Independent producers, industry experts, and fans gather at the
New York Television Festival. Photo courtesy of the NYTVF.

September 2, 2008 - The New York Television Festival kicks off this month with an exciting line-up in anticipation of the new fall TV season. Held annually each fall in New York City, the birthplace of modern television, the festival unites artists, executives, industry figures, and fans together in one forum to celebrate television and help shape its future.

Founded in 2005 as the industry’s first recognized independent television festival, the festival will feature panel discussions, network premiere screenings, and other special events designed to honor television as an institution and as an art form as well as providing a platform to elevate the work of artists creating for the small screen.

This year, New York-based shows are among those featured during Premiere Week with a screening of “Fringe” (FOX) and a sneak peek at ABC’s new shows, including “Ugly Betty” and “Life on Mars” (ABC).

A special component of NYTVF is the Independent Pilot Competition, which aims to give artists a greater voice in the industry by allowing them to present their ideas unfiltered to the decision-makers in the business. This year thirty-six projects have been selected to compete. Winners in previous years have sold to major networks such as NBC Universal Television Studios and A&E.

The festival runs from September 12-17. Visit www.nytvf.com for tickets and more information.