Columbia University School Of The Arts Film Program’s 26th Annual Columbia University Film Festival (CUFF) is set to take place from May 3-9 in New York.

For the second year the Film Society Of Lincoln Center will be a co-presenter. The week-long schedule includes dramatic readings and events including the panel From Development to Deal: A Conversation On First Features.

Adam Davidson will receive this year’s Andrew Sarris Award, which honours outstanding service by and artistic achievement of film programme alumni. Davidson’s directorial debut and MFA thesis film, The Lunch Date, won the 1991 Palme d’Or for best short film in Cannes and the Academy Award for best live-action short film. He has since directed TV shows including HBO hit True Blood.

“Each year, the festival is an opportunity to take a step back and marvel at the amazing body of work that has been created by our students,” said Ira Deutchman [pictured], chair of the Columbia University School Of The Arts Film Program.

“We are very pleased that the Film Society is co-presenting the festival with us again this year. They are not only providing us a prestigious platform, but also validation of the quality of the work. It is an acknowledgement that there is no other film festival anywhere that showcases student work with such accomplishment, ambition and diversity.”

“Supporting emerging film-makers is an important focus for the Film Society,” said Film Society Of Lincoln Center’s executive director Rose Kuo. “We are delighted to welcome back the Columbia University Film Festival and their talented new student film-makers.”

The event will held at the Film Society Of Lincoln Center’s Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center and will be streamed live. CUFF will announce events for June in Los Angeles.