October 1, 2007 - The New York Television Festival (NYTVF) announced winners in the Festival’s thid annual Independent Pilot Competition on Sunday, September 9th. The winners were announced at the NYTVF Closing Night Awards Ceremony, held at New World Stages in midtown Manhattan. Representatives from key Festival sponsors were on-hand to present the MSN Artistic Achievement Award and the TV Guide Audience Award. In addition, the Festival announced genre and individual performance winners in the Independent Pilot Competition. “We congratulate all pilot-makers featured at the 2007 NYTVF,” said NYTVF Founder Terence Gray. “The Festival strives to create opportunities for talented people in television, and we are proud to join with our sponsors to establish a platform helping independent television artists take their careers to the next level. The 2007 Independent Pilot Competition featured 28 programs in a wide variety of television genres. The nonscripted pilot “The Gauntlet” was named the winner of MSN’s second annual Artistic Achievement Award. As part of this distinction, the creator of the pilot receives a development deal with MSN, including a $10,000 cash prize to fund a new project and a meeting with development executives from MSN Orginials. “The Gauntlet” is a unique reality show in which people with unusual jobs settle workplace rivalries in head-to-head competitions for cash and bragging rights. The pilot is created, produced, and directed by Scott Patterson of Brooklyn. Voted by popular choice at Festival screenings, the 2007 TV Guide Audience Award was presented to the pilot “Dear Harvard.” This teen drama follows the story of a young girl from the Upper East Side of New York City as she attempts to navigate the complex world of her elite all-girls high school. Several pilots and pilot-makers in competition received “NYTVF Awards” in the following categories: Best Comedy Pilot: “Apartment 413” Executive Producers: Tamra Malaga, Josh Cohen and Tony Colon Best Drama Pilot: “Dear Harvard” Executive Producer: Anne Jarmain Best Nonscripted Pilot: “The Gauntlet” Executive Producer: Scott Patterson Best Writing: Jack Piccone “The Agency” Best Directing: Grant Weiss and John Paul White ”Sacrifice” Best Actor: Ali Farahnakian “Video Shmideo” Best Actress: Ella Rae Peck ”Dear Harvard” In addition, to the New York City based honorees, a “Made in NY” television show, “New Amsterdam”, was featured prominently at the NYTVF. A special sneak-preview event was held, featuring a screening of the pilot and a panel discussion with the cast and producers. Currently slated to debut in midseason, “New Amsterdam” centers on the brilliant and enigmatic homicide detective John Amsterdam, who was granted immortality after he saved the life of a Native American girl in 1642. Now, almost 400 years later, he uses unorthodox techniques and unique knowledge gained from his vast life experience to solve crimes with his vibrant, strong-willed partner, Eva Marquez (played by Zuleikha Robinson). Only Omar (played by Stephen Henderson), the sage jazz club owner, knows John’s true identity and his secret. Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting Commissioner Katherine Oliver moderated the panel on Thursday, September 6. The panel featured Robinson, Henderson, and producers Eric Overmeyer and David Manson. design by    The City of New York Mayor's Office of Film Theatre & Broadcasting 1697 Broadway Suite 602, New York, New York 10019.
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