Alumni News · October 29, 2026
Alumni Spotlight: From SOCAPA to Tribeca Film Festival: Ellie Sachs’ Debut Feature Lands Theatrical Release
SOCAPA Filmmaking and Acting alum Ellie Sachs writes, directs, and stars alongside David Cross, Thomas Mann, and Hasan Minhaj in Lucy Schulman, heading to theaters in 2027.
Nearly two decades after studying both Filmmaking and Acting at SOCAPA’s London campus in 2007, Ellie Sachs has reached a major milestone. Her debut feature, Lucy Schulman, premiered at the 2026 Tribeca Festival, screened at the Hamptons International Film Festival, and has been acquired by Aero Films for a theatrical release in early 2027.
Ellie wrote and directed the film, and she stars in the title role alongside David Cross (Arrested Development), Thomas Mann (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) and Hasan Minhaj (The Daily Show).
A New York comedy with heart
Lucy Schulman follows a young woman after a painful breakup. Back home with her eccentric single father (David Cross), Lucy stumbles through awkward dates, career frustrations and the messy work of figuring out who she is. The film had its world premiere in Tribeca’s U.S. Narrative Competition in June 2026.
From short films to the big screen
Ellie is no stranger to Tribeca. Her 2023 short comedy Proof of Concept, co-written and co-directed with Max Cohn, premiered at the festival. In it, Ellie stars alongside Richard Kind as an aspiring filmmaker trying to convince her family to finance her movie. The short was later featured in The New Yorker’s Screening Room.
A proud moment for SOCAPA
It’s especially exciting to see a former student who studied both Acting and Filmmaking bring them together as a writer, director and lead actor. From a summer in London to her own feature at Tribeca and a theatrical release, Ellie’s journey shows where a passion for storytelling can lead.
Congratulations, Ellie! We can’t wait to see Lucy Schulman on the big screen in 2027.
