As an NYTVF Official Artist, you’ll be given access to top industry executives, opportunities to pitch networks, invitations to Artist-only mixers and events, and much more. But first, you have to get in.
How do I become an Official Artist?
To become an Official Artist, you need to submit a project to a specific competition or initiative and have it designated as an ‘NYTVF Official Selection.’
What are NYTVF Official Selections?
Official Selection status is applied to the following types of projects:
- Accepted pilots in the annual Independent Pilot Competition
- Finalists and semi-finalists in any of the NYTVF's sponsored initiatives
Once your project is designated as an Official Selection, you will be an Official Artist and receive the following:
- Invitation to attend the week-long Festival event in the Fall
- Eligibility to win any of our sponsored Festival Development Deals
- Opportunity to participate in NYTVF Connect
What is NYTVF Connect?
NYTVF Connect encapsulates all of the Artist Events at the New York Television Festival. It provides Official Artists at the festival the unique opportunity to meet, pitch, network, and collaborate with the top decision makers from the nearly 60 networks, studios, agencies, production companies, and brands that are in pursuit of fresh new voices over a six day festival.
The program encompasses four unique opportunities that are each designed to maximize Festival participation for artists and executives, providing them with the tools to network, build relationships and collaborate on projects.
NYTVF Connect is free to all Official Artists, and access cannot be purchased. Only Official Artists are eligible to participate.
NYTVF CONNECT includes:
Executive Access:
Launched in 2010, Executive Access is a program designed to put the independent content showcased at the festival in the hands of network, agency, and studio executives and to serve as a mechanism for those decision-makers to interact with the creators in meetings arranged and coordinated by Festival organizers. Sponsors receive copies of all Official Selections and have the opportunity to identify the projects and artists with whom they would like to meet at the Festival. Executive Access is a streamlined interaction model to provide both artists and executives a space to network, build relationships, and collaborate on future projects.
NYTVF Pitch:
NYTVF Pitch is a unique opportunity for Official Artists to submit NEW SHOW CONCEPTS based on creative briefs provided by participating networks and studios. Finalists chosen from the submissions have the opportunity to pitch their idea directly to development executives at the corresponding network or studio during the annual Festival. Each Pitch Partner awards a guaranteed development deal.
While many of our Pitch Partners are looking for Non-Scripted/Reality formats and ideas, we encourage creators of all genres to submit. In 2012, pitches were submitted from Official Artists in all of the year’s development initiatives.
Industry Development Chats:
Development Chats are half-hour Q&A’s with executives, agents, and important decision-makers in the television community. They give Artists a forum in which to gain insight and ask questions about the current state of the industry.
Happy Hours and Networking Mixers:
Happy Hours and Networking Mixers are an opportunity for Official Artists to mingle with fellow creators in a more casual and friendly atmosphere. It’s the perfect time to meet new people creating independent content and work towards future collaboration. Some Happy Hours are open to General Public.
2012 Festival Stats
465,000 |
Amount, in US dollars, of guaranteed development funding offered by NYTVF Development Partners in 2012 |
18 |
Development partners offering guaranteed development funding at the 2012 NYTVF |
0 |
Amount, in US dollars, NYTVF Artists are required to pay for an Official Artist Pass to attend the 2012 New York Television Festival |
3,000+ |
Total number of submissions received for consideration in the NYTVF Independent Pilot Competition and stand-alone sponsored development initiatives in 2012 |
161 |
Projects chosen as Official Selections in 2012 |
337 |
Official Artists attending the festival |
300+ |
Number of Executive Access meetings and NYTVF Pitch meetings that were facilitated by NYTVF organizers between Official Artists and participating industry decision-makers as part of NYTVF Connect |
66 |
Free Events, including screenings, premieres, panels and networking events open to the general public during the week of the Festival |
28 |
Artist-Only Events providing NYTVF’s class of 2012 Official Artists with exclusive access to NYTVF Industry Partners |
Don’t Just Take Our Word For It
What the Industry has to say:
"No longer do storytellers need to max out credit cards and sell their own blood to stitch together 90 minutes of film to show at Sundance or Telluride. Instead, they can make mini-TV shows and show them to development executives with an equal love of original voices and thrift."
- Tim Molloy, The Wrap
"At its best, indie TV allows a platform for voices not often represented on TV. Similarly, it allows for more unconventional storytelling. "
- Todd VanDerWerff, The A.V. Club
"[Aspiring] television creators are getting a shot at practicing their crafts on the next level."
- The Hollywood Reporter
“Comedy is so vibrant and exciting right now, and our annual collaboration with the NYTVF to discover, cultivate and support new comedy writers is as important as ever. We are so grateful to the NYTVF and the artists who have participated in the contest for the last five years. It's incredibly gratifying to help break down traditional barriers so that original voices can be heard.”
- Suzanna Makkos and Marcus Wiley, Senior Vice Presidents and co-heads of Comedy Development, Fox
“It’s helpful to the next generation of TV makers to get some insight into how it’s done. Because Lord knows I needed all the help I could get.”
- Marc Cherry, Creator and Executive Producer of “Desperate Housewives”
“It’s incredibly important. It’s such a great opportunity.”
- Joel Fields, Exec Producer “Ugly Betty” and “Rizzoli & Isles”
“We believe it’s important to support nontraditional forums like the New York Television Festival in their efforts to cultivate the next generation of innovative storytellers.”
- Kevin Reilly, President of Entertainment, Fox
“(The Festival)…is a wonderful showcase for our industry. It’s a great forum for new talent as well as a celebration of television.”
- Ben Silverman, Founder and CEO, Electus
“This is a forum that celebrates, encourages, and promotes creative television programming.”
- Doug Herzog, President, MTV Networks
“Lots of people say they have ideas for television shows, but few have the passion and drive to execute them. The Festival provides those people an opportunity to expose their work to industry professionals who normally wouldn’t see it.”
- Mike Scully, Producer of “The Simpsons” and “Parks & Recreation”