Comedy Pilot “Criss-Cross” Is Purchased for Development
By the A&E Network after Premiering at First-Ever Indie TV Fest

[NEW YORK, NY, March 17, 2006] - The New York Television Festival (NYTVF) announced today that the comedy pilot Criss-Cross has been bought by the A&E network and is currently on the network’s development slate. The NYTVF, the first industry-recognized showcase for independent television, launched in 2005 in Manhattan with the intent of uniting television executives and independent artists in one forum to shape the future of television.

“The Festival was overwhelmed by the work submitted by in 2005,” said NYTVF Founder and Executive Director Terence Gray. “Our pilot-makers represent the best of a new generation of independent artists, and we could not be prouder to be a part of their success. The NYTVF has demonstrated with this sale that, with greater access, independent producers can get their voices heard by the industry.”

"For some time now film festivals have been a conduit to the film industry,” said Robert Thompson, the Founding Director of the Center for the Study of Popular Television at Syracuse University. “Now for the first time a television festival has proven that all TV does not have to come from the usual suspects."

The comedy pilot Criss-Cross was one of seven comedy pilots to screen in the Festival competition last fall. The unscripted show features a team of talented comedians improvising the dialogue for silent video clips of regular people who are unaware they are on camera. The show has been bought by the A&E network and is currently on the network’s newly released development slate under the revamped title, I Never Said That. The pilot, submitted by executive producer James Murray, is the first to be sold after premiering at the NYTVF.

"The 2005 NYTVF was an amazing experience that opened doors for me at four different networks,” said James Murray, executive producer of Criss-Cross. “The Festival gave me the opportunity to move from being an outsider with ideas but no access to being intimately involved in the pitch and development process at major networks. As a result of the Festival, A&E ordered the pilot for Criss-Cross, and hopefully a series order will soon follow! In an industry where there is no road map for independent television makers, the NYTVF paves the way to a successful career in network television. It's the 'Sundance' for TV, and I cannot wait to submit a new pilot in 2006."

In its inaugural year, the 2005 New York Television Festival received over 230 original independent pilots produced by artists from 24 states and 7 foreign countries.   The 2005 NYTVF was presented in association with TV Guide, worked in partnership with the William Morris Agency, and worked in conjunction with the Mayor’s Office of New York City. Official Network Sponsors included NBC Universal, FOX, Comedy Central, VH1, VH1 Classic, Spike TV, A&E Networks, Rainbow Media, TV Land, & Court TV.

“I think the NYTVF is an idea that was long overdue, and I was incredibly impressed by what they accomplished in their first year,” said Mike Scully, executive producer of The Simpsons and co-executive producer of Everybody Loves Raymond. “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. It also provided me an opportunity for a free trip to New York. I look forward to many more free trips, I mean, supporting the Festival, for years to come."

The submission period for the 2006 independent pilot competition began Feb. 1, and will end at midnight July 7. There is no fee for students with a valid ID.

Officially selected pilots featured at the 2006 NYTVF will be placed in one of five categories: Comedy, Drama, Reality, Educational, and Animation.  To be considered for competition, pilots in all categories except Animation must have a running time of 15 to 22 minutes.  Animated pilots may have a running time of 2 to 20 minutes.  Click here for official rules and eligibility requirements.

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About the New York Television Festival
The NYTVF was founded in 2005 as the industry’s first recognized platform for independent television.  Held annually in the 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 the medium and to help shape its future.  Along with the Independent Pilot Competition, the Festival features panel discussions, premiere screenings, and other special events designed to honor television as an institution and as an art form. The 2006 NYTVF will be held in Midtown Manhattan from September 12 through September 17.



Contact: Press inquiries may be sent to Eben Russell at: eben@nytvf.com