N.Y. TV Fest adds development partners

The NY Television Festival, heading into its eight year, Friday introduced nine development partners because of its 2012 edition this fall including IFC, MTV and VH1. IFC, which acquired approaching series "Bunk" from the 2010 fest, has became a member of MTV and VH1 as award sponsor for that Pilot Competition and it is seeking comedy distribution because of its third annual As they are award. MTV is searching for animated and live-action comedies and VH1 for unscripted formats because of its VH1 Creative Lab "Theory of Creativeness" Award which includes a development deal. The growing festival is striving being the Sundance of television -- determining independent creative talent and fostering connections with systems, galleries and types. It unspools March. 22-27 at Tribeca Movie theaters and also the 92YTribeca in lower Manhattan. Sundance Funnel, SevenOne Intl., Bio Funnel, Logo design, Hasbro Galleries and Funnel 4 have signed onto take pitches and guarantee an improvement deal each for just one producer. Hasbro may be the first partner within the children's entertainment category. Funnel 4 may be the first worldwide network partner. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com