 festival. That film now moves through production with its guaranteed Tribeca launch to come.

What makes this stand out is the certainty. Most new directors spend years piecing together finance territory by territory. Here the deal is simple. Pitch live, win once, and leave with money, guidance and a premiere date.

For filmmakers watching the calendar, this is the window. Details on eligibility and how to apply are available through Tribeca and AT&T.