New York TV Festival Debuts This Fall

New York, NY – Just as Sundance elevated the mass market viability of independent film, the New York Television Festival (NYTVF) aims to galvanize the independent television movement.  Happening this fall in Manhattan from September 28 through October 3, NYTVF will showcase new pilots directly to key network and cable executives. 

Television producer-writer Terence Gray, who chairs the festival and serves as its executive director, has roused the support of industry heavyweights such as NBC, Comedy Central, TV Guide, ESPN, A&E, top talent agencies, and continues to secure festival partners and sponsors. Gray and his team are opening vital development doors to promising producers, writers and directors who may not otherwise have a shot at getting a show seriously considered, let alone aired. The festival will also honor television's heritage and cultural impact with a variety of screenings, panels and other events.
 
For its inaugural year, submissions will consist of original, completed pilots only (i.e., no scripts or pitches), running in either half-hour or hour format in these categories: Drama, Comedy, Reality, Documentary, and Animation (half-hour or short).  NYTVF organizers say they hope to see a mix of professionals and amateurs excel in the competition, and have launched a national and international grassroots search for talent. They say that while polished production values are impressive, an innovative entry bolstered by strong writing and good performances is more important than an expensive-looking one. Relatively affordable digital cameras make it possible now for an individual to produce a pilot without securing a conventional budget.

WMA senior VP Jon Rosen, who is involved with the festival, told Variety that top television execs are looking for more creative ways than ever to find new talent. "A lot of stuff on TV isn't working," he explained. "But it's difficult to get into cable or broadcast, if you have never done anything before."

The festival's executive board consists of an array of industry pros, including Rich Battista, Gemstar-TV Guide CEO; Kevin Reilly, president of NBC Entertainment president; Adam Berkowitz, head of Creative Artists Agency's television packaging division; Doug Herzog, Comedy Central president; Variety Group president and Variety publisher Charlie Koones; and Cara Stein, Co-CEO, New York and head of television, east coast for the William Morris Agency.

Also on the board are Andrea Wong, ABC executive VP of alternative programming, specials and latenight; Mark Shapiro, ESPN executive VP of programming and production; Katherine Oliver, Commissioner of the New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting; Michael Davies, executive producer, Who Wants to be Millionaire); Donny Deutsch, Deutsch Inc. chairman/CEO; Richard Hofstetter, entertainment and sports group co-chair of Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC; Ben Silverman, head of Reveille LLC, and executive producer of The Restaurant; and Robert Thompson, director, Syracuse U. Center for the Study of Popular TV.

The deadline for pilot entries is August 1, 2005. For submission guidelines, sponsorship information and other NYTVF details, go to www.newyorktelevisionfestival.com.