Pitch your true crime tv idea to the people who make killer tv shows!
Hamptons Whodunit is proud to announce Whodunit PitchFest, a new and exciting partnership with Blackfin, a division of Lionsgate Alternative Television. The company is a leader in unscripted true crime with a track record of developing and producing cinematic, access-driven series and documentaries that combine rigorous reporting with cultural impact. The inaugural Hamptons Whodunit PitchFest will take place on April 19, 2026, the last day of this year’s festival.
It is a rare opportunity for festival attendees, filmmakers, journalists, investigators, and storytellers to present original documentary and unscripted series ideas rooted in real-world crime, injustice, and unanswered questions. Whodunit PitchFest will be led by Geno McDermott, award-winning producer and executive at Blackfin, a division of Lionsgate Alternative Television, whose work spans premium true crime and investigative storytelling for major platforms. McDermott’s most notable credits include directing Netflix’s Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez and executive producing Netflix’s Tiny Creatures, History’s Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre and CNN’s Jerusalem: City of Faith and Fury. His work spans premium true crime and investigative storytelling for major platforms and is known for cinematic craft, rigorous investigation, and cultural impact.
Whodunit PitchFest is designed to surface compelling, access-driven stories with the potential to move beyond development and into production. Participants are encouraged to submit projects that demonstrate original insight, proximity to a case, or a fresh investigative approach.
At least one selected project will receive up to $10,000 in development funding and creative guidance to further develop the documentary or series.
