Vancouver-based Sea to Sky Entertainment is pacting with the New York TV Festival and U.K.’s Channel 4 to launch a drama development competition for indie producers.

Sea to Sky, a joint venture between Lionsgate and Thunderbird Films, will offer $45,000 for script development to an outstanding drama project.

Producer must enter dramas as part of the NYTVF’s Independent Pilot Competition.

Lionsgate/Sea to Sky and Channel 4 will consider a shortlist of potential pilots for the script development funding.

“It’s a great time for TV drama, and this is a very real and tangible opportunity for an outstanding creator to get into business with two powerhouses,” said Terence Gray, NYTVF’s founder and executive director, in a statement Tuesday.

“This partnership with Lionsgate and NYTVF offers funding to writers and producers to develop a script with established backing on both sides of the Atlantic,” said Piers Wenger, the head of drama at Channel 4, in his own statement.

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