ATX Television Festival Announces First Wave Programming And Second Annual Pitch Competition First-Ever Everwood Cast
****FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE****
ATX Television Festival Announces First Wave Programming & Second Annual Pitch Competition
Austin, TX- Thursday, November 7, 2014
Reunion and Confirmed Guests Announced For Season Three of Festival in Austin, TX June 5th – 8th Austin, TX— November 7, 2013—
ATX Television Festival is pleased to announce the launch of the second annual Pitch Competition in collaboration with Final Draft, the creators of the number one selling screenwriting application in the world. The competition will allow aspiring writers and show creators to pitch their original idea for a scripted series to some of the biggest decision makers in the television industry at the third season of ATX Television Festival in Austin, TX next June 5-8th.
Participants in the Pitch Competition have ninety seconds to present their original idea for a scripted series to industry judges through a self-filmed video. The competition is open to any and all pitches for scripted series ideas. ATX Television Festival will screen all submissions and choose twenty-five semi-finalists to be judged by a panel of industry professionals including: Paul Scheer (Creator/Actor on NTSF:SD:SUV::, The League), Bryan Seabury (VP of Drama Development at CBS Network), Julie Plec (Creator/Writer The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, The Tomorrow People), Kyle Killen (Creator of Lone Star, Awake. Mind Games), Katie Krentz (Director of Comedy Animation; Cartoon Network), David Semel (Executive Producer/Director, American Dreams, Dawsons Creek, Hemlock Grove, Homeland), and special guest judges, who will narrow the twenty-five semi-finalists down to ten finalists. The ten finalists then compete at ATX Television Festival (June 5-8, 2013) in Austin, TX to pitch live before the panel of judges, who will choose one winner. This winner will receive a meeting with one of the judges to explore the idea of their series and gain notes to better develop the series, then will get a pitch meeting in front of one of the festival’s studio/network partners to try and sell their pilot for production! All participants receive a discount code for 32% off the latest version of Final Draft (retailing at $249) as well as $25 off of any level ATX Television Festival badge [to be given after Finalist are announced]. Semi-finalists receive Panel badges to the Festival, and Finalists receive a Weekend badge to the Festival, plus two tickers to the opening night screening and after-party to start the festival off right! The Finalists will also receive a complimentary copy of the most recent version Final Draft, courtesy of Final Draft.
“The pitch competition was eye opening and door opening all at once. We got to see pitches for nine other amazing shows and watch what and how they connected with the industry judges. Then, with the help of our incredible mentor, Dina Hillier, we got to work our idea into a full-length pitch. That process was invaluable for learning the artistic and business demands for a TV show. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, we got to take our pitch to showrunners and execs at studios, broadcast and cable networks!” said Marc Muszynski, First Annual Pitch Competition Winner.
Submissions will be accepted December 6, 2013 to January 15, 2014 through the website. The twenty- five semi-finalists will be announced on February 27, 2014 and the top ten finalists will be announced on April 3, 2014.
ATX Television Festival is also pleased to unveil the initial list of confirmed panelists who will be at the third annual festival in Austin, TX June 5 – 8, 2014, as well as the first round of confirmed programming partners. In addition to the new programming, ATX Television Festival is excited to announce two special reunions:
Everwood with guests in attendance: David Hudgins, Rina Mimoun, Chris Pratt, Emily Van Camp, Gregory Smith, Tom Amandes, Treat Williams, Scott Wolf, Stephanie Niznik, Vivien Cardone, John Beasley, and Merrilyn Gann.
“Everwood was my first job in TV and a great experience. Everyone has gone on to do other things since then, which is why I am so thrilled that we all be reuniting at ATX Television Festival to reminisce and trade old stories. I can’t wait!” – David Hudgins
Hey Dude with guests in attendance: Graham Yost, Alan Goodman, Lisa Melamed, Debrah Kalman, Kelly Brown, David Lascher, Geoffrey Coy, and David Brisbin.
Please see below for the current list and stay tuned for additional programming announcements. Confirmed Guests:
Amy Sherman Palladino, Creater/Writer: Gilmore Girls, Bunheads
Graham Yost, Creator/Executive Producer/Writer: Raines, Boomtown, Justified, Hey Dude
Carlton Cuse, Executive Producer/Writer: Bates Motel, Lost
Kerry Ehrin, Executive Producer/Writer: Bates Motel, Friday Night Lights, Parenthood, The Wonder Years, Moonlighting
Ben Blacker, Nerdist Writers Panel
Kyle Killen, Creator/Writer: Lone Star, Awake, Mind Games
Liz Tigelaar, Creator/Writer: Bates Motel, Life Unexpected, Nashville
Julie Plec, Creator/Writer: The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, The Tomorrow People
Richard Hatem, Writer: Grimm, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland
Andrew Miller, Creator/Writer: The Secret Circle
David Hudgins, Executive Producer/Writer: Parenthood, Friday Night Lights, Everwood
Bryan Seabury, VP of Drama Development at CBS
Paul Scheer, Creator/Writer/Actor: The League, NTSF:SD:SUV::
Tim Doyle, Executive Producer/Writer: Last Man Standing, Roseanne, Ellen
Arielle Kebbel, Actor: The Vampire Diaries, Gilmore Girls
Scott Porter, Actor: Hart of Dixie, Friday Night Lights
David Semel, Director/Producer: Hemlock Grove, Homeland, Intelligence, American Dreams, Dawson’s Creek
Confirmed Series:
Bates Motel from A&E
Rectify from Sundance Channel
Everwood
Hey Dude
Including Programming from participating Network/Studios: ABC, A&E, AMC, BBC AMERICA, FOX, FX, Hasbro Studios, Sony Pictures Television, Sundance Channel
Badges to ATX Television Festival are available for purchase here. Weekend Badges are now available for $175 for a limited time. Additional ticketing options will be available for purchase in 2014. For the latest developments, tickets and badges visit the ATX Television Festival official site atxfestival.com and follow us on Facebook & Twitter.
For co-promotion please link to @ATXFestival #Season3 on Twitter
About ATX Television Festival Our focus is on the celebration of the television medium: looking back at its history, where it is now, and where it is headed. Our weekend consists of events where attendees can interact with actors, writers, directors, creators, showrunners, music supervisors, casting directors and studio executives involved in all stages of bringing their favorite series to the small screen. We have all the functionality of a traditional film festival — spotlighting classic shows, never aired pilots, cancelled too soon series, cult favorites, current hits, and premieres of new series. In addition, we focus on episode screenings with Q&A’s from the cast and creators; panels focused on industry related topics like streaming and innovative outlets to continue production outside of the network/studio system; and will include parties, live music, meet-ups, social media events, and “super secret happy hours.” Ultimately, ATX has the goal of serving both the community and industry professionals equally by giving them the opportunity to discuss and celebrate all aspects of TV.