Vancouver International Digital Festival

08.05.09

Time for Convergence, really

Convergence has been a buzzword for a while, but this time it’s for reals (well, mostly). Convergence 2008 is a new conference for digital marketing and communications mavens. The good news is that VIDFEST has partnered up with this new conference organized by ad agency, Cossette.
With a VIDFEST VIP pass get access to a […]

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VIDFEST is eleven events over four days, including conferences, an awards gala, an international partnering forum, a pitch fest, and a recruiting fair. Book your calendar for this digital media extravaganza.

Vancouver International Game Summit 2008: May 21-22, Vancouver BC

VIDFEST 2008: May 21-24, Vancouver BC

DAY ONE: WEDNESDAY, MAY 21
6 PM – 8 PM
VIDFEST and VIGS Opening Reception
Venue: Vancouver Art Gallery

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Kick-off the fest in high style. Enjoy cocktails and appies while mingling with digital luminaries at our opening party during the new KRAZY The Delirious World Of Anime + Comics + Video Games + Art exhibit. Plus, see 1500 lbs of mechanical mayhem in action. It’s the Mondo Spider of BurningMan fame - a super cool, ridable, mechanical walking machine.

DAY TWO: THURSDAY, MAY 22
10 AM – 5 PM
International Partnering Forum (IPF)
Venue: Granville Island Hotel

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This exclusive full day of one-on-one meetings and networking sessions has been a smash hit every year. Don’t miss your chance to meet the high caliber attendees of this event. Read on for more details.

9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Convergence 2008
Venue: Granville Island Stage (Arts Club)

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Cossette West invites you to attend Convergence 2008, a Digital Marketing and Communications Forum. Join other savvy marketing and communications professionals from across North America to learn how to stay competitive in the ever-shifting digital landscape. See the agenda and speakers. All VIDFEST VVIP pass holders get access to all the mainstage sessions at Convergence 2008.

5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Happy Hour
Venue: Granville Island Hotel

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Some say it doesn’t get much happier then VIDFEST’s Happy Hour. Chill out and rub shoulders with the IPF attendees and get prepped for Friday’s Creative Exchange.

DAY THREE: FRIDAY, MAY 23
9 AM – 5 PM
Creative Exchange Conference
Venue: Granville Island Stage (Arts Club)

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Come to the VIDFEST Conference for a full day of creative exchange. It’s all about renewing your vision. Over the course of nine intense sessions hear and meet the brilliant leaders of today’s digital media industry. Get the big picture in digital media and chart your future direction. High level seminars will keep you and your company on the leading edge.

VIDFEST speakers are thought leaders from many fields: social media, internet economics, animation, blogging, fashion, crowdsourcing, alternate reality games, design, social action, and more.

Full session descriptions here.

9 AM – 5 PM
Schmooze Lounge
Venue: Granville Island Hotel

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The Schmooze Lounge is what every great festival has and what every great attendee loves. It’s dedicated to you. Now go out there and make it happen.

7:30 PM – MIDNIGHT
PopVox Awards / Gala
Venue: “The Hangar”, Great Northern Way Campus

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The Vancouver International Digital Festival’s gala is the time to celebrate! Raise a toast to the PopVox winners - the people’s choice awards for digital media. Mingle with over 400 of your new favorite people during this premier event.

Doors open: 7:00 PM
Awards: 7:30 PM
Gala: 8:30 onwards

DAY FOUR: SATURDAY, MAY 24
1 PM – 4 PM
Pitch ‘n’ Play
Venue: Emily Carr University of Art + Design
Sponsored by: BC Lottery

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This is a free event! Game pitches. Games on the big screen. It’s all games all the time! Come together for an afternoon of pitching ‘n’ playing. Hear about some of the best up-and-comers in digital entertainment. Teams will take the stage for 15 minutes and give a 10 minute pitch followed by a 5 minute Q&A. In between learning, play games on the big screen. Pitchers include: Cat Games, Microsoft, NSI PlayWrite, CBC Digital Development Labs, Strutta, and Fit Brains

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Special feature: Catch a screening of “Late Fragment”. This provocative film is about Faye, Kevin, Théo — three troubled strangers, three lives fractured by thoughts and acts of violence. Their stories interlock in a unique cinematic experience in which you play a creative and interactive role. Ana Serrano, Director of the Habitat new media lab at the Canadian Film Centre, will introduce the film.
Cost: $5 / Free to VIDFEST VVIP pass holders. Tickets on sale one hour before.

1 PM - 5 PM
Recruiting Fair
Venue: Emily Carr University of Art + Design
1399 Johnston Street, Granville Island
Vancouver
Supported by: Ministry of Tourism, Sport & the Arts

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The job scene is hot, hot, hot. Digital media designers, programmers, marketers, artists, animators, developers find your dream job. Employers, come out to our one-stop shop for the best in new talent. Bring your resumes and digital portfolios. Companies such as Blast Radius, Rainmaker Entertainment, Cossette, Nexon Publishing North America - Humanature Studios, Bardel Entertainment, Seven Group, and Microsoft will be in attendance. Ever wanted to be a Master of Digital Media? The Master’s of Digital Media Program will also be in attendance to answer your questions about how this unique program can meet your goals.