The newsletter of the SASKATCHEWAN INTERACTIVE MEDIA ASSOCIATION

The Saskatchewan New Media Developers Association is now the Saskatchewan Interactive Media Association Inc. – also known simply as Saskatchewan Interactive or SaskInteractive.com for our soon-to-be-revamped website. This announcement of the change was made at our March 9 symposium.

Our mission is to foster the growth of our industry in Saskatchewan, and we have some exciting initiatives in the offing. Stay tuned!

We encourage you to support our efforts; assist us by becoming a member and presenting a united voice in Saskatchewan. 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 (soon to switch over to http://www.saskinteractive.com).

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AGM results
Our Annual General Meeting was held on April 11 at 1:30 p.m. at the TRLabs videoconference facilities in both Saskatoon and Regina.
Your Board of Director for 2006 are”
Deborah Black
Ryan Lejbak
David Milne
Bart Nikota
Frank Bulk
Dr. Bill Brooks

See attached for President’s Report for a review of the past year and a glimpse into activities for 2005.
Please note that there will be an important planning meeting on Friday, May 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for new board members to develop the strategic plan for the future.
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VIDFEST 2006 Content A-Go-Go Mobile Challenge
The Vancouver International Digital Festival (VIDFEST) is pleased to announce its partnership with Mobile MUSE, CBC Zed, and CBC Radio 3, on a unique contest for all new media producers with a love of the mobile medium.

The VIDFEST 2006 Content A-Go-Go Mobile Challenge invites digital media creators to upload their podcasts, short films and documentaries, animation, music, and other digital creations.

With each upload, contestants will be entered to win one of five new 60GB Video iPods. These prizes will come fully loaded with all the Content A-Go-Go submissions, plus amazing content from CBC Zed, CBC Radio3 and VIDFEST.

Deadline for entries is May 19, 2006 . For more information or to upload content, visit: www.zed.cbc.ca/gogo

Winners will be announced at the VIDFEST 2006 Closing Gala on June 16th, 2006.
For additional information:
Kirstin Richter
Producer, VIDFEST
604-739-9878
Kirstin@newmediabc.com

Jennifer Ouano
Interactive Ventures Producer, CBC Zed
604-662-6250
jennifer_ouano@cbc.ca
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New Media R&D Initiative

The purpose of this email is to make Saskatchewan aware that the guidelines for funding for the New Media R&D Initiative for the 2006-2007/2007-2008 fiscal years have been posted on our website. Please forward this email to your colleagues and to anyone else that may be interested in having this information.

The New Media Research Networks Fund is a component of the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Canadian Culture Online strategy (CCO), a framework to stimulate the development and production of Canadian cultural content on the Internet. Objectives for this initiative are 1) to help build research and development (R&D) capacity in Canada and to advance innovation, specifically in the area of digital cultural content; 2) to strengthen R&D capacity in small- to medium-size enterprises (SMEs) in the cultural new media industry; and 3) to encourage partnerships between organizations involved in developing innovations to allow them to share expertise and build on each others’ strengths.

To encourage the participation of SMEs, 50% of funds allocated for this call for proposals will be reserved for projects led by eligible SMEs (providing a sufficient number of projects proposed by SMEs are deemed acceptable through the assessment process.)

The application process for this fund has two stages: an Expression of Interest stage, and a Full Application stage. The deadline for submitting Expressions of Interest is Monday, May 1, 2006. A Full Application may only be submitted upon the request of Canadian Culture Online after review of all Expressions of Interest. Full details can be found in the guidelines document at http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/pcce-ccop/progs/NewMediaR&DInitiative_e.cfm.

If, after reading the guidelines document, you have any questions about the fund or the application process, please feel free to contact us at:
toll free: 1-866-900-0001
TTY/TDD 1-819-997-3123
email: mccop-pcce@pch.gc.ca
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Canada's biggest New Media Event of the Year!
Tickets on sale now!
Group Tickets - 10 tickets for $400
Single Tickets - $60 for general admission
Event: 6th Annual Canadian New Media Awards Show & Gala
Date: Monday May 29th, 2006 @ 8:00PM
Location: The Carlu, 444 Yonge Street, 7th Floor, Toronto, ON
Dress Code: Evening Wear or Cocktail
Emcee: Alan Park from the Royal Canadian Air Farce
Visit: www.cnma.ca/index_e/ticket_ordering to register for this exciting celebration of Canada's hottest new media talent!
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Semifinalist in the 2006 Indie Game Showcase
SaskInteractive member Richard Buckley of Far Vista Studios received support from Industry Canada and International Trade Canada through our association, to attend the Game Developers’ Conference in San Jose last month. While there, he entered his game, “The Apocalypse Spell” into ECD Systems’ and the game has been selected a Semifinalist in their 2006 Indie Game Showcase! Finalists will be showcased in the ECD booth at E3, where attendees will vote for their favorite and select the winner.

All of the semi-finalists (including the Finalists) have won 2 complimentary Industry Invitation Passes to the E3 Expo 2006.
Congratulations, Richard Buckley & David Callel on this wonderful acknowledgement!

This is one more way that our association is working for you.
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Funding for the Saskatchewan Interactive 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.saskinteractive.com