The newsletter of the SASKATCHEWAN INTERACTIVE MEDIA ASSOCIATION

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Our mission: To foster the growth of a strong & vibrant interactive media sector/industry in SK with capabilities recognized & respected in the provincial, international, and international marketplace.
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March 8, SASKINTERACTIVE SUMMIT 2007! - Mark this day on your calendar. The event will be bigger than last year! http://www.saskinteractive.com
Our second annual one-day SaskInteractive Summit, features this year’s theme, “Way Beyond Websites.” Wide–ranging topics for this event will include, among others:

•Everything you need to understand about Web 2.0

•Implications with audio – voice, ringtones, iTunes – everything beyond the obvious

•The latest developments on mobile platforms

•An overview of computer gaming in the traditional sense, moving into online games, serious games, games for health and the virtually unlimited opportunity e-Gaming offers to education, industry, and to service providers

•Developments in eGaming and eLearning at the University of Saskatchewan and University of Regina, as well as exciting research at TRLabs

•Practical, real-world examples of applied simulation training in industrial applications

•A presenter from one of the companies that creates immersive on-line worlds, such as the enormously popular “Second Life”

•Marketing yourself online

•An overview of developments in England – a major player on the world stage in the e-Gaming industry

•An update on Fortune Cat Game Studio – Manitoba’s recently-launched not-for-profit game development incubator to create a successful eGaming industry in Manitoba

•An overview of developments across Canada, from the formation of the national body (CIAIC), to NewMediaBC’s World Centre, to the Banff New Media Accelerator Program, to Manitoba’s animation and game industry, to Quebec’s highly-developed industry, to PEI’s bold move into e-Gaming.

…and many others. Register online at http://www.saskinteractive.com

Event - SaskInteractive Summit 2007 – “Way Beyond Websites”
Location - Hilton Garden Inn, Saskatoon
Time - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday, March 8, 2007
More details to follow…!

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Upcoming Market Access Programs
Austin Interactive Partnering Forum, SXSW Interactive Festival, March 9-16, 2007

The Austin Interactive Partnering Forum provides an opportunity for Canadian companies to engage and interact with interactive and technology companies in the Southwest U.S. over two days of partnering activities, forums, discussions, and site visits. Participants will also have access to the South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive Festival in Austin, Texas. This program is targeted at Canadian digital media companies in the areas of web technologies, interactive design, and online game development. Strategic and financial support is available for Alberta companies looking to participate in this program. APPLICATION DEADLINE IS JAN 29.
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ICE 2007 EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! - win a Wii™
March 21-22 @ the Carlu, Toronto

The New Media Business Alliance announces that they will give away a Nintendo prize package to an ICE 2007 participant who registers during the early bird period ending February 14, 2007. The prize package includes a Wii™ console with accessories, a wireless DS™ Lite, along with select games
developed in Canada. Everyone who registers for the conference before February 14 is automatically entered into the draw which will take place during the conference. Early bird registration is available at $299 + GST for all CIAIC members, and can be accessed at www.ice07.com.

Register NOW to save money, secure your place, and maybe even win a prize!
Don't miss your chance to be a part of this top-caliber international interactive content business event. Join the hundreds of industry leaders who will gather in March to engage in an exchange of innovative ideas, business models and market activity.

ICE 2007 will build on the sold-out success of last year's iSUMMIT 2006 by focusing on the business of interactive media, distribution, user generated content, games, mobile and more!

Pitch your ideas, partake in business development discussions and hear success stories, and/or seek new partners at the international interactive media market - an added feature for 2007!
Hurry to save $150 before February 14!
early bird rates:
ICE Delegate
$399 CAD + GST

NMBA and CIAIC Member Delegate
$299 CAD + GST

Registration at http://ice07.com/html/register.php
regular rates after February 14 -
ICE Delegate: $549 CAD + GST
Member Delegate: $449 CAD + GST
Visit www.ice07.com for updates and registration info!
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nextMEDIA: The Future of Digital Content*
*Scheduled for June 8 --10, 2007 in Banff, Canada*

Toronto, Canada [January 15, 2007] -- The future of digital content will be studied, discussed, debated and shaped as the best and brightest minds in the digital media industry come together at *nextMEDIA 2007*, scheduled to take place June 8 -- 10, 2007 at the scenic Fairmount Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta. The sister conference to the Banff World Television Festival (June 10 -- 13,2007), nextMEDIA will deliver the latest information on emerging platform distribution while actively building a marketplace for digital content producers from Canada and around the world.

Now in its third year, nextMEDIA has become an *important event for
content producers*, TV and media executives, technology companies, and
Web entrepreneurs alike. The three-day conference features a
comprehensive program of keynotes, panel discussions, briefing sessions, interviews, and formal and informal networking sessions.

New to the nextMEDIA program is a *social-networking site *developed in partnership with PikSpot Groups (http://www.pikspot.com), a Canadian Web 2.0 company. The site (http://nextmedia.pikspot.com) is scheduled to launch mid-February and will offer digital content producers the opportunity to upload their own text, photos and videos using PikSpot's built-in tools. Group members will be able to network with each other, view and "vote" on content.

To register or to find out more information about nextMEDIA 2007, go to http://www.futureofdigitalcontent.com. Delegates registering for the Banff World Television Festival will be able to take advantage of a *special discount* for both events when they choose to register for
nextMEDIA.

For additional information, contact:
Julie Giles, Digital Entertainment and Media Marketing
Tel: 416-537-9774 | Cell: 416-878-5328
E-mail: jgiles@achillesmedia.com
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Phoenix, AZ Aboriginal eLearning Trade Mission
February 12 & 13, 2007

Mission Overview
The Canadian Consulate in Phoenix, AZ is hosting an eLearning trade mission from Canada focused on market opportunities. Funding exist for six companies to attend.

The purpose of this activity is to better define the Arizona market and provide opportunities for Canadian company participants to meet potential clients for their products and services. In addition, there is a focus on the development of business partnerships, community partnerships and Aboriginal/Tribal/First Nation ties.

The primary focus of the mission is prescheduled one-on-one business meetings with potential end users in Arizona. The expectation is that each Canadian company would have a least six scheduled meetings.

The Canadian participants will be recruited and selected by member associations of the Canadian Interactive Alliance and the Canadian eLearning Enterprise Alliance (CELEA). The business meetings will be scheduled by the Greater Arizona eLearning Association (GAZEL) with input from the Consulate in Phoenix.

If you are interested, contact president@saskinteractive.com
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CALL FOR ENTRIES
YORKTON SHORT FILM & VIDEO FESTIVAL
Entry Deadline: February 15, 2007
Get your shorts in the spotlight!
Submit your short film or video for entry into the 2007 Golden Sheaf Competition. 19 Genre Categories, 16 Craft Categories, The Emerging Filmmaker Award, The Best of Saskatchewan Award and other cash prizes.
Enter online on our website .
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CALL FOR ENTRIES - ON THE ROAD TO GDC…
January 29, 2007 - February 5, 2007

In preparation of the 2007 edition of the Game Developers' Conference and the Game Connection, Telefilm Canada, is pleased to invite emerging to mid-career developers to a counselling/coaching program, free of charge.

ON THE ROAD TO GDC…
* A regional market preparedness workshop;
* Company counselling, on location support;
* Networking event at GDC.

The one-day workshop will be delivered regionally as follows:
Montréal (Quebec)
Charlottetown (PEI)
Toronto (Ontario)
Vancouver (British Columbia)

If you are located outside these 4 locations, we can support part of your travel costs.

Eligibility Criteria
The program is opened to all emerging to mid-career Canadian game developers registered to GDC and/or to the Game Connection 2007 which meet one of the following criteria:

* Canadian companies attending GDC or the Game Connection for the 1st or 2nd time
or
* Canadian game developers with a prototype ready to export

The number of participants is limited and Telefilm Canada may apply a selection process based on a first come first served as well as ensuring a balanced regional representation. Please note that only one participant per company is allowed.
Application deadline: January 17, 2007

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Telefilm Canada - Canada New Media Fund
Next deadline - The application deadline for Market research and Prototyping has been extended to January 31st, 2007 for all English and French-language projects.

New media producers are encouraged to streamline their application process to Telefilm Canada by taking advantage of its eTelefilm® service. Companies that submit applications via eTelefilm® enjoy two notable advantages:
* Access to direct deposit for Telefilm funding payments; and
* Submission of applications up to 10 p.m. (EST) on the deadline date (vs. 5 p.m. for those delivered to a Telefilm office).

To register online visit: www.telefilm.gc.ca/eTelefilm.
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Voice Acting Workshops
IMPORTANT NOTICE: These may be the LAST of the subsidized workshops. If you are thinking of entering this form of acting, you may want to strongly consider signing up.
To contact Deb by email chantidm@telusplanet.net

SASKATOON: (pricing is on web site)
Feb 24-25 Deb Munro Voice-Over Workshop Level 1
Deb is looking for someone with a sound studio (either home or business) to host a Voice Level 1 weekend workshop in Saskatoon. Please let me know if you would like to help out. (There are benefits for you.)

REGINA: (pricing & details are on web site)
Mar 31-Apr 1 Deb Munro Voice-Over Workshop Level 1 during the day
Mar 31-Apr 1 Copy Workout Level 3 after 6 PM (open to any level).
Mar 30 & Apr 2 Professional Demo's Deb is doing a limited number of demo's, and she handles all details.
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Please support our efforts to grow our industry by becoming a member and presenting a united voice in Saskatchewan. Pass this email on to everyone you know in the industry.
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Funding for the Saskatchewan Interactive newsletter is provided solely through the good graces of our overworked and dedicated volunteers. Don’t just sit back – help us to grow the industry by supporting our efforts - join our organization and make your voice heard through your industry representatives. We are making a difference!

Website: http://