The National Association of Television Program Executives is expanding the format of its annual TV Producers’ Boot Camp conference to include a short programming competition.

The Boot Camp’s NextGen TV Festival and Competition will screen winning entries at a cocktail reception July 26 and for the next two days on-site. Categories include one to six minutes of original content in animation, comedy, drama, mobile, factual and unscripted.

Grand prize winners will receive a cash prize, a six-month mentorship, two pitch meetings, and registration for the 2007 NATPE national convention.

The fourth annual event will be held July 26-28 at the Bel Age hotel and other locations in West Hollywood, Calif.

The conference will offer more than 12 hours of workshops, seminars, clinics and networking activities. The boot camp keynote address will be delivered by Michael Camacho, packaging agent and head of alternative television for the talent agency CAA. Anthony Zuiker, creator of CBS’s “CSI” franchise, will be the closing speaker.