VANCOUVER December 3, 2008 – The 3rd Annual ELAN Awards announced the extension of their submission deadline today due to an unprecedented response from the industries they award. Top titles from Video Games, Animation and Visual Effects from all around the world are expected to enter the global award show.

“Given our expansion from what was mostly a Canadian show into a worldwide competition and then adding another entire sector, VFX, the overwhelming response both delighted and deluged us,” smiles Holly Carinci, Founder & Producer of the ELAN Awards. “In order to accommodate submissions coming in from every corner of the earth, we’re giving everyone an extra couple of weeks by extending both the early bird deadline as well as the material deadline to December 19th,” says Carinci.

The ELANS recently put out their call for Judges to the media and industry professionals in their three awarded digital sectors and that too has received phenomenal response. With over 60 Judges already onboard and more to come as the call remains open for a short time longer, the ELANS can deliver on their promise of “Best in the World” status to their winners.

All professionals from within Video Game, Animation and Visual Effects industries including the media who cover these ELAN-awarded industries who wish to preside over the selection of the final nominees and winners of the 3rd Annual ELANS – the awards show that’s become something of a phenom over the past two years with Hosts such as William Shatner and Seth MacFarlane – is invited to apply by going to the Adjudicative Process page on www.theelans.com and fill in the Application to Judge. Judges will be selected, contacted and later announced (not their categories).

“Once we have the submissions in our Judge’s hands, expect to hear some exciting news to come from us,” says Carinci. “We have a few surprises up our sleeves!”

Supporting the ELANS are the Seven Group who’s come onboard as an Event Partner and will oversee the technical setup of the surrounding Galas and After-Party (the ELAN’S after-party invite-only list is already a ‘must get’) as well as the Awards Ceremony itself. Founding Partners Radical Entertainment and Relic Entertainment as well as Associate Partners Blue Arc, Hitachi, sgi, SPINVFX and David Kaye Productions have all gotten behind the 3rd ELAN Awards already with enthusiasm to ensure the show’s growth and to be a part of its global success.

The 3rd Annual ELAN Awards will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2009 at the Centre in Vancouver for the Performing Arts.

VANCOUVER November 18, 2008 – Press Release - The ELANS officially put out their call to the entire world for Judges today to the media and industry professionals in video games, animation and visual effects. Anyone from within these industries who wish to preside over the selection of the final nominees and winners of the 3rd Annual ELANS – the awards show that’s become something of a phenom over the past two years with Hosts such as William Shatner and Seth MacFarlane – is invited to apply.

“We went through all of the big award shows’ judicial procedures, even those outside of these industries such as the Oscars, to come up with this year’s process for the ELANS,” says Holly Carinci, Founder & Producer of the ELAN Awards. “We then took what we determined to work the best from each of them to our Board of Advisors and had the luxury of working with some of the top people in these industry sectors to come up with a very good, very fair judicial system that will reflect the decisions of the entire world, not just North America … That was important to us.” The Board of Advisors for the 3rd Annual ELAN Awards is made up of industry luminaries Kelly Zmak of Radical Entertainment, Tarrnie Williams of Relic, Kay Gruenwoldt of N-Gage, Doug Campbell of SPIN West VFX and the prolific Producer/Director from all three sectors, Ian Verchere.

The list of requirements for those interested in becoming a Juror/Judge for the 3rd Annual ELAN Awards put together by Carinici and her Board are:

Must be a professional working in the video game, animation or visual effects industry;
Must agree to be placed on the Jury Panel which determines the Final Nominees and the Winner of an Award Category from the area of their expertise (i.e.: Best Sound must have only panel members who work in Music and/or Sound Departments);
Must speak English fluently;
If a video game professional, they must have immediate access to and be capable of playing on PS2, PS3, Xbox and Wii as well as own a computer capable of downloading and playing PC Games;
If an Animation or Visual Effects professional, they must be able to view HD QuickTime files;
If a media member they must cover the art being decided upon in their award category (i.e.: Technical Innovation categories can only have a Technology Reporter and they must cover that award category’s industry sector).

How the process itself will work: Panels consisting of 4 industry professionals and one media member from all around the world (at least 2 must reside outside of North America) work together through an online voting forum to determine the four final nominees in their assigned award category. The decision must be unanimous. The Head Juror then sends their panel’s final nominees directly to the ELAN’s Award Auditor, Geoff Dodds of Buckley Dodds & Associates who records them and delivers the names directly to the Producers to be announced at a press conference on Monday, February 2, 2009. Each juror then individually and privately sends their choice for the winner of their category out of their panel’s final nominees directly to the ELAN’s auditor who tallies the votes and arranges for the trophy plaques and the winning envelopes to be produced in secret up until they are announced onstage at the ceremony on February 28, 2009.

If you meet the requirements and wish to act as Juror and Judge for the 3rd Annual ELAN Awards, apply by going to the Adjudicative Process page The ELANs web site and fill in the Application to Judge. Judges will be selected, contacted and later announced (not their categories).

Also, submissions are currently open and close on December 5, 2008. The producers have extended the Early Bird deadline to November 28, 2008 in order to accommodate those submissions coming from outside of North America. “Yesterday I assisted companies with their submissions that were from Germany, Scotland and Chile as well as what felt like all of North America,” smiles Carinci. “It’s incredibly exciting for us to see how welcomed we’ve been by the world in our first year going fully international.”

Also welcoming and supporting the ELANS are the Seven Group who’s come onboard as an Event Partner and will oversee the technical setup of the surrounding Galas and After-Party (the ELAN’S after-party invite-only list is already a ‘must get’) as well as the Awards Ceremony itself. Founding Partners Radical Entertainment and Relic Entertainment as well as Associate Partners Blue Arc, Hitachi, sgi, SPINVFX and David Kaye Productions have all gotten behind the 3rd ELAN Awards already with enthusiasm to ensure the show’s growth and to be a part of its global success.

The 3rd Annual ELAN Awards will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2009 at the Centre in Vancouver for the Performing Arts.

VANCOUVER October 8, 2008 – Submissions are officially open now for entry into the 3rd Annual ELANs, the awards show that’s become something of a phenom over the past two years with Hosts such as William Shatner and Seth MacFarlane helping them to celebrate greatness in video games, animation and, new this year, visual effects.

Not only have the ELANs added another whole industry to their show this year, they’ve gone entirely global. Anyone in the world from these three industry sectors can submit their work for an ELAN. Quite the undertaking, but then they have quite the industry support: Doug Campbell, President of Spin West VFX, says, “The ELANS give all visual effects, animation and video game professionals the opportunity to showcase the best they have to offer and be complemented with what will arguably be the most coveted award in Digital Media!”

Kelly Zmak, President of Radical Entertainment says, “The ELANs represent a unique opportunity for the industry to honour and acknowledge the talents and artistry of the people who make games. We do this as our chosen profession: The ELANs provide a perfect setting to celebrate this powerful form of entertainment and art.”

The ELANs will give out a whopping 39 statues at the Centre in Vancouver for the Performing Arts on Saturday night, February 28, 2009. All three sectors have twelve of their own categories, including one Honorary Award and one publicly chosen award, and students have one for each of the three industries. On February 2, 2009 the ELANs will announce 144 nominees for their upcoming awards show. “That’s a lot of nominees,” smiles Founder & Producer, Holly Carinci. “We’ll need to find a way to make it entertaining for all of you!” With Shatner as her first Host and MacFarlane as her second, it’s a pretty good bet that Carinci will be true to her word.

And speaking of Hosts, who will be emceeing their next show? No official word yet but “we’d like him to be someone who’s strong … very strong with a tough hide,” Carinci hints.

The ELANs will be putting out a call for Jurors/Judges to industry and media professionals from all around the world … watch for that announcement to come out in November.

In the meantime, get your submissions in by going to www.theelans.com and downloading the submission forms. Make sure you read the Rules & Procedures Manual because, with three industries and global submissions, entrants need to be especially careful to provide all the right materials and support information. Submissions close at 5pm on Friday, December 5, 2008 and there is an early bird rate substantial enough to get entries in by that deadline which is November 28, 2008.

The next ELAN Awards promises to be one of the most exciting award shows in the world … “If you win, you can honestly say your work or production is the best in the world,” says Carinci. “Hope to see you there!”

3RD ELAN Awards Categories

“Relic is honored to have collected statues at the ELANs in both of the past two years,” says Tarrnie Williams, GM of THQ Canada Inc. (Relic Entertainment). “The ELANs are great since the awards are independent, their entire focus is on the digital media industries of video games, animation and visual effects, and they are voted on by a panel of industry professionals, so it really means something to win. It’s not just a popularity contest.”

Video Games:

1. VIDEO GAME OF THE YEAR
2. BEST CONSOLE GAME
3. BEST PC GAME
4. BEST CASUAL/ARCADE GAME
5. BEST HANDHELD GAME (psp, ds, ipod or other similar devices)
6. BEST MOBILE GAME
7. BEST SOUND in a VIDEO GAME PRODUCTION
8. BEST ART DIRECTION
9. BEST GAME DESIGN
10. OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL INNOVATION
11. VIDEO GAME HALL OF FAME
12. GAMER’S CHOICE (Publicly-voted)

ANIMATION:

1. BEST FEATURE LENGTH ANIMATED PRODUCTION
2. BEST ANIMATED TELEVISION PRODUCTION
3. BEST ANIMATED SHORT SUBJECT
4. BEST DIRECTOR for an ANIMATED PRODUCTION
5. BEST VOICE OVER in an ANIMATED PRODUCTION (All genres)
6. BEST SOUND in an ANIMATED PRODUCTION
7. BEST STORYBOARDING
8. BEST CHARACTER ANIMATION
9. BEST ART DIRECTION
10. BEST WRITING IN AN ANIMATED PRODUCTION
11. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
12. ANIMATED AUDIENCE AWARD (Publicly-voted)

VISUAL EFFECTS:

1. BEST VISUAL EFFECTS in a VISUAL EFFECTS DRIVEN FEATURE FILM
2. BEST VISUAL EFFECTS in a BROADCAST SERIES, MINISERIES or MOW
3. BEST VISUAL EFFECTS in an INDEPENDENT/SHORT FILM
4. BEST VISUAL EFFECTS SHOT
5. BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
6. BEST GROUND-BREAKING EFFECT
7. BEST DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT
8. BEST REALISTIC EFFECT
9. BEST DIGITAL AUGMENTATION
10. BEST ANIMATED CHARACTER
11. VISIONARY AWARD
12. VISUAL VIEWER’S AWARD (Publicly-voted)

Student:

1. BEST STUDENT VIDEO GAME
2. BEST STUDENT ANIMATED PRODUCTION
3. BEST VISUAL EFFECTS in a STUDENT PROJECT

If you are interested in becoming a Corporate Sponsor, please contact:

Jack Weatherell, Video Games & VFX
(778) 960 4402

Lucy Wong, Animation & Corporate
(604) 830-8189

– Elans Build Their Cats & Crits with Video Game, Animation & VFX Professionals –

VANCOUVER July 24, 2008 – The new categories for the 3^rd ELANs – an awards show that recently announced its expansion to global competition and which has for the last two years honored video games and animation with big-name hosts such as William Shatner (1^st year) and Seth MacFarlane (2^nd year) – were announced today after three days of consultation with the industries themselves including Visual Effects which have been added to the next show taking place in Vancouver on Saturday, February 28, 2009.

“We hold Industry Roundtables in Vancouver and ask each group to determine their own Award Categories and Criteria,” explains Holly Carinci, Founder and Producer of the ELAN Awards. “We then send them out to their peers around the world for their input and that is how our official categories are decided each year. We do this so that we are on top of what each of these fast-paced industries are doing today, acknowledging new areas of importance to each of them such as Mobile Games and MMOs are this year to the Video Game Industry. We could never do this without the industry’s help and they have given it to us very generously.”

Tarnie Williams, GM of THQ Canada Inc. (Relic Entertainment) sits on the Board of Advisors for the 3^rd Annual ELAN Awards: “Relic is honored to have collected statues at the ELANS in both of the past two years,” says Williams. “The ELANS are great since the awards are independent, their entire focus is on the digital media industries of video games, animation and visual effects, and they are voted on by a panel of industry professionals, so it really means something to win. It’s not just a popularity contest.”

Doug Campbell, President of Spin West VFX, also a member of the ELAN’s Board of Advisors says, “The ELANS give all visual effects, animation and video games professionals an opportunity to showcase the best they have to offer and be complemented with what will arguably be the most coveted award in Digital Media!”

The following award categories are open to global industry competition. The Qualifying Year is January 1, 2008 – December 31, 2008. Submissions open September 15, 2008 and close December 5, 2008. Final Nominees are announced February 2, 2009. The 3^rd Annual ELAN Awards 2009 Ceremony is on Saturday, February 28, 2009. To view criteria for the categories go to www.theelans.com. Submission Forms and Rules & Regulations will be available on the ELAN’s Official Website on Monday, September 15, 2008.

The Official Award Categories for the 3^rd Annual ELAN Awards 2009 are:

VIDEO GAME CATEGORIES

1. GAME OF THE YEAR

The game released during the qualifying year that the adjudicators have decided was “ahead of the pack”.

2. BEST CONSOLE GAME

The best game operated on a videogame consoles which include: Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, Wii

3. BEST PC GAME

The best game operated on Windows, Macintosh OS or Linux based multipurpose computing system. Includes MMOs.

4. BEST CASUAL/ARCADE GAME

Awarded to the best casual game which may be a pay-for-play OR free game played on any platform.

5. BEST HANDHELD GAME (PSP, DS, iPOD or other similar devices)

The best game developed for a portable gaming device. This device may NOT be one that’s primary function is voice communication like iPhone or NGage.

6. BEST MOBILE GAME

Awarded to the best mobile game for devices whose primary function IS voice communication.

7. BEST AUDIO DIRECTION

Awarded to an individuals or team for their creative excellence and collaboration in sound design and music for a video game.

8. BEST ART DIRECTION

Recognizes direction and implementation of cutting-edge visuals in relation to hardware/platform specs and limitations, or most innovative application of graphics techniques.

9. BEST GAME DESIGN

Recognizes best overall new game design. This category is adjudicated based on the implementation and coordination of design concepts in any type of electronic game.

10. OUTSTANDING INNOVATION in PLAY

Recognizes technical or creative innovation that will have a significant impact on future game development.

11. VIDEO GAME HALL OF FAME

Awarded to the individual who in the course of pursuing their art, has excelled in their medium. The recipient will have achieved creative excellence throughout their career.

ANIMATION CATEGORIES

1. BEST FEATURE LENGTH ANIMATED PRODUCTION

Awarded to a feature length animated production that exhibits overall excellence. (At least 44 minutes in length)

2. BEST ANIMATED TELEVISION PRODUCTION

Awarded to a television animated production that exhibits overall excellence. Includes Educational, Television Series & Specials. (Broadcast time of 1hr or less)

3. BEST ANIMATED SHORT SUBJECT

Awarded to the short subject animated production that exhibits overall excellence. This category must not exceed 20mins. If a series of shorts has been produced, only one short per entry will be considered.

4. BEST DIRECTOR FOR an ANIMATED PRODUCTION

Awarded to the Director or team of Directors who exhibits outstanding individual achievement and creative excellence in directing. This category is open to all genres; feature length, short, series, specials, etc.

5. BEST VOICE OVER IN AN ANIMATED PRODUCTION (All genres)

Awarded for the performance by a voice actor in an animated production.

6. BEST SOUND in an ANIMATED PRODUCTION

Awarded to individuals or teams for creative excellence and collaborative accomplishment for musical scoring and sound design in the field of animation.

7. BEST STORYBOARDING

Awarded to the Storyboard Artist or Team of Artists who exhibit outstanding achievement and creative excellence. Copies of the storyboard and a copy of the developed project will need to be submitted.

8. BEST ANIMATION

Awarded to the Animation Director (can include team) that produces the best overall animation in a production (all genres)

9. BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN OR ART DIRECTION

Awarded to the Production Designer or Art Director who exhibits outstanding individual achievement and creative excellence.

10. BEST WRITING IN AN ANIMATED PRODUCTION

Awarded to the writer or team who exhibited outstanding achievement and creative excellence in an animated production.

11. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Awarded to the individual who in the course of pursuing their art, has excelled in their medium. The recipient will have achieved creative excellence throughout their career.

VISUAL EFFECTS CATEGORIES

1. BEST VISUAL EFFECTS in a FEATURE FILM

The Feature Film released during the qualifying year that the adjudicators have decided was “ahead of the pack”.

2. BEST VISUAL EFFECTS in a BROADCAST SERIES, MINISERIES or MOW

The TV show aired during the qualifying year that the adjudicators have decided was “ahead of the pack”.

3. BEST VISUAL EFFECTS in an INDEPENDENT/SHORT FILM

The Independent/Short Film released during the qualifying year that the adjudicators have decided was “ahead of the pack”.

4. BEST VISUAL EFFECTS SHOT

The Best shot of a Film or TV show release/aired during the qualifying year.

5. BEST DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT

Awarded to the best matte painting or virtual environment.

6. BEST REALISTIC EFFECT

The best effect or sequence that shows a high skill in realistic or invisible effects.

7. BEST DIGITAL AUGMENTATION

Awarded to the best effect used to correct, enhance, or change a human actor’s appearance/performance.

8. BEST ANIMATED CHARACTER

Awarded for best digital actor or creature.

9. BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT

Recognizes advancements in software, hardware, techniques, or other innovations in creating visual effects for film or tv.

10. BEST GROUND-BREAKING EFFECT

Recognizes best design for a new style or technique not seen before.

11. VISIONARY AWARD

Awarded to the individual who in the course of pursuing their art, has excelled in their medium. The recipient will have achieved creative excellence throughout their career.

ELANS CONVERGENCE AWARD

A single production using all three genres - video game, animation and visual effects

STUDENT CATEGORIES

1. BEST STUDENT ANIMATION
2. BEST STUDENT VIDEO GAME

PEOPLES’ AWARDS

Categories to be announced for public vote on ELAN Awards’ website

We thank you for your interest!

2009 ELANs Corporate Partnership Package

– Elans Add Visual Effects to Video Game and Animation Awards Show –

VANCOUVER July 10, 2008 – There were many leaps forward announced today by the producers of the Elans – an awards show that has for the last two years honored video games and animation with big-name hosts such as William Shatner (1^st year) and Seth MacFarlane (2^nd year) – not the least of which being their addition of Visual Effects award categories to their next show taking place in Vancouver on Saturday, February 28, 2009.

Adding VFX to their categories isn’t the only big step forward the Elans are taking; the 3^rd Annual Elan Awards will also become the first ceremony of its kind to have all of its categories open to world-wide submission.

“Expanding the Elans to international content is an exciting next-step,” says Ian Verchere, Producer/Creative Director/Faculty, Masters of Digital Media Program. “Vancouver’s video game, effects and animation industries compete on the world stage for commercial and critical success, so it’s appropriate for the world’s best games, animation and special effects to compete for the Elans on a Vancouver stage.”

Producers Holly Carinci and Jack Weatherell also announced today their Board of Advisors for their 3^rd Annual Elan Awards 2009. The luminaries behind the Elans this year are:

Anthony Brown, Managing Dir of Bus Development, Seven Group;

Doug Binkley, Marketing, Seven Group;

Doug Campbell, President, Spin West VFX;

Ian Verchere, Producer/Creative Director/Faculty, Masters of Digital Media Program;

Michael Matrick, Tech Business Advisor;

Kay Gruenwoldt, Head of Title Marketing, North America, Nokia;

Kelly Zmak, Radical Entertainment, President;

Tarrnie Williams, General Manager, RELIC Entertainment

The President of Radical Entertainment, Kelly Zmak, explains his reasons for accepting a position on the ELAN’s Board of Advisors: “The ELANS represent a unique opportunity for the industry to honour and acknowledge the talents and artistry of the people who make games,” says Zmak. “We do this as our chosen profession: The ELANS provide a perfect setting to celebrate this powerful form or entertainment and art.”

Kay Gruenwoldt, Head of Title Marketing in North America for Nokia, adds, “The Elan Awards have already been a highlight for us in Vancouver this year and we are looking forward to next year’s event. With roughly 3.3 billion mobile devices in the market today the world is ready for mobile gaming and our N-Gage games are ready for the awards.”

The 3^rd Annual Elan Awards 2009 have already acquired a great partnership this year with the Seven Group. The Seven Group provides end-to-end technology solutions and has designed and built the infrastructure for some of the biggest Video Game, Visual Effects and Animation studios in the world. The Seven Group will be overseeing the technical aspects of the Elans and their surrounding events and galas ensuring a flawless, state-of-the-art production.

“We see the ELANS as representing the best-of-the-best and the pinnacle of recognition for excellence in this spectacular industry,” says Anthony Brown, Seven Group’s Managing Director of Business Development. “We’re so very proud to be a part of it; to be able to show our support and to participate in such a global movement.”

Doug Binkley, Seven Group’s Marketing Director, goes on to say, “The ELANS allow this incredible industry to have recognition and applause from peers and public alike. More and more people, businesses, sponsors, up-and-comers and organizations want to take part.”

Brown summarizes: “The ELANS are a truly red carpet event. Everything is first class, with “A” list hosts, tuxedos and evening gowns, and the upper echelon of industry big wigs in attendance. Our company got more exposure from the ELANS than from any other event we have ever been part of. Its about time that this industry was recognized for its contribution to arts and entertainment. We will be a part of the ELANS for many years to come.”