The Tisch School of the Arts is pleased to welcome award-winning producer Peter Saraf as the next Chair of the Department of Undergraduate Film & Television (UGFTV). Heading into the Fall 2026 semester, Saraf officially begins his new role leading this vibrant and innovative department.
Throughout his career, Saraf has brought people together across different perspectives. As a producer across film, television, and theater, Saraf is responsible for an extraordinary body of work. His credits include the films Little Miss Sunshine, The Farewell, Loving, Mandela and the series Vida and Nuclear Family, among many others. He has received Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Tony nominations, and has been recognized with Independent Spirit, Gotham, Producers Guild, TV Academy and Peabody Awards. Prior to launching Optimistic Pictures he led Big Beach for the better part of two decades, building it into one of the most respected independent production and financing companies in the field. In addition to his creative work, Saraf has held significant leadership roles in the Producers Guild of America, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Producers United and the Future Film Coalition.
Saraf is uniquely positioned to guide UGFTV at this moment and to help shape its next chapter in alignment with the school’s broader vision for innovation, bridge-building, and sustainability.
“What stood out to me in Peter’s candidacy was not only the breadth of his experience, but the quality of his leadership—collaborative, measured, and forward-looking,” said Rubén Polendo, dean of the Tisch School of the Arts. “Peter brings with him not only deep experience, but a sustained commitment to the field and to the communities that shape and are shaped by it.”