The New York Television Festival, NBC, Sony Pictures Television and the Mayor's Office of NYC Announce Opening Night Extravaganza

The New York Television Festival, NBC, Sony Pictures Television and the Mayor's Office of NYC Announce Opening Night Extravaganza

Second annual indie fest to open with a premiere screening of NBC's eagerly awaited new drama 'Kidnapped,' to be followed by 'Made in NY' gala

NEW YORK, Aug. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The New York Television Festival (NYTVF) joins with NBC, Sony Pictures Television and the New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting today to announce plans for Opening Night of the 2006 New York Television Festival, scheduled for Tuesday, September 12. The evening will take place at New World Stages, where NBC will premiere the first episode of "Kidnapped," an eagerly anticipated new drama produced in New York by Sony Pictures Television. Following the screening, guests will be invited to attend an exclusive gala held in association with the Mayor's Office of New York City to celebrate its "Made in NY" production initiative.

"NBC enjoys a wonderful relationship with New York City for our many East Coast-based television productions," said Kevin Reilly, President, NBC Entertainment. "We're continuing that tradition with our new New York-based series 'Kidnapped,' and it seems fitting to premiere this ambitious, suspenseful drama at the New York Television Festival."

"It only makes sense to premiere 'Kidnapped' in New York since the city is such a huge part of the show. New York has been a great partner and we're eager to find even more opportunities to take advantage of this great relationship," said Jamie Erlicht, co-president, programming and production, Sony Pictures Television.

"Kidnapped" will be screened exclusively for the industry and media guests in attendance in advance of its network premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 20 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. In the hour-long serialized thriller, the teenage son of a wealthy Upper East Side family is kidnapped and everyone is a suspect. The series focuses on the elaborate, triangulated game between the kidnappers, FBI and law enforcement, and the private negotiating team contracted by this perhaps not-so-picture-perfect family. "Kidnapped" is produced in New York, both on location and at Silvercup Studios East. Series stars Jeremy Sisto, Delroy Lindo, Carmen Ejogo, Linus Roache, Will Denton, and Academy Award winner Timothy Hutton, with Mykelti Williamson, and Emmy Award Winner Dana Delany are all scheduled to attend. "Kidnapped" is produced by 25C Productions, Inc., Rooney McP Productions, Inc. and Eighty D., Inc. in association with Sony Pictures Television.

"Two major goals of the New York Television Festival are to celebrate innovation in TV programming and to promote television production in New York City," said NYTVF Founder Terence Gray. "By showcasing an outstanding program such as 'Kidnapped,' we have a unique opportunity to accomplish both. As the birthplace of modern television, New York deserves a night of recognition for its significant contributions to the industry."

Following the premiere, guests will be invited to attend the "Made in NY" opening night party hosted in association with the Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting and sponsored by NBC, Sony Pictures Television, and the William Morris Agency. Cast and crew from many of New York's most beloved shows will help celebrate television production in the City as part of its "Made in NY" campaign, which recognizes entertainment production within the City's five boroughs.

"New York City is excited to once again host the New York Television Festival," Katherine Oliver, Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting said. "As the home of more than 100 television shows, there is no better location for this event. This year, we are particularly excited that 'Kidnapped' is one of seven new New York City-based television shows on fall schedules. Our local production industry employs 100,000 New Yorkers and contributes $5 billion to our economy annually, and television represents the lion's share of production spending, so we are thrilled to support television productions with free permits, free police assistance, free access to City-owned property, sales tax exemptions on production goods and services, and the "Made in NY" incentive program, which offers qualified productions a fifteen percent tax credit, free advertising and discounts at more than 500 vendors. Visit http://www.nyc.gov/film for more information."

The NYTVF debuted in 2005 as the industry's first showcase for independent television. In April 2006, the Festival announced the first sale of a program that had premiered in the independent pilot competition to a major cable network. The comedy pilot "Criss-Cross" was purchased by A&E Television Networks and put into development under the working title "I Never Said That." This announcement was followed in June by the sale of a second show, the TV Land Audience Award-winning pilot "Off the Hook," to the OLN network. In addition to these two sales, "The Back Brace," named Best Animation Pilot at the 2005 NYTVF, reached a distribution deal with a French film company to be shown in six European countries. In its inaugural year, the New York Television Festival worked in partnership with the William Morris Agency and in conjunction with the New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting.

All Access Passes and Industry Packages are currently on sale by phone or over the Festival website. To order, call 1-866-GO-NYTVF (1-866-466-9883) or visit http://www.newyorktelevisionfestival.com/ and click on "Box Office."

For more information on the NYTVF, please visit http://www.newyorktelevisionfestival.com/ .

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.

Source: New York Television Festival

CONTACT: Amy Glickman, +1-212-843-8063, aglickman@rubenstein.com, or
Gretchen Wagner, +1-212-843-8076, gwagner@rubenstein.com, both of Rubenstein
Communications, for New York Television Festival

Web site: http://www.newyorktelevisionfestival.com/
http://www.nyc.gov/film

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