New York is getting a fresh shot of independent TV energy this January, thanks to a group of filmmakers who decided to create the kind of event they wanted to be part of. The Network NYC: A Filmmaker-Led Television Showcase is a two-night, festival-style screening event focused on independently produced television pilots, and it’s built around something the indie scene always needs more of: community.
What makes The Network NYC stand out is the way it came together. A group of creators who originally expected to premiere their work through a more traditional festival circuit ended up connecting with each other and choosing a different path. Instead of letting momentum die, they pooled their efforts, backed each other up, and committed to presenting their pilots in a real theater setting anyway. The result is a showcase that feels less like a gatekept industry event and more like a creative rally where the work comes first.
Even more impressive is the timeline. According to the press release, the showcase was organized and self-funded in less than three weeks, complete with the kind of reception touches that help the nights feel like an actual celebration of the projects on screen. That kind of hustle is common in indie filmmaking, but it’s still rare to see it pulled together at this scale, this fast, and with this much unity behind it.
When and Where It’s Happening
The Network NYC runs January 21 and January 22, 2026, with screenings held from 5:30 PM to 11:00 PM each night at the SVA Theatre in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. The venue, operated by the School of Visual Arts, is positioned as a professional cinema setting, which matters for pilots trying to make the leap from passion project to real-world opportunity. The showcase is slated to feature 13 or more pilots, giving audiences a packed lineup across two nights.
A Lineup Built for Range
The pilots selected for The Network NYC cover a wide range of tones and formats, which is exactly what you want from an indie showcase. Comedy is well represented, with projects like “Witch City” (Allie Del Franco), “Kitty Gets a Job” (Chris Jadallah), “Friends Not Food” (Felicia Greenfield), and “Ethel & Ernie” (Julia Wackenheim). There’s also sketch and talk show energy in the mix, including “The Scott & Jeff Show w/ Doug & Kip” (Patrick Sheehan) and “Sports Talk Right Now!” (Max Reinhardsen).
On the drama side, “Home Again” (Janet Torreano Pound) and “Hazel” (Timothy Kukucka) bring heavier storytelling, while “Our Family Pride” (Glen Evelyn) is billed as an LGBTQ comedy drama. Animation gets a spotlight too with “Fatal Konflict: Behind the Blood” (Kyle More and Nino Mancuso), described as a hybrid animated comedy. And for viewers who want something rooted in the real world, the program also includes “PANORAMIC VIEW: Portrait of Artist Francine Tint” (Pola Rapaport), a documentary short.
That variety is a strong reminder of what independent creators do best. They take swings. They build shows that don’t have to fit neatly into a single lane. And they keep experimenting with format, tone, and perspective in ways mainstream pipelines usually avoid until something proves it can sell.
A Showcase With a Point of View
Beyond the screenings, The Network NYC is being positioned as an artist-friendly alternative that values integrity and basic respect for creators. The press release makes it clear the group’s focus is progress, not drama, and the event itself is framed as both a celebration and a statement: independent film culture works best when it’s collaborative, transparent, and supportive.
That’s an easy message to get behind, and it’s also a smart foundation for something that could grow. If this showcase becomes an annual thing or expands beyond NYC, it’ll be because it’s being built from the ground up by people who actually understand what indie artists need, and what they’re too often asked to tolerate.
For anyone in New York who loves discovering new voices early, or for anyone who simply misses the feeling of finding a show before it becomes “a thing,” The Network NYC sounds like a great way to spend two nights.
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