News

NY Television Festival

August 13, 2008—New York, NY Sindy Gordon
NEW YORK, Aug. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fourth Annual New York Television Festival (NYTVF) today announced the 36 official selections for its Independent Pilot Competition and the first ever Industry Day panel discussion series, featuring some of the biggest names in the television business. Tickets are now on sale for the NYTVF, taking place Friday, September 12th through Wednesday, September 17th at New World Stages in Midtown Manhattan.

"The television industry stands at a crossroads, and the development of new programming will continue to undergo vast changes in the coming months," said NYTVF founder Terence Gray. "The NYTVF is fortunate to be able to screen new work by innovative creators, while bringing together the foremost experts in the field to discuss the future of TV development as well as the impact new methodologies and resources will have on the upcoming television landscape."

The 36 original, independently produced television pilots selected for the Independent Pilot Competition come from all over the U.S., Canada, and Australia. An eclectic array of stars, such as Sarah Paulson ("Studio 60"), James Cromwell ("24"), Constantine Maroulis ("American Idol"), Richard Moll ("Night Court"), and Michael Gladis ("Mad Men") all make appearances in scripted pilots, and Dustin Diamond ("Saved By the Bell") and Gary Coleman ("Diff'rent Strokes") appear as themselves in a reality competition pilot.

This year's Festival also brings the first-ever Industry Day panel discussion series on Monday, September 15th. During the series, attendees will hear from industry leaders, such as NBC head Ben Silverman, WMA CEO Jim Wiatt, CNBC star Donny Deutsch, Media Rights Capital President of Television Keith Samples, Rainbow Entertainment President Ed Carroll, History General Manager Nancy Dubuc, truTV General Manager Marc Juris, Comedy Central's development head Lou Wallach, and MTV Executive Vice President of Series Development and Programming Tony DiSanto. Panelists will discuss "The Future of TV Development" in a series of discussions addressing different genres of television, including drama, comedy, and unscripted.

"The NYTVF offers the ideal forum for addressing the future of television development," said William Morris Agency Chairman and CEO Jim Wiatt. "Creative solutions are needed for the rapidly evolving state of TV programming, and the William Morris Agency is proud to support the NYTVF as an incubator for creative ideas."

For official selections & panel information: