GDC Partners With New Media BC for GDC Canada

[Tami]

Press Release - VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - New Media BC announced today new partnerships and enhanced programming for the second annual Vancouver Digital Week to run May 11-15, 2009 on Granville Island in Vancouver.

Vancouver Digital Week 2009 includes the following events:

• Vancouver International Digital Festival (VIDFEST)
• Game Developers Conference Canada (GDC Canada)
• Convergence 2009 Digital Marketing & Communications Forum
• The International Partnering Forum
• New Media BC’s Digital Media Awards Show and Gala

Vancouver Digital Week is an immersive week of innovative programming and partnership opportunities for the digital media industry that features top minds and deal makers from around the globe. Participants gain access to international business match-making, ‘big picture’ conference sessions on the latest trends and markets in digital media, high-level seminars for creators, designers, and producers, and vibrant networking parties.

"British Columbia is a global center for digital media and has attracted top level companies, talent, investors and entrepreneurs from around the world." states Kenton Low, President of New Media BC. "We are delighted to bring together an outstanding group of partners to provide a comprehensive week of best in class events. New Media BC is joining forces again with Reboot Communications and the Cossette Communication Group and we are thrilled that Think Services is bringing their world renown Game Developers Conference to Vancouver."

"We are excited to be part of Vancouver Digital Week 2009," Kathy Schoback, Executive Vice President of Global Events, Think Services, said. "Bringing GDC Canada to Vancouver makes a lot of sense for us given the city’s position as a world class interactive entertainment center, and the region's contributions to international game development."

"Vancouver Digital Week 2009 is the ideal platform for Cossette's Convergence 2009 digital marketing forum," says Sandy Fleischer, Vice President and General Manager of Fjord Interactive (Cossette's digital marketing group). "The quality and scope of the week makes this the 'must-attend' event of the year for anyone interested in digital media, and we are proud to be a part of it."

"Our partnership with New Media BC and Digital Week has contributed greatly to the growth of the Vancouver International Game Summit" says Greg Spievak, CEO of Reboot Communications. "We look forward to building on that momentum with the addition of GDC Canada to Vancouver Digital Week 2009."

Vancouver has the perfect ecosystem for a thriving digital media industry: post-secondary institutions providing outstanding digital media, facilities, training and research, a favorable business environment and a strong base of creative and business professionals working in top companies that include Electronic Arts, THQ, Nexon, Activision, Disney, Rainmaker, Nintendo, and Microsoft.