Independent producers will be given the opportunity to have their original unscripted TV treatment funded with a new A&E Unscripted Development Pipeline at the New York Television Festival.

The winning producer’s concept will be produced as a pilot in partnership with A&E Network and Left/Right Productions.

Concepts should focus on individuals or small groups that represent unique points of view.  The A&E Unscripted Development Pipeline is open to U.S. residents age 18 and over who do not have any contractual commitments preventing them from entering into an exclusive development deal with A&E.

Applicants must not have unscripted formats currently under development at a network, studio or major production company and meeting all other criteria in the Official Rules in order to be eligible for the competition.

Completed entries will consist of a two to four minute DVD of the subject video and a one  to two page treatment describing the unscripted format.

The NYTVF will be accepting entries from June 20 through July 15, 2011.

A screening committee of NYTVF officials will narrow the entries down to 25 semi-finalists. These semi-finalists will be presented to A&E development executives, who will select five finalists, each of whom will receive notes on their projects and US$2,500 to shoot short presentations, under the guidance of  Left/Right Productions.

One winner will be selected by A&E, and he/she will participate in the production of the pilot, and will receive a co-executive producer and co-creator credit on the pilot and any subsequent series.

Additionally, A&E may choose to enter into development agreements with the remaining finalists. All of the 25 semi-finalists will be invited to participate in the 2011 New York Television Festival as Official Artists.

“We are excited to partner with the NYTVF and Left/Right to offer talented independent television producers the opportunity to have their ideas brought to life,” said David McKillop, EVP of programming, A&E.

“The NYTVF is thrilled to be expanding our relationship with longtime partner A&E on this new groundbreaking content development initiative,” said NYTVF founder Terence Gray.  “That an independent producer can pitch a great idea and through this initiative see their concept come to life by being made into a network-supported pilot, is truly phenomenal.”

“Left/Right is thrilled to partner with A&E and the NYTVF to give talented independent producers a real chance to launch their careers and see their work on television,” added Banks Tarver, co-founder and co-president of Left/Right.

NYTVF also oversees  annual development initiatives in partnership with a number of network, studio and brand sponsors, including previously announced 2011 partners FOX, IFC, MTV, and a new partnership with FX.

In 2010, the Festival received nearly 2,500 submissions to its various initiatives and welcomed over 150 official artists to the Festival last September.