The SNMDA Newsletter

INTERACTIVE! – The newsletter of the SNMDA

The Saskatchewan New Media Developers Association’s mission statement is: To foster the growth of the new media industry in Saskatchewan. We encourage you to support our efforts; assist us by becoming a member and presenting a united voice in Saskatchewan.

We could use your help. Please pass this email on to everyone you know in the industry. If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter, visit http://www.snmda.sk.ca


From Your Board
Welcome to an exciting new year of interactivity!

Plan on attending Saskatchewan Interactive! An intensive one-day symposium for digital media producers, Thursday, March 9, 2006 in Saskatoon, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Hilton Gardens Inn.

The symposium is a key initiative by the SNMDA for industry development, and to increase awareness and opportunities for Saskatchewan’s interactive media companies, especially with regard to all aspects of gaming – console games, on-line games and the huge movement that is developing in “serious gaming,” using gaming engines and techniques to provide educational resources and training in a dramatically more effective manner, and to create social change.

While we haven’t officially launched the event, we want to give you a small preview of our keynote speaker.
Warren Currell, President and CEO of Sherpa Games has vast experience working with the video game industry and game developers and licensors from around the world helping them develop business in the interactive entertainment industry. Warren has also brokered deals with such publishers as Sega, Take2, and EA. Most recently, Sherpa Games represented the Atomic Betty license and development property, securing a multiyear, multi-title development contract for their client Breakthrough Film and Television. Warren has worked with the U.S. Coast Guard in developing “Shield of Freedom” a “serious gaming” training program using the Battlefield1942 game engine technology. He is a member of the International Game Developers Association and has conducted numerous presentations on the business of Games Development to various organizations and institutions. Warren also is the chair of Sheridan College’s Ad-hoc Program Advisory Committee for Sheridan’s game development program.

Speakers will showcase their work, share stories, and will inspire provincial companies to advance their capabilities into the lucrative and diverse game industry.

We will be posting the symposium details on a new website and reveal details on January 27. This event is supported in part by SATA and it’s TechAction initiative. Stay tuned!

Doing Business in Asia Pacific
Wednesday January 25, 2006
Innovation Place, Candle Room Saskatoon
Industry Canada and SATA are pleased to invite you to an information seminar on Doing Business in Asia Pacific. The presentations will centre on providing a general overview of the emerging Asian markets and business opportunities in Hong Kong and China's ICT sectors. This session is a great opportunity to learn how to get connected to ICT companies and markets from Hong Kong and China.

ITU Telecom World 2006, the world's most influential global telecom event will be taking place at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong, China from December 4-8 2006 -- and Canada is going to be there! ITU Telecom World organised by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) every three years, ITU Telecom World is recognized as the Olympics of Telecommunications. This event seeks to provide a ‘networking platform’ where the most influential and significant names in Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) can come together. ITU Telecom World events typically attract some 14,500 visitors daily, with around 1000 exhibitors from across the globe and across the spectrum of the ICT industry. To learn more about Canada @ ITU Telecom World 2006 and get involved in attending this conference click here.

The presentations will provide you information on
1 ICT market opportunities in China and Canada's plans for ITU Telecom World 2006.
2 Canada's Bridgehead in China - How Canadian companies can leverage on Hong Kong in doing business in China.
3 The Canadian Delegation to the ICT Pavilion @ Hong Kong Spring Electronics Fair 2006 - Introducing a possible action package for interested Canadian companies to take in order to expand their business to Hong Kong and China. This action package will consist of the HKTDC (Hong Kong Trade Development Council) Business Matching Service and the Canadian ICT Delegation. Web site for the Fair is http://hkelectronicsfairse.com/ictpavilion/index.htm

Information on the speakers presenting the above information can be found at http://www.sata.ca/news/detail.php?recordID=259

LOCATION
The event will take place at Innovation Place, The Atrium Building, Candle Room on January 25th starting at 8:30am to 11:30am.

COST
SATA/STEP members $ 20.00
Non-SATA members $ 25.00
(Continental Breakfast will be served).

REGISTRATION To register http://www.sata.ca/forms/register.php?id=259

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iSUMMIT 2006 - Content that Pays

iSUMMIT 2006 is an international interactive entertainment and media forum that will bring together top business minds from across Canada and around the world for two days of networking and discussion in downtown Toronto from March 29th to 31st, 2006.

The event will take place at the newly constructed MaRS Collaboration Centre (www.marsdd.com) located in Toronto's Discovery District. This exciting new venue features state-of-the-art facilities and unique meeting spaces created to promote business collaboration and innovation.

Organized and presented by the New Media Business Alliance (NMBA), iSUMMIT is produced with the financial participation of Telefilm Canada, administrator of The Canada New Media Fund funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage CANADA , the Ontario Media Development Corporation and the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund.

"New revenue and distribution models are quickly emerging that will create new opportunities for content producers, publishers, carriers and distributors" says Ian Kelso, president of the New Media Business Alliance and Executive Producer of iSummit. "We believe this event will be a perfect opportunity to bring all of our partners in the entertainment and media space in Canada together to tap our collective expertise."

iSUMMIT 2006 will bring together interactive digital media speakers and delegates from across Canada and from the U.S., U.K., and around the world from all levels of the value chain.

iSUMMIT producer Jason Roks says "This event is less about what's new in media than it is about what's NOW in media." Roks is recognized across North America for his networking and media distribution acumen, and for his ingenuity in predicting and
leveraging new directions on the Internet and other communications technology.

The New Media Business Alliance (NMBA) is a not-for-profit industry organization committed to the development of the Ontario interactive digital content industry. To that end NMBA organizes numerous events throughout the year to facilitate connections between businesses and stimulate industry growth. These events include - iLunch a monthly event, currently in its fourth year, and iNTERACT a monthly networking event. iSummit is the latest addition to NMBA's roster of programs and is part of the events strand iCE (Interactive Content Exchange).

Details and registration will be available soon at www.isummit.ca - don't miss out!

To receive biweekly iSummit updates via NMBA's iLetter newsletter - Subscribe to iLetter at www.nmba.ca or send an email to info@nmba.ca

For further information, please contact:
Sarah Baird
Communications Coordinator
New Media Business Alliance

TEL 416.516.0077 x221
FAX 416.840.0512
EMAIL sarah@nmba.ca
WEB www.nmba.ca

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Canadian New Media Awards - Launches New Website

Toronto, ON, January 3rd, 2006 - Regular visitors to www.cnma.ca
will notice a new look when they next visit the site. The Canadian
New Media Awards (CNMA) recognizes the importance of having an
interesting and informative internet presence. The new site is
designed to be much more user-friendly with easy to find
information on sponsors, important dates, details on previous
year's winners as well as an improved nomination process.

"The awards have continued to evolve and grow with the industry and
our new website reflects this," indicated Adam Froman, CNMA
Executive Producer. "The new site demonstrates our commitment to
the incredible talent in the new media industry, and we hope that
visitors to our site will find it refreshing and easier to use," he
added.

About the Canadian New Media Awards (CNMA):
Produced by CANEMA, a national not-for-profit organization, the
Canadian New Media Awards recognize and celebrate the
accomplishments of individuals and companies in the Canadian new
media industry. The Awards also help promote the new media sector
and provide inspiration for those preparing to enter the industry.
For more information, visit http://www.cnma.ca .

For further information, please contact:
Tannis Wengel, Producer, Canadian New Media Awards
Direct line: 416.760.6800
Email: info@cnma.ca

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Accelerator Manager #06-009
Banff New Media Institute

Do you have a passion for the new media industry in western Canada?
The Banff New Media Institute at The Banff Centre is looking for an
inspired individual to lead their new media business development unit.
The primary goal of the BNMI Accelerator is to offer high value to
Western Canada's new media companies, entrepreneurs, industry
associations and producers. This is realized by: operating as an
effective business development and research support service;
professional development and training activities; business cluster
meetings; training workshops for small companies; partnering sessions;
mentorship and ongoing marketing of new media and innovation activity.
The Accelerator program is located at The Banff Centre as it recognizes
the unique value propositions that arts and culture can offer to the
development of a stimulating and progressive new media industry.

Reporting to the Director/ Executive Producer of BNMI the Accelerator
manager will sustain and develop partnership and investment
relationships with government, industry, and the creative and technical
sectors, design intensive high level workshops, advice on partnership
and business formation and develop fund-raising initiatives to support
and sustain the Accelerator's activities. This position is responsible
for the day to day management of the Accelerator including budget
management, staff supervision, planning, program delivery and quarterly
and annual reporting to relevant agencies and The Banff Centre.

If you know new media, understand the entrepreneurial spirit, have the
ability to establish credibility and strong network connections, have
proven management experience and believe in the potential of the new
media industry in Western Canada then this position is for you.

This is a contract position starting Feb 2006 - March 30, 2007, with
potential for extension.
Salary range $53,184- $56,310

For more information: www.banffcentre.ca

Reply by January 25, 2006 to:
Trevor Tyre
RECRUITING AND TRAINING MANAGER
The Banff Centre
P.O. Box 1020, Station 19
Banff, Alberta T1L 1H5
TEL: (403) 762-6177 FAX: (403) 762-6677

The Banff Centre is a catalyst for creativity and a globally respected
post-secondary educational institution and conference facility.

We thank all applicants. However, only those candidates selected for
interviews will be contacted.

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VIDFEST 2006

***********CALL FOR ENTRIES*************

Calling all Masters of the Digital Universe

The 3rd annual Vancouver International Digital Festival is
looking for the best in digital film and interactive design.

The festival is the biggest digital content event in Canada.
Don't miss out!
www.vidfest.com

We invite submissions in two areas:

DIGITAL FILM
--Access other filmmakers, producers, buyers, distributors in an
intimate setting.
--Screen before the very enthusiastic audiences of VIDFEST.
--Get a free pass to all the activities, conference sessions, and
parties of VIDFEST.
--Send us your digitally produced shorts (max. 14 minutes) incl.
music videos, animation, game sequences

INTERACTIVE DESIGN
--Meet other cutting-edge designers, producers, business partners
--Profile work in an online exhibit (over 30,000 visitors in
2005) and at awards ceremony
--Get a free pass to all the activities, conference sessions, and
parties of VIDFEST.
--Send us your innovative websites

Details and entry forms available at: http://www.vidfest.com

Deadline: March 31, 2006.

________________________________________
Yorkton Short Film & Video Festival
New categories:
LifeStyles Programs
Youth
www.yorktonshortfilm.org

For more info contact the Yorkton Short Film & Video Festival
(306) 782-7077

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Funding for the SNMDA newsletter is provided solely through the good graces of our overworked and dedicated volunteers. Please support our efforts by joining our organization and make your voice heard through your industry representatives. We are making a difference!

Website: http://www.snmda.sk.ca