As it does every year, the New York Television Festival (NYTVF) used the last week in October to hand out awards and development deals to independent web series creators. This year’s biggest hits included Steve Dildarian’s The Worst Husband, which won the NYTVF Critics Award as well as one of two “Best of the Fest” prizes, as well as Streamy Award winner Brooklyn Sound, which earned one of the ten development deals handed out at the festival.
The Worst Husband was one of the most high-profile projects in the NYTVF field; previously, Dildarian served as the creator of the HBO cult hit The Life and Times of Tim. His latest show topped all challengers in the NYTVF’s Independent Pilot Competition. Medium Well, a comedy about an aspiring chef, earned the other Best of the Fest award by being selected as the festival’s best script.
Subscribe for daily Tubefilter Top Stories
When I noted the 63 pilots that had been selected for this NYTVF field, I paid particular attention to three projects: Brooklyn Sound, Keith Broke His Leg, and Her Story. Ultimately, all three of those shows earned recognition. Brooklyn Sound, which won the 2016 Streamy Award for Best Indie Series, picked up a development deal with Comedy Central; Keith Broke His Leg star Keith Powell (of 30 Rock fame) was named the Best Actor in a Comedy; and Emmy nominee Her Story won two awards, including Best Short-Form Drama Series.
“From the moment we began the submission assessment process, I felt that because the talent level was just outstanding, this could be a game-changing year,” said NYTVF Founder and Executive Director Terence Gray in a press release. “The engagement from the industry and willingness and enthusiasm to support the artists invited to the Festival are by-products of the fact that we are seeing exceptional storytellers participate in our initiatives across the board. I’m blown away by the response from both the creative community and industry decision-makers, and this fantastic week has us already looking forward to next year.”
Here, via the release, is a full list of award and development deal winners from this year’s NYTVF:
2016 WINNERS – INDEPENDENT PILOT COMPETITION AND NYTVF SCRIPTS
The following Official Selections of the Independent Pilot Competition were presented with awards across 15 categories tonight, along with an award in the inaugural NYTVF Scripts initiative:
Best Animation:
“Fired On Mars” created by Nick Vokey and Nate Sherman – Los Angeles, CA
Jeff just got fired from his graphic design job. On Mars. And there’s no way for him to get home.
Best Comedy:
“Poor Todd” created by Liz Astrof (Los Angeles, CA)
A self-proclaimed “low maintenance” pediatric dentist and her long-suffering, under-earning menschy husband deal with everything from humorous daily minutiae to major life struggles like money, career, life insurance, and kids…potentially.
Best Drama:
“According to My Mother” created by Daniel K. Isaac, Cathy Y. Yan, and Devin Landin (Queens, NY)
This modern take on the family series features a young, gay Korean-American living in New York and his disapproving, devout Christian mother who moves in with him…and changes everything.
Best Short-Form Comedy Series:
“Textbook Adulthood” created by Madeline Walter and Paul Welsh (Los Angeles, CA)
Two SAT tutors wonder if the transitional job they started in their 20’s has turned into a sad career as they enter their 30’s.
Best Short-Form Drama Series:
“Her Story” created by Jen Richards and Laura Zak (Los Angeles, CA)
This modern relationship drama follows Violet and Paige, two transgender women in Los Angeles, who have given up on love when chance encounters suddenly give them hope.
Best Unscripted:
“Comedy Digs” created by Shelly Gossman and Blythe Haaga (Los Angeles, CA)
In this twist on the home improvement genre, SNL writers-room alum Shelly Gossman helps her fellow
comedians turn their grungy pads into homes suitable for grownups as they sort through comedic oddities and tackle tricky DIY projects.
Best Actor, Comedy:
Keith Powell for “Keith Broke His Leg”
Best Actor, Drama:
Daniel K. Isaac for “According to My Mother”
Best Actress, Comedy:
Julia Mattison for “Brooklyn Sound”
Best Actress, Drama:
Angelica Ross for “Her Story”
Best Writing:
Adam Weinstock and Andy Jones for “On the Bright Side”
Best Directing (Tie):
Sonja O’Hara and Jaspal Binning for “Doomsday” and
D.W. Waterson for “That’s My DJ”
Best Editing:
Drew Van Steenbergen for “Brooklyn Sound”
NYTVF Critics Award:
“The Worst Husband” created by Steve Dildarian (Los Angeles, CA)
Vance Johnson is a decent guy who is newly married and new to the suburbs. Confronted by judgmental neighbors, conservative in-laws, and nosy co-workers, his good deeds somehow get twisted and misunderstood, and he comes across looking like the worst guy ever.
Best of the Fest – Independent Pilot Competition:
“The Worst Husband” created by Steve Dildarian (Los Angeles, CA)
Best of the Fest – NYTVF Scripts:
“Medium Well” written by Christina Brosman (Brooklyn, NY)
Marjorie has spent the last decade as an assistant to a celebrity chef and a wife to her high school sweetheart. Now in her 30’s, she’s finally ready to admit that she wants a culinary career of her own…and a divorce.
IPC selections can be found at http://www.nytvf.com/2016_
ipc_selections.html. 2016 NYTVF DEVELOPMENT DEALS AND NETWORK AWARD WINNERS
Bento Box Development Award:
Tiffany So and Saba Saghafi for their project “Limited Space” (Los Angeles, CA)
Comedy Central Development Award:
Julia Mattison and Noel Carey for their project “Brooklyn Sound” (Brooklyn, NY)
IFC Comedy Selects:
“Door on the Left” created by Kati Skelton (Brooklyn, NY) and
“E. Coli High” created by Kevin Barker and Ben Miller (Brooklyn, NY)
OneX Pitch Deal:
Chas Jackson (Los Angeles, CA)
Pop Pitch Deal:
Madeline Walter and Paul Welsh (Los Angeles, CA)
Red Arrow Entertainment Development Award:
Eli Batalion and Jamie Elman for their project “Yidlife Crisis” (Montreal, Quebec)
Seeso Development Award:
Tynan Delong, Ryan Bennett and Ana Fabrega for their project “Jana and Shasta” (Brooklyn, NY)
Super Deluxe Pitch Deal:
Meghan O’Neill (Brooklyn, NY)
truTV Greenlight Deal:
Shelly Gossman and Blythe Haaga for their project “Comedy Digs” (Los Angeles, CA)
This winner has been selected to develop a project in partnership with truTV and NYTVF Productions.
WEtv Pitch Deal:
Joseph Gerbino and Erica Hart (West Palm Beach, FL)
In addition to the above, New York Women in Film and Televisionawarded a platinum memberships to Alex Trow and Katie Gibson in recognition of their work on “Inappropriate Jane Austen.” Previously-announced winners and honorees in the JHRTS Script Competition and NYTVF-Just for Laughs Script to Screen TV Pitch Competition were also recognized during Saturday night’s awards reception.
