2026 ATX TV Festival Announces Finalists and Mentors for Pitch Competition and Mentorship Program

ATX TV Festival Announces Finalists for Pitch Competition and Mentorship Program

The ATX TV Festival has unveiled the ten finalists for its annual Pitch Competition and Mentorship Program, along with a new lineup of advisers to guide these emerging talents.

In alphabetical order by project title, the finalists are:

• Divine Intervention, Zina Ellis (half-hour comedy)
• Friendliest, Drew Lausch & Jenny Leon (half-hour dark comedy)
• Generations, Darryl Mansel (hour-long science fiction)
• GFF: Ghost Friends Forever, Tyler Stuart (half-hour comedy)
• Habibi, Saleh Karaman (hour-long dramedy)
• King Senior High, Laila Wilson (half-hour comedy)
• Silver Spoon, Lucy Porter (half-hour comedy)
• The Townhomes, Ivan Rome (half-hour comedy)
• Thumpers, Dawn Kalani Cowle (hour-long drama)
• Wonder Child, Jessica Tolliver (half-hour comedy)

Each finalist was selected based on a 90-second video pitch and a writing sample for a scripted series. These creators will present their ideas live at the festival next month, facing a panel of industry judges that includes showrunners, producers, and executives.

The winner of the competition will receive a script read and general meetings with at least three judges or panelists for feedback, pitch mentorship with a showrunner or executive, and three general pitch meetings. The runner-up will also receive feedback through two general meetings with ATX TV pitch judges or panelists.

The Pitch Competition and Mentorship Program aims to support emerging writers in advancing their careers in television. Following the festival, the finalists will enter a year-long program featuring individualized mentorship, industry access, and ongoing support.

This program includes monthly virtual roundtables with industry leaders who will offer career advice, insights on preparing for meetings with executives and producers, and an exploration of the inner workings of a writers’ room.

Mentors for this year’s program include:

• Molly Arkin, Creative Executive, Okay Goodnight
• Rika Dharmesh Bhakta, Development Executive/Producer
• Mitchell Bendersky, Manager & Owner, Expectation Management
• Laura Johnson, Director of Development, Doozer Productions
• Sara Karimipour, Emmy Nominated Writer
• Logan Kovarick, VP, Good Karma Productions
• Disha Manocha, Writer
• Shruti Marathe, Director of Development, Unicorn Island
• Ashley Mathew, Independent Producer and Consultant (Graphic India)
• Emilio Mazariegos, Creative Executive, Yoruba Saxon
• Lyra Tan, Manager/Producer
• Aaron Van Pelt, Manager, Comedy Development, Sony Pictures Television

Emily Gipson, Co-Founder and Co-President of ATX TV Festival, highlighted the initiative’s importance, stating, “The Pitch Competition & Mentorship Program remains a cornerstone of ATX TV’s commitment to discovering and supporting new voices. We’re excited to work with this year’s finalists as they develop their projects and take the next steps in their careers.”

Co-facilitating the program, Rika Dharmesh Bhakta emphasized its focus on building community among writers. “In this unpredictable industry, this program brings us back to what we love most—television—and grounds us in three simple things: creativity, collaboration, and community,” she said.

The ATX TV Festival Season 15 will be held in Austin, Texas, from May 28 to 31, 2026.