Event Preview: ITVFest

July 31-August 6
Los Angeles

Now in its fourth year, ITVFest has positioned itself as the go-to event for producers looking to showcase their independently produced pilots. As it has grown, ITVFest, taking place July 31 to August 6 in Los Angeles, has opened itself up to the international creative community, this year receiving pitches from 13 different countries. Project submissions were accepted from Scotland, Germany, Brazil, Australia and France, in addition to the U.S., according to AJ Tesler, ITVFest’s executive director.

For Tesler, who was driven to launch ITVFest after experiencing his own struggles as an up-and-coming producer in Los Angeles, the event is intended to serve as a stepping-stone for talented creatives. Producers who showcased projects in previous editions of ITVFest have scored network deals, agents, independent funding and crucial contacts. "This is a festival for people who are trying to break into the American market and to TV in general," Tesler notes. "We can help you along."

And for network, studio and web portal executives worldwide, Tesler says, "ITVFest is a place where you can find innovative content that doesn’t have a home and that is looking for a home. We’re trying to create a semi-marketplace for television, all the while trying to showcase new talent."

ITVFest has certainly caught the attention of the powers that be, with a sponsor lineup that includes Syfy, Current and, reflecting the growing importance of digital media, Next New Networks and My Damn Channel. "We said, If we don’t get relevant on the web, we’re not going to be relevant at all," Tesler says. "We’ve really been cutting our teeth on the digital market and new media. It’s been so important for our growth."

Tesler notes that ITVFest launched a web series competition two years ago and is continuing to expand in this area. August 3 is the event’s Web TV today, with highlights that include the screening of Electric Farm Entertainment’s new production Woke Up Dead with Jon Heder and panels on developing for the web and turning online content into TV shows. In addition, ITVFest recently aligned with Unicorn Media to broadcast all of this year’s project entries online via the UMedia Player.

A full day will also be devoted to the international TV business. "We did end up with so many submissions from all over the world," Tesler explains. "So we’re going to have people come talk about international formats and distribution and we’re going to screen all the projects."

Other highlights over the course of the week, with some 5,000 participants expected, include sessions on casting, the development process and pitching tips.