Award-Winning Short “The Back Brace” Agrees to an International Deal with French Film Company after Premiering at First-Ever Indie TV Fest

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[NEW YORK, NY, April 17, 2006] -
The New York Television Festival (NYTVF) announced today that a pilot which debuted at its 2005 Independent Pilot Competition has reached an agreement with Premium Films, a production company based in Paris, France. As part of the deal, the animated short The Back Brace will be distributed to networks in several European nations, including France, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Poland. During the 2005 NYTVF, The Back Brace earned distinction as the winner of the animation category in the Festival competition.

This announcement comes one month after the Festival announced its first sale, involving the purchase of the comedy pilot Criss-Cross by the A&E network. 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 help shape the future of television.

“We are thrilled for all of the artists who contributed to The Back Brace,” said NYTVF Executive Director Terence Gray. “This agreement demonstrates the international reach independent artists can attain by presenting their work at the New York Television Festival. By featuring such a collection of impressive independent content, the Festival acts as an ideal showcase for national and international distribution companies searching for innovative animated and live-action pilots.”

The Back Brace was created and submitted by animators Carolyn and Andy London of London Squared Productions. The short was executive produced by the Carolyn London, Andy London, and Joseph Barone. The offbeat story revolves around Andy’s semiautobiographical experiences in high school as an already awkward teen forced by well-intentioned parents and doctors to wear a cumbersome back brace, which proves as restrictive of his social life as it is of his spine. The pilot was selected as the winner of the animation category at the 2005 NYTVF by a jury of distinguished names in animation, including Plymptoons creator Bill Plympton, The Simpsons executive producer Mike Scully, and Aqua Teen Hunger Force creator Dave Willis.

"I'm delighted that The Back Brace has been picked up for European distribution,” said Bill Plympton. “It goes to show that the world needs a festival like the NYTVF. Pilot-makers need a venue like this to survive the difficult profession of entertainment."

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 is currently on the A&E network’s recently released development slate under the revamped title, I Never Said That. The pilot, submitted by executive producer James Murray, was the first to be sold after debuting at the NYTVF.

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.

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