NYWIFT Blog

NYWIFT Recap: TV Pitch Fest

image

Thirty-six participants. Nine networks. Three hours.

On December 4, NYWIFT brought together talented writers, producers, and directors with network and development executives for its first TV pitch fest.

These hopefuls presented their dream projects: scripted series, children shows, game shows, documentary films, and yes, the ever-evolving reality TV. They gained rare access to industry insiders to pitch their original ideas and receive direct, constructive feedback.

The panel included a select group of network and production companies looking to discover new projects:

Mark E. Downie, literary manager, film producer, and TV producer/creator at D&A Media Entertainment.

Abby Finer, co-founder ofFiner Thomas Productions, a full-service talent management and TV/digital media production company.

Francesca Francois-Grimaldi, managing partner and agent at Plaza 7 Talent Agency, a full-service entertainment agency.

Anne Hubbell, co-founder of Tangerine Entertainment.

Dana Offenbach, award-winning producer, and partner in the newly-formed independent film production company CinemaStreet, LLC.

Kristin Pisarcik, Senior Director of Development at NorthSouth Productions.

Greg Rhem,Director of Documentary Programming for HBO.

Dafina Roberts, Original Programming and Events atNickelodeon.

Ed Simpson, Head of Business Development at Leftfield Pictures.

The participants were energized by the TV pitch fest. Antonio Isadora, who pitched a project, rated the experience “excellent” and had set up several follow-up meetings.

Kudos to LeVera Sutton and Meghan Scibona for producing the event.

— ROZ MURPHY

Check out the NYWIFT calendar for more panels, workshops, and other events.

PUBLISHED BY

nywift

nywift New York Women in Film & Television supports women calling the shots in film, television and digital media.

View all posts by nywift

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

*

*

Related Posts

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Persia White

Welcome to NYWIFT, Persia White! Persia White is an actor, director, writer, visual artist, musician, and activist best known for her lead roles on Girlfriends and The Vampire Diaries. A passionate filmmaker, she co-produced the award-winning documentary Earthlings, narrated by Joaquin Phoenix. Her directing work includes acclaimed music videos such as Vampire, NOLA, and Robot Love, earning international festival recognition. She has also produced and co-written award-winning short films for Russell Simmons and Ovation. Persia co-founded Morgan White Productions with Joseph Morgan, and in 2026, Persia is launching Always and Forever, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting diversity and amplifying female voices in film, TV, and the visual arts.

READ MORE

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Dominique Debroux

Welcome to NYWIFT, Dominique Debroux! Dominique is a producer, entrepreneur, and nutritional chef whose work bridges storytelling, science, and women’s empowerment. A former fashion executive turned filmmaker, she produced the documentaries 40 Weeks and recently Wise Women – Humanity’s Untold Origins, which reframes menopause as the evolutionary foundation of women’s leadership. Partnering with Oscar-winner Jonathan Sanger and Madeline Di Nonno of the Geena Davis Institute, she advocates for rewriting women’s midlife narratives—on screen, in culture, and in how we nourish ourselves to thrive.

READ MORE

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Vanessa Hope

Welcome to NYWIFT, Vanessa Hope! Vanessa Hope is an award‑winning filmmaker whose work sits at the intersection of cinema, foreign policy, and human rights, with a focus on women’s leadership in volatile political landscapes. She has directed and produced fiction and nonfiction films across the United States, China, Afghanistan, and Taiwan that have premiered at major festivals such as Sundance, Cannes, and IDFA. Her latest documentary, Invisible Nation, offers intimate, unprecedented access to Taiwan’s first female president, Tsai Ing‑wen, and has been embraced as a landmark portrait of a small democracy confronting mounting authoritarian pressure. She co‑founded Double Hope Films with producer Ted Hope. She also writes the Substack newsletter Dream of a Better World and hosts the podcast vHopeful Conversations, where she champions the independent film and documentary community through in‑depth, craft‑driven dialogues.

READ MORE

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Alice McFaul

Welcome to NYWIFT, Alice McFaul! Alice is a producer, assistant director, and musician based between New York and Ireland, working in feature documentaries and unscripted television. Her work includes some of Netflix’s biggest true crime feature docs as a drama producer, and Stanley Tucci’s Searching for Italy and Tucci in Italy shows as assistant director. Alice is also a professional harpist and singer, playing since the age of three in Northern Ireland. In our interview, Alice tells us more about her experience working across these platforms, and how these are shaping her future goals. 

READ MORE
JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER
css.php