Photo Credit: Rodel Astudillo
ATX TV Festival will present its inaugural “Showrunner Award” to David E. Kelley, the 11-time Emmy Award Winner and prolific creator, producer, and showrunner behind Presumed Innocent, Love & Death, Big Little Lies, Boston Legal, The Practice, Ally McBeal, and many more.
The festival’s newly-launched “Showrunner Award” aims to recognize a showrunner who has made a singular impact on television, and has used their platform to foster an environment of collaboration and mentorship.
Jennifer Morgan, Vice President of Programming for ATX TV, released the following statement:
“David E. Kelley’s impact and influence as a TV creator, showrunner, producer, and collaborator cannot be overstated. From courtroom dramas and small town surrealism, to true crime adaptations and pop culture phenomena, he continues to show us the full range of what is possible on TV. We’re honored to have this opportunity to celebrate his truly singular career with our first ever ‘Showrunner Award.’”
The Award presentation will include a screening of the first episode of Presumed Innocent, followed by a conversation with Kelley about the series (which has been renewed for a second season), as well as a retrospective look into the many iconic and influential series that he has helmed over the course of his celebrated television career.
The line-up will also include the following:
- Muslim Matchmaker: Unscripted Stories of Real Connections – The Muslim House presented by the MPAC Hollywood Bureau and ATX TV Festival present a look at unscripted TV with the creators and cast behind Muslim Matchmaker, including matchmakers and hosts Hoda Abrahim & Yasmin Elhady, creator / executive producer Smriti Mundhra, and executive producer Senain Kheshgi. The team will discuss how they came together to craft a series that features all the humor, humanity, and chemistry we’ve come to expect from our favorite dating shows, while also exploring the tremendous diversity within the Muslim American community as their clients search for modern love that aligns with their faith, values, and aspirations.
- Pain Points of the Indie TV Ecosystem (and How to Solve Them) – A deep dive into the Indie TV ecosystem with the creative minds who are shaping it, and opening the door for more independent storytellers to succeed in an already crowded landscape. Panelists will discuss why they’ve chosen to go the indie route, the “pain points” involved in independent production and distribution, and how to create a more inclusive and accessible route for upcoming creators. Confirmed participants include Mark Duplass (Duplass Brothers Productions), Rick Gomez and Steve Zahn (Macaroni Art), Smriti Mundra (Meralta Films), Christie Marchese (Kinema), and Emily Best (Seed & Spark).
- Bollywood Dance U – An inside look at the independently-produced docuseries Bollywood Dance U from Meralta Films and Amplify Pictures, which explores the competitive world of collegiate Bollywood fusion dance as students juggle crushing course loads, the expectations of their parents and 12-hour practices for the glory of winning nationals. Oscar-nominated director/producer and founder of Meralta Films Smriti Mundhra will join for an exclusive first look at the series and a conversation about the ups & downs of producing independent TV, filming the series in Texas, and the experience of being immersed in the still-growing phenomenon that is collegiate Bollywood fusion dance.
Badges, TV Passes, and Single Tickets for select events are on sale now: atxfestival.com/attend
Previously announced Programming includes:
- Late Nights, Day Drinking, and Closer Looks with Seth Meyers presented by NBCUniversal
- The Leftovers Reunion with EPs and Cast
- Mad Men Revisited with Jon Hamm & John Slattery
- UnREAL 10th Anniversary Retrospective presented by A+E Studios
- Bill Lawrence & Friends with Brett Goldstein and Zach Braff
- Inside the Writers Room: Shrinking
- Achievement in Television eXcellence Award: Christine Baranski
- King of the Hill Revival Sneak Peek presented by Hulu
- Andor with Tony Gilroy & Beau Willimon
- The Waterfront World Premiere with Creator & Cast
- We Were Liars Conversation & Sneak Peek
- The Long Long Night with Mark Duplass
- Anatomy of an Acorn TV Series
- A Conversation with the Cast of Animal Control
- Elsbeth with Carrie Preston
- Ladies of Law: Crime Dramas and the Women Who Run Them presented by Pluto TV
- Independent Series You Belong Here with Steve Zahn, Rick Gomez, and Chef Ouita Michel
- A Late Night Show with Greg Iwinski
- Vampires, Witches, and Other Secret Societies: Inside AMC’s Anne Rice’s Immortal Universe presented by AMC/AMC+
- Finding Mr. Christmas presented by Hallmark
- Casting a Spotlight: Unsung Actors with casting directors and actors
