by: Lizzy Ferro

The 15 year old that resides inside me is weeping tears of joy today. Yesterday ATX Television Festival announced a Gilmore Girls reunion for the 2015 festival.

Oh, yeah. I did just say that. 

GILMORE GIRLS FUCKING REUNION.

Confirmed attendees, Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel and creator (and let’s be honest, queen) Amy Sherman Paladino – so, needless to say I’ve been weeping since finding this out. One can only hope an ACTUAL reunion will be born of this event, because, let’s be honest with ourselves, since the show ended in 2007, we’ve all lost sleep knowing we never did find out what ASP’s last four words would have been. Plus, I would give a limb to hear the three of them discuss their feelings on Amy’s departure from the show,  the direction of the last season and the lackluster series finale.

And as if that wasn’t enough, there will also be a Dawson’s Creek Writers Room reunion, which makes me straight up giddy! Dawson’s Creek was massively important during my formative years (Pacey Witter ruined me), so hearing the people who created that world speak about it….well, I’ll cry. A lot. Plus, you know who this will include? Kevin Williamson (always interesting to hear him discuss his feelings on where the show went after he exited) and Rob Thomas! No, not that Rob Thomas – the good Rob Thomas. Yes! Creator of Veronica Mars & Party Down, Rob Thomas. So, basically, this ATX Television Festival was made for me.

Anyone else as thrilled as this girl?

Official Press Release:

ATX TELEVISION FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES

“GILMORE GIRLS” REUNION FOR 2015 FESTIVAL

“Dawson’s Creek” Writers’ Reunion, Pitch Competition and Confirmed Guests Among Fest’s Season 4 Announcements

Austin, TX – November 13, 2014 — ATX Television Festival is pleased to unveil the first series of the 2015 Season 4 Fest as well as the initial list of confirmed panelists who will participate in the annual festival in Austin, TX June 4 – 7, 2015. In addition, the ATX Television Festival is excited to announce two unique reunions: “Gilmore Girls” and “Dawson’s Creek” Writers’ Room.
 
“Gilmore Girls” Reunion with Amy Sherman Palladino (Creator), Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel in attendance.
 
“Gilmore Girls” premiered 15 years ago, quickly becoming an iconic show centered on the relationship between a young mother and her teen daughter. It dealt with culturally relevant life scenarios with timeless meaning. “Gilmore Girls” debuted on October 5, 2000 to widespread critical acclaim until it ended in 2007. Fans can now revisit Stars Hollow and enjoy all seven seasons of “Gilmore Girls” on Netflix.
 
“There’ll be coffee, right? Can’t wait!” – Lauren Graham
 
“So after years of peace and quiet these lunatics have chosen to get the chattiest chicks in the world back under one roof? Really? Okay. You asked for it….Gilmore was the highlight of my ridiculous life. I can’t wait to sit with these unbelievable broads and relive a time where sleep did not exist where stress and coffee were mama’s little helpers and where we all dove into the deep end together to make something weird and very very cool.” -Amy Sherman Palladino
 
ATX Television Festival is thrilled to announce its first Writers’ Room Reunion with “Dawson’s Creek” including creator/showrunner Kevin Williamson, showrunner Greg Berlanti, and producers/writers/assistants Jenny Bicks, Julie Plec, Rob Thomas, Liz Tigelaar, Paul Stupin, Rina Mimoun, Maggie Friedman, Anna Fricke, and Dana Baratta in attendance. This room launched many of these writers’ careers to include creating their own series and showrunning many of our favorite shows.
 
“Dawson’s Creek” was an American teen drama series created by Kevin Williamson, which debuted on The WB on January 20, 1998. It gained popularity through the years and reached millions of homes per week. “Dawson’s Creek” became the coming of age show for Generation Y’s. It launched the careers of Katie Holmes, academy award winner Michelle Williams, James Van Der Beek, and Joshua Jackson.
 
“Dawson’s Creek and Kevin Williamson changed my life and gave me a career. Nothing could be more exciting then to be back with so many people I respect and admire than my fellow writers from the show… and our amazing creator, Kevin.” – Greg Berlanti
 
ATX Television Festival is announcing preliminary judges and dates for the third annual Pitch Competition presented by Final Draft, Inc., creators of the number one selling screenwriting application in the world.
 
Judges currently include:
Kyle Killen (AWAKE, MIND GAMES, LONE STAR)
Scott Pennington (Chapter Eleven Executive, and former VP, Scripted Programming at AMC)
Keith Redmon (Anonymous Content)
** Additional 4-6 judges will be announced as submissions begin to be accepted.
 
“In my experience, every human being who’s ever watched television has a brilliant idea for a show. The pitch competition provides an utterly unique opportunity. Not only do you get to battle test that idea, the winner gets the opportunity to present it directly to the people who actually turn ideas into television. If there’s another competition that puts you in that position or offers a learning experience half as valuable, I haven’t heard of it.” – Kyle Killen
 
The competition allows aspiring writers and show creators to pitch their original idea for a scripted series to some of the biggest decision makers in the television industry at the fourth season of the ATX Television Festival in Austin, TX next June 4-7th.
 
Participants in the Pitch Competition submit with a ninety-second video presenting their original idea for a scripted series through a self-filmed video. The competition is open to any and all pitches for scripted series ideas. The ten finalists compete at ATX Television Festival (June 4-7, 2015) in Austin, TX to pitch live before the panel of judges, who will choose one winner. This winner will receive a meeting with one of the judges to explore the idea of their series and gain notes to better develop the series, then will get a pitch meeting in front of one of the festival’s studio/network partners to try to sell their pilot for production!
 
Submissions will be accepted December 5, 2014 until January 16, 2015 through the website http://www.atxfestival.com/pitch. The twenty-five semi-finalists will be announced on February 27, 2015 and the top ten finalists will be announced on April 17, 2015.
 
ATX Television Festival is also pleased to announce the launch of ATX Ambassadors. An ATX Ambassador is an appointed spokesperson for the festival, who has connected with both the event and the organizers in a way that secures a deep understanding of the Festival’s goals and intentions. The festival is proud to name Wilson Cruz (RED BAND SOCIETY, MY SO-CALLED LIFE), Matt Lauria (KINGDOM, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS), and Nick Wechsler (REVENGE, ROSWELL) as inaugural ATX Ambassadors.
 
“Having attended ATX Television Festival the past two years, I’m honored to have been asked to participate as an Ambassador, and to help them launch this new position along with Matt Lauria and Wilson Cruz. This festival is an extremely unique and important event for the television community, and I’m thrilled to see how it grows, and to be involved in a more official position.” – Nick Wechsler
 
“I attended the inaugural ATX Television Festival in 2012, and even then was impressed with the caliber of panelists and events that Caitlin and Emily programmed. As it has grown, it has only continued to become more thoughtful and engaging — and built itself alongside the growing and ever-changing medium of television.” – Matt Lauria
 
Please see below for the panelists and first series list along with two community event announcements. Stay tuned for additional programming.
 
Additional Confirmed Guests, Series, & Returning Events:
Kathleen McCaffrey, Director: HBO Original Programming
Beau Willimon, Executive Producer/Writer
Kevin Falls, Executive Producer/Creator: JOURNEYMAN
Alex Graves, Director: JOURNEYMAN
Kevin, McKidd, Actor: JOURNEYMAN
Graham Yost, Creator/Writer
David Hudgins, Creator/Writer
Doug Robinson, Executive Producer/Writer
Eli Attie, Writer/Producer
Phil Rosenthal, Creator/Writer/Producer
Noah Hawley, Creator/Writer/Producer
 
JOURNEYMAN will be featured within the “cancelled too soon” series track as a screening.
 
Friday Night Lights Community Screening: Friday, June 5, 2015
Hasbro Saturday Morning Cartoons: Saturday, June 6, 2015
 
For the latest developments, tickets and badges visit the ATX Television Festival official site www.atxfestival.com and follow us on Facebook & Twitter.
 
For co-promotion please link to @ATXFestival #ATXTV4 on Twitter.
 
About the ATX Television Festival
Our focus is on the celebration of the television medium: looking back at its history, where it is now, and where it is headed. Our weekend consists of events where attendees can interact with actors, writers, directors, creators, showrunners, music supervisors, casting directors and studio executives involved in all stages of bringing their favorite series to the small screen. We have all the functionality of a traditional film festival – spotlighting classic shows, never aired pilots, cancelled too soon series, cult favorites, current hits, and premieres of new series. In addition, we focus on episode screenings with Q&A’s from the cast and creators; panels focused on industry related topics like streaming and innovative outlets to continue production outside of the network/studio system; and will include parties, live music, meet-ups, social media events, and “super secret happy hours.” Ultimately, ATX has the goal of serving both the community and industry professionals equally by giving them the opportunity to discuss and celebrate all aspects of TV.