NYTVF Scripts Official Selections Announced
The NYTVF is excited to announce the Official Selections for its third-annual NYTVF Scripts Competition, which accepted half-hour comedy scripts and hour-long drama scripts from writers worldwide. 21 television and digital pilot scripts were selected and will be showcased to industry executives at the 14th annual New York Television Festival.
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
Comedy
Best Comedy Script (Tie)
The Curse – Written by Jesse David Fox and Halle Kiefer
Alex has the perfect life on paper: a cool new job in New York, awesome friends, and, most importantly, a mature long-term relationship. In other words, it’s just about the worst time to find out that her family is under a century-old sex curse.
Best Comedy Script (Tie)
Granted – Written by Alison Barton and Bonnie Dennison
Annie, an insecure astronaut, mistakenly summons a genie (named Jinnie) whom she can't stand. The two are bound to each other until Annie can find true fulfillment or Jinnie can find true love. Two nearly impossible tasks... even with unlimited wishes.
***
Age Appropriate – Written by Stephanie Bencin
After getting knocked up during their freshman year of college, empty-nesters Jess and Eric McConnell look to make up for lost time when their own 18-year-old daughter leaves for school.
Bad Business – Written by Ele Woods and Jessica Haymond
Sharon is a corporate work horse. Elaine killed a horse once. There’s no reason the two women should be friends. But when their sexist boss forces them to work together, they realize they have a lot more in common than a shared desire to get to the top of the corporate ladder.
Beauty Be With You – Written by Natasha Vaynblat
After Tory, a small-time con artist, is denied employment at Kelly Rose Cosmetics, she resolves to wage war against the ‘feminist’ makeup company with sinister intentions.
Big Times – Written by Chris Mast and Logan Leikam
A thirty-year old, overachieving ghostwriter from San Francisco and an awkward fourth-grader from Oakland pair up through a mentorship program.
Bury the Lede – Written by Michela M. Smith
As Nellie Cruz and her ragtag student newspaper staff struggle to investigate a murder in their small town, they fight fake news and propaganda to expose the ‘truth.’
Fake News – Written by Melissa Francis
Fake News takes viewers inside the world of political cable news to witness the insecurity, insanity, and insensitivity that is all too real. Follow news anchor Cate Champion as she fillets lying politicians and tracks an incomprehensible Presidential administration, all while avoiding the traps laid by bloviating, blown-dry anchorman Roy Rogers.
Iso Ball – Written by Mark Kramer
An antisocial college basketball recruit with a penchant for trash talk on the court earns unwanted attention as the university's first Asian-American star – much to the disappointment of his immigrant parents.
Oak Ridge Patrol – Written by Nnamdi Ngwe and Amechi Ngwe
Exploring a fresh and unexpected side of African-American relationships, Oak Ridge Patrol follows two best friends and stay-at-home dads taking the law into their own hands as they create their very own neighborhood watch.
Space Family! – Written by Brian Cross and Ethan Reed
When a loving-but-bumbling family discovers that they are the last surviving humans in the universe, they begin a hapless journey through space to restart civilization.
Welcome to the Conspiracy – Written by Zack Phillips
In this ‘reverse X-Files,’ two agents – a millennial couple with the gift of gab – are tasked with finding conspiracy theorists and convincing them they’re wrong… even though they’re not.
Wildflowers – Written by Marie Cheng
This heartfelt family comedy follows an insecure teen and her Asian-American, immigrant mother struggling to challenge societal norms, as flashbacks to the mother's life in the 1970's intertwine with her daughter's life in the present.
Drama
Best Drama Script
Ticker – Written by Connie O'Donahue and Jeremy Nielsen
In a future where people sell years off the end of their lives for money and corporations decide who lives and who dies, a rule-following paramedic and his impulsive partner struggle to save society by overthrowing the system.
***
Branded – Written by Christian Lybrook
Rudy Strom, a disgraced state trooper, is pulled into the murder investigation of a prominent ranching family when their cattle are mysteriously found skinned alive and clues from the scene point to a case from his past.
Homegrown – Written by Kate Thorman
When Layla Mahmoud’s childhood best friend unexpectedly returns to their East London neighborhood after running away to Syria to join ISIS, the 16-year-old hacker decides to find out just why her friend has come home.
In Chambers – Written by Carolyn Kras
The brilliant young clerks of the Supreme Court work with Justices to rule on our nation's most important Constitutional cases. These hotshots wield immense power and influence, even as they struggle to keep their personal lives intact.
In Chrysalis – Written by Nelson Downend
Clinical psychologist Dr. Jackie Winters has hit rock bottom. But when a plea for help from a former patient brings her back on the job, she’s thrust into a dark world of delusion, scientific experimentation, and murder.
Sol – Written by Mike Diaz
As civilization crumbles, Sam Willings must escape the clutches of a violent fundamentalist preacher who's taken over a small Arizona town and return home to his young son trapped in New York City.
UnOrthodox – Written by Sarah Kraus
In a fundamentalist Hasidic community in Brooklyn, a family struggles to stay on their restrictive religious path when they face temptations from the outside world.
White-Shoe U – Written by Beanie Barnes
Four Ivy League students build an illegal drug operation to orchestrate their own social power. As their influence accumulates, they find it harder to not become pawns in a game of their own making.
NOTABLE WRITERS
A small selection of writers (23 writers representing 20 projects) have been designated as NYTVF Scripts Notable Writers. These writers will be invited to attend the 2018 Festival and are eligible to participate in Festival Development Chats, Networking Happy Hours, and the 2018 Writers’ Workshop.
Nayna Agrawal ∙ Fatimah Asghar ∙ Carlos Asse ∙ Troy Collins ∙ Delaina Dixon (developed w/ Maureen Martin) ∙ Jeffrey Doornbos & Joe Towne ∙ Annie Georgia Greenberg & Lola Lorber ∙ Chelsea Gray ∙ Shantira Jackson ∙ Brandon Jerger ∙ Dana Quercioli ∙ Tim Kirkman ∙ Jason Marcus ∙ Shea Mayo ∙ John Murray & Silvija Ozols ∙ Peres Owino ∙ Chad Quinn ∙ Don Reed (developed w/ Chrissy Mazzeo and Evan Shapiro) ∙ Allegra Ringo ∙ Michelle Sam
Congratulations to all Official Selections and Notable Writers!
Over the last decade, the NYTVF has distinguished itself as an industry leader in the cultivation and fostering of independent artists across episodic storytelling platforms while engaging a wide swath of decision-makers, buyers, agents, and managers as a trusted curator of new voices. With NYTVF SCRIPTS, that opportunity is extended to emerging writers by offering a Festival experience designed to provide maximum exposure, access, and opportunity.
In its third year, NYTVF Scripts is accepting original, half-hour comedy series and hour-long drama series scripts for consideration by broadcast, cable, and digital platform buyers. A select number of both drama and comedy scripts will be chosen as Official Selections and the writers will be invited to participate in the Festival as Official Artists. To enter, writers must submit a series pilot script (length requirements below), an original series overview (up to 4 pages), and a current C.V.
Want to get your script in front of decision-makers across the television and digital landscape, culminating in a week-long Festival that provides a crash course in the TV Industry? Submit to NYTVF Scripts and join the indie television movement.
The 2018 NYTVF Scripts competition is now
closed
for submissions.
Submission Info
Use the links below to explore the various aspects of submitting to the NYTVF Scripts.
For more details, check out the Submissions F.A.Q. here and download the Official Rules here.
AWARDS, BENEFITS, AND WRITERS WORKSHOP
The writers/writing teams of NYTVF Scripts Official Selections will receive designation as Official Artists and be invited to the New York Television Festival, held in NYC in 2018. This includes an invitation to participate in the 2018 NYTVF Writers Workshop, a series of panels and workshops specifically tailored to TV writers, taking place during the 2018 New York Television Festival.
All scripts designated as Official Selections will be available for pre-Festival review via NYTVF Connect by participating industry representatives, development partners, and jury members. In 2017, over 75 companies took part in NYTVF Connect, yielding over 600 meetings with Festival artists.
One script will be recognized as the 2018 NYTVF Scripts Best of the Fest during the Awards presentation of the 2018 New York Television Festival.
NYTVF SCRIPTS NOTABLE WRITERS
In addition to the Official Selections, a small selection of writers will be designated as NYTVF Scripts Notable Writers. While their scripts will not receive designation as Official Selections, they will be invited to attend the 2018 Festival, and they will be eligible to participate in Festival Development Chats, Networking Happy Hours, and the 2018 Writers Workshop free of charge. Notable Writers will NOT be eligible to participate in NYTVF Pitch or Executive Access.
IMPORTANT DATES
- 12:00pm (noon) EST on March 7, 2018…………….Submission Period Begins
- 11:59am (noon) EST on March 28, 2018…………….Submission Period Ends
FEES
- $50 per entry
- All fees are in U.S. dollars. Fees are submitted online.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Comedy Scripts (Half Hour):
- Pilot Episode Script (20 - 40 Pages for single-cam OR 40 - 60 pages for multi-cam, PDF)
- Series Overview (Up to 4 Pages, PDF)
- Writer C.V. (PDF)
Drama Scripts (Hour):
- Pilot Episode Script (40 - 60 Pages, PDF)
- Series Overview (Up to 4 Pages, PDF)
- Writer C.V. (PDF)
REQUIRED LENGTH AND FORMAT
- All scripts must be uploaded to the NYTVF website as a PDF document.
- Single-Cam Comedy scripts must be 20 to 40 (letter-sized) pages. Multi-Cam Comedy scripts must be 40 to 60 (letter-sized) pages. Drama scripts must be 40 to 60 (letter-sized) pages. Title Page not included in length requirements.
- Scripts can be written for broadcast, cable, premium cable, and/or digital platforms.
- Proper formatting of scripts is advised, including proper indenting of character names and dialogue. All elements may be single or double-spaced, provided that the script falls within the length guidelines. There are many acceptable ways to format script entries, and many online resources offer templates and helpful tips on how to format a script correctly.
ELIGIBILITY
- Entrants must be 18 years of age or older.
- International entrants are eligible.
- Entries must be submitted in English.
- A maximum team of two (2) co-writers are permitted per entry.
- The same script may not be submitted by multiple entrants.
- Entries must be:
- Completely the original work of the entrant(s).
- Not created or funded by broadcast networks, cable networks, or major production studios.
- Not copied from any other source, previously broadcast, or otherwise distributed or disseminated on television.
- Not in the public domain.
- Not in violation of or conflict with the trademark, copyright, rights of privacy, rights of publicity, or any other rights, of any kind or nature, of any other person or entity.
- All files must be uploaded as PDF documents.
- Submissions must be uploaded on this page by 11:59am (noon) EST on March 28, 2018.
NYTVF SCRIPTS ACCEPTANCE GUIDELINES
The NYTVF Scripts competition accepts entries beginning on March 7 2018 and ending March 28, 2018 or until 2,000 comedy scripts and 1,500 drama scripts are submitted, whichever comes first. Writers are permitted to submit multiple entries to the competition. All entries must be received by the NYTVF no later than 11:59am (noon) EST on March 28, 2018. Final notification for all Official Selections to the NYTVF Scripts Competition will be made around mid-May, 2018.
Have questions? Check out the submissions F.A.Q. page or email us at scripts@NYTVF.com. GOOD LUCK!
