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Pitch ‘n’ Play, PopVox, Gala - VIDFEST starts with a bang
September 23rd, 2007 posted by jessica
Whew! What a great first day to the fourth annual Vancouver International Digital Festival.
We started off with a rocking recruiting fair. People lined-up out the door to meet some really great companies. The lobby of the Vancouver International Film Centre had a great buzz as people were interviewed and enjoyed meeting one another. At the same time, we had a stellar line-up of pitchers inside the theatre: MindHabits, Big Blue Bubble, Cerebral Vortex, Cambrian House, PowerUp Studios and Hotrocket. They all gave inspiring accounts of indie digital entertainment development. The business models were solid, the partnerships creative, the games fun and with incredible potential, it was a great event. A special nod goes to Matthew Mather and his crew at Mindhabits too. They were the big winners of Telefilm’s Great Canadian Game Competition. Their deceptively simple and appealing games can train your brain to experience less stress, increase confidence and raise self-esteem. Wow! I think your local bookstore’s self-help section might soon be undergoing a games revolution.
In between pitches, audience members had a blast playing Wii tennis and Guitar Here on the big screen. I think pitch ‘n’ play is well on its way to becoming a new favourite event at VIDFEST.
Then we had the PopVox awards ceremony. The people’s choice awards saw some unsung talent really shine. Two-time winner Sherwood Dungeon MMOPRG @ MaidMarian.com was an inspiring and surprising win. Up against some of the biggest game companies in the world such as EA, this two-person company has such a devoted fan community, they put them in first spot. Congratulations to all the winners! And the winners are:
Best Web 2.0: Sxipper
Best Mobile Game: Elven Chronicles
Best Digital Animation Short: Duelity
Best Digital VFX: Sanctuary
Best Game: Sherwood Dungeon MMOPRG @ MaidMarian.com
Best Score: Mario Strikers Charged
BC Homegrown: Sherwood Dungeon MMORPG @ MaidMarian.com
After the glow of the awards we started to party! This Gala was our best yet IMHO. The food was amazing - the little chinese take-out boxes were perfect for networking and having a little nosh. The DJs threw down a wicked set of thumping techno and house, while the NewForms guys synchronized and created cool visuals out of sci-fi film footage. Everyone looked beautiful.
Today is screening day. Sure to be a sell-out with Infest Wisely and Sanctuary. Creators from both will be on hand to introduce and talk about their works. See you there!
