VANCOUVER, BC Apil 27, 2009 - ELAN Producers announced that Saturday night’s awards were a huge success and that their Host, Tom Kenny (”SpongeBob SquarePants©”) made certain that everyone had a good time … That along with the opulent venue (Fairmont Hotel Vancouver’s Pacific Ballroom), the gourmet meal, fantastic performance by “Splittig Adam“, the amazing enthusiasm from the audience and, of course, the excitement of those who walked away with statuettes, of course.

The evening was attended by 400 of the best from Video Game, Animation and Visual Effects, many of whom had traveled a long way to attend. Carles Salvany and his “Number 6” team came all the way from Spain for their nomination in Best Student Video Game while other nominated students flew in from Ottawa and from Los Angeles. Also in from LA was Microsoft Game’s Global Product Manager, Guy Welch who brought with him Ross Perez, Senior Producer of their nominated game Gears of War 2 developed by Epic Games; also accompanying Welch was Rich Bryant, Writer for another of their nominated games, Fable II from Developer Lionhead Studios. Chet Faliszek and Heather Fagan from Valve Software flew in and is it ever a good thing that they did as they walked away with four of the nine video game awards.

On that note the winners at the 3rd Annual ELAN Awards are:

VISUAL EFFECTS:

Best Visual Effects in a Visual Effect Driven Feature Film
IRON MAN
The Embassy VFX, Inc. / Ironworks Prod’s
Marvel Studios / Paramount Pictures

The Embassy’s Winston Helgason, Visual Effects Supervisor
Charlie Bradbury, Visual Effects Producer
Stephen Pepper, Compositing Supervisor
Michael Blackbourn, CG Lead

 Best Visual Effects in a Broadcast Series, Miniseries or MOW
Terminator - The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Bartleby Co. and The Halcyon Co. in assoc. with Warner Bros. Televisions

Jim Lima, VFX Supervisor
Steve Galich, SFX Coordinator

 Best Visual Effects in an Independent/Short Film
Rock Garden: The Love Story
Pix Ray VFX / Gloryous Production, 2.8 Pictures

Andrew Szerszen, VFX Supervisor
Guy Gatenby, Lead Matte-Painter
Michael MacInnis, Lead Composer

Best Visual Effects Shot
Max Payne
Spin VFX / 20th Century Fox

Jeff Campbell, VFX Supervisor
Eric Doiron, Compositing Supervisor
Mark Schreiber, Lead Animator
Tim Sibley, Lead FX TD

Best Digital Environment
Max Payne
Spin VFX / 20th Century Fox

Jeff Campbell, VFX Supervisor
Eric Doiron, Compositing Supervisor
Mark Schreiber, Lead Animator
Tim Sibley, Lead FX TD

Best Animated Character
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
MPC / Walt Disney and Walden Media

Greg Fisher, Animation Supervisor
Peta Bayley, Lead Animator
Julio del Rio Hernandez, Lead Animator
Tom Reed, Head of Rigging

ANIMATION AWARDS:

 Best Feature Length Animated Production
WALL-E
Disney / Pixar

Best Animated Television Production
Zeke’s Pad
My Pad Prod’s / Avrill Stark Entertainment
Bardel Entertainment Inc. / Flying Bark Productions

Delna Bhesania, Producer
Liz Scully, Producer
Leonard Terhoch, Producer
Avrill Stark, Producer

Best Animated Short Subject
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King (intro cinematic)
Blizzard Entertainment

Jeff Chamberlain, Director
Phillip Hillenbrand, Producer

Best Director for an Animated Production
Wapos Bay: The Series
Wapos Bay Studio National Film Board of Canada

Dennis Jackson,Director
Melanie Jackson, Director
Cam Lizotte, Director

Best Voice Over in an Animated Production (All genres)
Tom Kenny
Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants

 Best Character Animation
Toot & Puddle
Mercury Filmworks / National Geographic Kids Entertainment

Graham MacDonald, Animation Director
Emma Gignac, Animation Director
Kim Buck, Animation Supervisor
Justin Sels, Animation Supervisor

 Best Art Direction
Zeke’s Pad
My Pad Prod’s / Avrill Stark Entertainment
Bardel Entertainment Inc. / Flying Bark Productions

Zoe Evamy, Senior Art Director
Patricia Atchison, Art Director

VIDEO GAME AWARDS:

VIDEO GAME OF THE YEAR
Left 4 Dead
Valve

 BEST CONSOLE GAME
Fallout 3
Bethesda Softworks

Todd Howard, Game Director
Emil Pagliarulo, Lead Designer & Writer
Gavin Carter, Lead Producer

BEST PC GAME
Left 4 Dead
Valve

BEST CASUAL/ARCADE GAME
Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst
Big Fish Games

Pat Wylie, Adrian Woods, Chris Campbell, Producer

BEST MOBILE/HANDHELD GAME
Club Penguin :Elite Penguin Force
1st Playable Productios/Disney Interactive

Tobi Saulnier, Founder & CEO, 1st Playable Productions
Zhenelle Falk, Producer/ Designer
Andrew Carroll, Lead Programmer
Ian McConahey Stead, Lead Artist

BEST SOUND in a VIDEO GAME PRODUCTION
Epic Games, Microsoft
Gears of War 2

Mike Larson, Audio Director
Steve Jablonsky, Composer
Jamey Scott, Sound Designer
Joey Kuras, Sound Designer

BEST ART DIRECTION
Istvan Pely, Lead Artist
Bethesda Softworks
Fallout 3

BEST GAME DESIGN
Gabe Newell
Valve
Left 4 Dead

OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL INNOVATION
Gabe Newell
Valve
Left 4 Dead

STUDENT AWARDS:

 Best Student Video Game
Deguiyu Bryant DJ Davey, Xbox Director
Su Yon Sohn, Web Presence Director
Liam Kelly, Support

Masters of Digital Media,Centre for Digital Media, Vancouver BC

Best Student Animated Production
Snared,  Shane Plante
Algonquin College Animation Program, Ottawa ON

 Best Visual Effects in a Student Project
Space Bar, George Kyparissous
Lost Boys Learning, Comox BC

“As the Movie Industry goes to Hollywood for its Oscars, so will the world of Video Games, Animation and Visual Effects come to Vancouver for their ELANS.”

Vancouver, BC April 13, 2009 - The 3rd ELAN Awards are super-excited to annouce today that “Splitting Adam“, recently hand-picked to play at the groundbreaking 2009 Video Games Live tour, will be performing at their awards ceremony in Vancouver on Saturday, April 25th. The ELANS also went on to announce that, for the first year ever, the public can be there to see them.

In order to start taking the awards show from a strictly industry-oriented one (the ELANS award Video Games, Animation and Visual Effects) to a publicly recognized and followed awards show, the Producer decided that it was time to start inviting the public in.

“We’ve spent the past 3 years building the ELANS into an Awards Show that the industry wants,” says Holly Carinci, Founder & Producer of the ELAN Awards. “Through strictly social networking with each of the digital sectors we honour, VFX being a new sector for us this year, we took what began as a Canadian awards show the first year (hosted by William Shatner) to one that introduced 4 international award categories (hosted by Family Guy, Seth MacFarlane) to this year’s show (hosted by Tom Kenny, “SpongeBob SquarePants©”)which is fully international with the biggest titles in the world competing. In order to meet our mandate of making the ELANS the Oscar-equivalent awards show for these booming digital entertainment sectors we will need to establish ourselves in the public eye, so this is a good year to start doing just that.”

And that’s not all: Ticket holders will be able to bring their children the morning after the awards show to meet SpongeBob SquarePants in person! “I’m the mother of an 8-yr-old little boy … If I hadn’t arranged for the kids to meet the Sponge my name would be dirt on the school playground!” says Carinci, seriously.

Splitting Adam is a Vancouver-based band that has been seducing ears with their charisma, hook-laden melodies and expressive songwriting for over a decade. Their distinctive style has garnered praise across North America, generating comparisons to some of contemporary music’s greatest talents. Seren’s vocals and presence unite the finer elements of Eddie Vedder, Bono, and David Bowie. Combined with golden guitar riffs and pulsing rhythms, Splitting Adam continues to progress with its impressive list of accomplishments: four independent albums, featured tracks on major American TV shows (NBC) and best-selling video games (EA’s “Need For Speed - Undercover“), national radio support, a G.A.N.G. Award Nomination, and most recently being hand-picked to perform at the groundbreaking 2009 Video Games Live tour.

“Our live shows never disappoint. We’re tight musically, we write memorable songs, and even in an intimate setting, we have the energy of a stadium show. It’s very important to us that we give the audience more than what they expect, and that they gain a new perspective of Splitting Adam from every show.” Seren, Splitting Adam Vocalist.

Getting behind in support of the ELAN Awards are their Event Partners, Activision Publishing, Inc. and the Seven Group as well as the ELAN’S Founding Partners Radical Entertainment, Relic Entertainment, Offload Studios (Official Supplier of the ELAN Award Statuette), IGN (Official Media Partner), Shangri-la Vancouver (Official Hotelier) as well as the ELAN’S Associate Partners Blue Arc, Hitachi, sgi, SPIN VFX, David Kaye Productions and the esteemed firm Buckley Dodds & Associates which will once again preside over the judicial process. And, of course, Moore’s Formal Wear for Men who will be making certain that all of our men look fabulous in their tuxedos!

“As the Movie Industry goes to Hollywood for its Oscars, so will the world of Video Games, Animation and Visual Effects come to Vancouver for their ELANS.”

The ELAN Awards
Holly Carinci
Founder & Producer
604.218.3993

RESERVE YOUR DINNER and AWARD SHOW TICKETS NOW

778-960-4402

Vancouver, BC- March 11, 2009 - Kelly Zmak, President of Radical Entertainment where the ELAN Awards press conference was held today, opened this morning’s presser by saying “The ELAN awards give our industry a chance to celebrate the talents and creativity of the people who create these art forms. At a time where we are surrounded by bad news and a barrage of negativity, the ELAN awards give us a chance to celebrate the positives of our industry and the people who make it great.”

Taking to the podium next was the Founder and Producer of the international Awards Ceremony for Video Games, Animation and Visual Effects, Holly Carinci. Carinci first thanked Radical for their hospitality and continuous support of the ELAN Awards by naming the game developer as the ELAN’S first ever inductee as a “Founder of the ELANS”. Carinci then announced that the new ceremony date and venue will be Saturday, April 25th in the opulent Pacific Ballroom at the Fairmount Hotel Vancouver. With Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants©) as their Host and only 50 tables (6 of which had sold this morning before she reached the podium) Carinci cautioned the room that tickets would sell quickly.

Before handing the podium over to Victor Lucas, creator, executive producer and co-host of “The Electric Playground” and “Reviews on the Run”, Carinci revealed the new beautiful statuette the winners of this and years-to-come ELAN Awards will be receiving thanks to Bill Henderson and his team at Offload Studios; Offload produced both the print and the mold as well as the statuettes themselves for this year’s award winners.

Next up came Lucas to announce the Final Nominees for the 3rd Annual ELAN Awards; and they are …

3rd Annual ELAN Awards Final Nominees:

VIDEO GAME FINAL NOMINEES

1. VIDEO GAME OF THE YEAR

Gears of War 2 Epic Games / Microsoft
Cliff Bleszinski, Design Director Epic Games; Ray Davis, Lead Programmer Epic Games; Chris Perna, Art Director Epic Games

Fallout 3 Bethesda Softworks
Todd Howard, Game Director;Emil Pagliarulo, Lead Designer & Writer; Gavin Carter, Lead Producer

Fable II Lionhead Studios / Microsoft Games
Peter Molyneux, Lead Designer; Louise Copley, Executive Producer; Dene Carter, Creative Director

Left 4 Dead Valve

2. BEST CONSOLE GAME

Gears of War 2 Epic Games, Microsoft
Epic Games: Rod Fergusson, Senior Producer; Cliff Bleszinski, Design Director; Ray Davis, Lead Programmer; Chris Perna, Art Director

Fallout 3 Bethesda Softworks
Todd Howard, Game Director; Emil Pagliarulo, Lead Designer & Writer; Gavin Carter, Lead Producer

Fable II Lionhead Studios / Microsoft Games
Peter Molyneux, Lead Designer; Louise Copley, Executive Producer; Dene Carter, Creative Director

Left 4 Dead Valve

3. BEST PC GAME
Fallout 3 Bethesda Softworks
Todd Howard, Game Director; Emil Pagliarulo, Lead Designer & Writer; Gavin Carter, Lead Producer

Crysis Warhead Crytek / Electronic Arts
Péter Antovszki, Sound Director; Gábor Mogyorósi, Art Director; Bernd Diemer, Producer

Lord of the Rings Online™: Mines of Moria™ Turbine, Inc.
Jeffrey Steefel, Executive Producer

Left for Dead Valve

4. BEST CASUAL/ARCADE GAME
Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst Big Fish Games
Pat Wylie, Adrian Woods, Chris Campbell, Producer

Defend Your Castle XGen Studios
Skye Boyes, Executive Producer; Jordan Dubuc, Project Lead; Robyn Dubuc, Design & Marketing; Taylor Schaerer, Visual Arts Lead

4 Elements Playrix Entertainment Playrix Entertainment

5. BEST MOBILE/HANDHELD GAME
Club Penguin :Elite Penguin Force Handheld: 1st Playable Productios/Disney Interactive
Tobi Saulnier, Founder & CEO, 1st Playable Productions; Zhenelle Falk, Producer/ Designer; Andrew Carroll, Lead Programmer; Ian McConahey Stead, Lead Artist

Planet Rescue: Ocean Patrol Handheld: Magic Pockets / Ubisoft
Eric Zmiro, President/Technical Director; Eltienne Jacquemain, Creative Director;

Hooked On: Creatures of the Deep Mobile: Infinite Dreams / Nokia
Brandon Crick, Marketing Manager

Party Island Bowling Mobile: Digital Chocolate
David Fruin, Studio Director; Mike Saperstein, Director of Game Development; Paul Abbassi, CTO; Trip Hawkins, CEO

6. BEST SOUND in a VIDEO GAME PRODUCTION
Mike Larson, Audio Director; Steve Jablonsky, Composer; Jamey Scott, Sound Designer; Joey Kuras, Sound Designer
Gears of War 2 Epic Games, Microsoft

Brian Tuey, Lead Sound Design
Call of Duty:World At War Treyarch / Activision Publishing

Mark Lampert, Audio Director Fallout 3 Bethesda Softworks

Russell Shaw, Composer; Kristofor Mellroth, Audio Lead
Fable II Lionhead Studios / Microsoft Games

7. BEST ART DIRECTION
Chris Perna, Art Director
Gears of War 2 Epic Games, Microsoft

Istvan Pely, Lead Artist
Fallout 3 Bethesda Softworks

Denis Dyack, President & Executive Producer; Carman Dix, Art Director
Too Human Silicon Knights / Microsoft Games Studio

John McCormack, Art Director; Mark Smart, Lead Environment Artist; Jon Eckersley, Lead Creature Artist; Adam Sibbick, Lead FX Artist
Fable II Lionhead Studios / Microsoft Games

8. BEST GAME DESIGN
Cliff Bleszinski, Design Director; Rod Fergusson, Senior Producer; Lee Perry, Senior Gameplay Designer; Dave Nash, Lead Level Designer
Gears of War 2 Epic Games, Microsoft

Todd Howard, Game Director;Emil Pagliarulo, Lead Designer & Writer
Fallout 3 Bethesda Softworks

Peter Molyneux, Lead Designer; Dene Carter, Creative Director; Iain Wright, Lead Level Designer; Mike West, Lead Scripter
Fable II Lionhead Studios / Microsoft Games

Gabe Newell
Left 4 Dead Valve

9. OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL INNOVATION
Tim Sweeney, Technology Director; Daniel Vogel, Engine Team Lead; Unreal Engine Technology Team
Gears of War 2 Epic Games, Microsoft

Todd Howard, Game Director;Emil Pagliarulo, Lead Designer & Writer; Guy Carver, Technical Director
Fallout 3 Bethesda Softworks

Simon Carter, Load Game Architect and Technology Director; Guilloume Portes, Lead Tools & GUI Programmer; Jonathan Shaw, AI Director; Alex Dowdeswell, AI Director
Fable II Lionhead Studios / Microsoft Games

Gabe Newell Left 4 Dead Valve

ANIMATION FINAL NOMINEES for the 3rd ANNUAL ELAN AWARDS

1. Best Feature Length Animated Production

Winner: WALL-E Selected by children’s votes Disney / Pixar

2.Best Animated Television Production

Toot & Puddle Mercury Filmworks / National Geographic Kids Entertainment
Clint Eland, Executive Producer; Tara Sorensen, Executive Producer; Marianne Culbert, Supervising Producer; Jerry Popowich, Creative Producer

Zeke’s Pad My Pad Prod’s / Avrill Stark Entertainment; Bardel Entertainment Inc. / Flying Bark Productions
Delna Bhesania, Producer; Liz Scully, Producer; Leonard Terhoch, Producer; Avrill Stark, Producer

Wapos Bay: The Series Wapos Bay Studio National Film Board of Canada
Dennis Jackson, Producer;Melanie Jackson, Producer; Anand Ramayya, Producer; Derek Mazur; Exc. Producer

Dex Hamilton: Alien Entomologist March Entertainment / SLR Productions; Parthenon Kids
Daniel Hawes, Executive Producer/Producer; Ryan Lussing, Creative Producer/Visual FX Supervisor

3. Best Animated Short Subject

World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King (intro cinematic) Blizzard Entertainment
Jeff Chamberlain, Director; Phillip Hillenbrand, Producer

Turbo Dogs CCI Entertainment Ltd. / Huhu Studios

Executive Producers: Arnie Zipursky and Christopher Waters; Producers: Kristine Klohk and Rodney MacDonald

4. Best Director for an Animated Production

Christian Larocque, Director
Toot & Puddle Mercury Filmworks / National Geographic Kids Entertainment

Dennis Jackson, Director; Melanie Jackson, Director; Cam Lizotte, Director Wapos Bay Studio National Film Board of Canada
Wapos Bay: The Series

5. Best Voice Over in an Animated Production (All genres)

Winner: Tom Kenny
SpongeBob SquarePants Nickelodeon

6. Best Character Animation

Winner: Graham MacDonald, Animation Director; Emma Gignac, Animation Director; Kim Buck, Animation Supervisor; Justin Sels, Animation Supervisor
Toot & Puddle Mercury Filmworks / National Geographic Kids Entertainment

7. Best Art Direction

Teo Kiriakov, Art Direction; “Diamond” Dave Merritt, Art Direction
Toot & Puddle Mercury Filmworks / National Geographic Kids Entertainment

Zoe Evamy, Senior Art Director; Patricia Atchison, Art Director
Zeke’s Pad My Pad Prod’s / Avrill Stark Entertainment; Bardel Entertainment Inc. / Flying Bark Productions

VISUAL EFFECTS FINAL NOMINEES for the 3rd ANNUAL ELAN AWARDS

1. Best Visual Effects in a Visual Effect Driven Feature Film

Spin VFX / 20th Century Fox Max Payne
Jeff Campbell, VFX Supervisor; Eric Doiron, Compositing Supervisor;Mark Schreiber, Lead Animator; Tim Sibley, Lead FX TD

The Embassy VFX, Inc. / Ironworks Prod’s; Marvel Studios / Paramount Pictures Iron Man
The Embassy: Winston Helgason, Visual Effects Supervisor; Charlie Bradbury, Visual Effects Producer; Stephen Pepper, Compositing Supervisor; Michael Blackbourn, CG Lead

2. Best Visual Effects in a Broadcast Series, Miniseries or MOW

Supernatural Films It’s the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester / WB/CW
Ivan Hayden, VFX Supervisor; Grant Lindsay, VFX Producer; Mark Meloche, Lead Artist; Colin Jenken, Lead 3D

Bartleby Co. and The Halcyon Co. in assoc. with Warner Bros. Televisions Terminator - The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Jim Lima, VFX Supervisor; Steve Galich, SFX Coordinator

Pix Ray VFX / Sullivan Entertainment Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning
Andrew Szerszen, VFX Supervisor; Guy Gatenby, Lead Matte-Painter; Michael MacInnis, Lead Composer

3. Best Visual Effects in an Independent/Short Film

Winner: Rock Garden: The Love Story Pix Ray VFX / Gloryous Production, 2.8 Pictures
Andrew Szerszen, VFX Supervisor; Guy Gatenby, Lead Matte-Painter; Michael MacInnis, Lead Composer

4. Best Visual Effects Shot

Winner: Spin VFX / 20th Century Fox Max Payne
Jeff Campbell, VFX Supervisor; Eric Doiron, Compositing Supervisor;Mark Schreiber, Lead Animator; Tim Sibley, Lead FX TD

5. Best Digital Environment

Spin VFX / 20th Century Fox Max Payne
Jeff Campbell, VFX Supervisor; Eric Doiron, Compositing Supervisor;Mark Schreiber, Lead Animator; Tim Sibley, Lead FX TD

Pix Ray VFX / Sullivan Entertainment Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning
Andrew Szerszen, VFX Supervisor; Guy Gatenby, Lead Matte-Painter; Michael MacInnis, Lead Composer

Pix Ray VFX / Gloryous Production, 2.8 Pictures Rock Garden: The Love Story
Andrew Szerszen, VFX Supervisor; Guy Gatenby, Lead Matte-Painter; Michael MacInnis, Lead Composer

6. Best Animated Character

Winner: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian MPC / Walt Disney and Walden Media
Greg Fisher, Animation Supervisor; Peta Bayley, Lead Animator; Julio del Rio Hernandez, Lead Animator; Tom Reed, Head of Rigging

STUDENT FINAL NOMINEES for the 3rd ANNUAL ELAN AWARDS

1. Best Student Video Game

Origamee Blue Skies / The University of Abertay, (Dundee, Scotland)
Richard Barlow, Programmer & Team Lead; Alberto Fustinoni, Programmer; Aby Cox, 2D Artist; Kevin Dunlop, 3D Artist

The Booty Bandit Masters of Digital Media, Centre for Digital Media, GNW, (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
Brian Ford, Christine Jung, David Marhal, Ken Pratt

Deguiyu Masters of Digital Media,Centre for Digital Media,GNW, (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
Bryant DJ Davey, Xbox Director; Su Yon Sohn, Web Presence Director; Liam Kelly, Support

Number 6 Six Studios / Universitat Pompeu Fabra-IDEC (Barcelona, Spain)
Carles Salvany Pedró, Artist/Animator; Albert Aguilar, Programmer; Fernando Suárez Peña, Programmer; Rodrigo Santoro Rojas, Artist

2. Best Student Animated Production

Midnight Ballet Vancouver Film School (Vanacouver, British Columbia, Canada)
Jin Xie

Nutty The Neurotic Ninja Squirrel Jason Haniuk / California State University Fullerton (USA)
Jason Haniuk

Snared Algonquin College Animation Program (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
Algonquin College Animation Pogram

3. Best Visual Effects in a Student Project

Winner: Space Bar Lost Boys Learning (Comox, British Columbia, Canada)
George Kyparissous

Getting behind in support of the ELAN Awards are their Event Partners, Activision Publishing, Inc. and the Seven Group as well as the ELAN’S Founding Partners Radical Entertainment, Relic Entertainment, Offload Studios (Official Supplier of the ELAN Award Statuette), IGN (Official Media Partner) as well as the ELAN’S Associate Partners Blue Arc, Hitachi, sgi, SPINVFX, David Kaye Productions and the esteemed firm Buckley Dodds & Associates which will once again preside over the judicial process. And, of course, Moore’s Formal Wear for Men who will be making certain that all of our men look fabulous in their tuxedos!

“As the Movie Industry goes to Hollywood for its Oscars, so will the world of Video Games, Animation and Visual Effects come to Vancouver for their ELANS.”

###
Photos credit: Maria Ruiz-Isaac

RESERVE YOUR DINNER AND AWARD SHOW TICKETS NOW 778-960-4402

The ELAN Awards
Holly Carinci
Founder & Producer
604.218.3993

Vancouver, BC - March 9, 2009 - The 3rd Annual ELAN Awards are pleased to announce that Activision Publishing, Inc., a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products has agreed to become an Event Partner for the upcoming global show that awards excellence in video games, animation and visual effects.

“Activision is proud to partner with the ELAN Awards as it expands into a global competition celebrating the great accomplishments in digital entertainment this past year,” said Steve Ackrich, Head of Production at Activision Publishing.

“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. “With the ELAN Awards making the move this year into a fully global competition, we couldn’t be happier to partner with one of the leading publishers in the world.”
The ceremony is being hosted this year by Tom Kenny, the voice of one of the world’s best-known animated characters, SpongeBob SquarePants©.

Conflicting schedules have caused the producers to move the ELANS off of its original March 21st date to late April and they hope to have a firm date to announce at their upcoming press conference this Wednesday, March 11th. The presser, which will announce the final nominees for this year’s ELANS, is being held at Radical Entertainment, a company of Activision Publishing, Inc., and emceed by Victor Lucas, creator, executive producer and co-host of “The Electric Playground” and “Reviews on the Run”. Lucas is also the creator and executive producer of one of the world’s first High Definition videogame TV series, “The Art of Play” for Gameplay HD and the creator, executive producer and host of the Emmy-winning, “GameTap News” for Turner’s GameTap network.

The President of Radical Entertainment, Kelly Zmak, says that “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 or entertainment and art.”

Getting behind in support of the ELAN Awards are their Event Partners, Activision Publishing, Inc. and the Seven Group as well as the ELAN’S Founding Partners Radical Entertainment, Relic Entertainment, Offload Studios (Official Supplier of the ELAN Award Statuette), IGN (Official Media Partner) as well as the ELAN’S Associate Partners Blue Arc, Hitachi, sgi, SPINVFX, David Kaye Productions and the esteemed firm Buckley Dodds & Associates which will once again preside over the judicial process. And, of course, Moore’s Formal Wear for Men who will be making certain that all of our men look fabulous in their tuxedos!

“As the Movie Industry goes to Hollywood for its Oscars, so will the world of Video Games, Animation and Visual Effects come to Vancouver for their ELANS.”

###

Press Conference RSVP
For local press and industry who would like to attend our press conference on Wednesday, March 11th at 9am, you are very welcome to come but please email me to be put on “THE LIST”.

The ELAN Awards
Holly Carinci
Founder & Producer
604.218.3993

ELAN AWARDS to Announce Final Nominees on March 11th
Press Conference will be Emceed by Victor Lucas at Radical Entertainment at 9am

Vancouver, BC- March 6, 2009 - The final nominees for the 3rd Annual ELAN Awards will be announced at a press conference to be held at Radical Entertainment at 9am on Wednesday, March 11th, announced Holly Carinci, Founder & Producer of the ELAN Awards.

The final nominees for the video game, animation and visual effects award categories will be revealed by Victor Lucas, creator, executive producer and co-host of
“The Electric Playground” and “Reviews on the Run”. Lucas is also the creator and executive producer of one of the world’s first High Definition videogame TV series, “The Art of Play” for Gameplay HD and the creator, executive producer and host of the Emmy-winning, “GameTap News,” for Turner’s GameTap network.

Nominees named at Wednesday’s press conference will have come from submissions made from countries all over the world, not just North America. “We feel honoured that Vic is taking the time out of his busy schedule to not only emcee our press conference, but to also be a Presenter at our award ceremony,” says Carinci.
The ELANS will be Hosted by Tom Kenny, aka the famous SpongeBob SquarePants©

Watch for an announcement to come within a couple of days as to the ceremony’s new venue and date. “We are trying to lock in on a venue and a date that fit our Host’s schedule and that of three diferent industries now that we’re changing venues,” says Carinci, “so please know that the show will NOT be on Saturday, March 28th as previously announced by me, unfortunately!”

Getting behind in support of the ELAN Awards are their Event Partners, Activision Publishing, Inc. and the Seven Group as well as the ELAN’S Founding Partners Radical Entertainment, Relic Entertainment, Offload Studios (Official Supplier of the ELAN Award Statuette), IGN (Official Media Partner) as well as the ELAN’S Associate Partners Blue Arc, Hitachi, sgi, SPIN VFX, David Kaye Productions and the esteemed firm Buckley Dodds & Associates which will once again preside over the judicial process. And, of course, Moore’s Formal Wear for Men who will be making certain that all of our men look fabulous in their tuxedos … Maybe not “comfortable”, but fabulous, none-the-less!

“As the Movie Industry goes to Hollywood for its Oscars, so will the world of Video Games, Animation and Visual Effects come to Vancouver for their ELANS.”

###

Press Conference RSVP
For local press who would like to attend our press conference on Wednesday, March 11th at 9am, you are very welcome to come but please email me to be put on “THE LIST”.

The ELAN Awards
Holly Carinci
Founder & Producer
604.218.3993

For immediate release

BOB’S YOUR HOST
- ELANS Announce Their Host for the 3rd Annual Awards Ceremony -

Please watch for new venue and date announcement coming soon.

VANCOUVER February 26, 2009 – The producers of the 3rd Annual ELAN Awards are thrilled to announce that their Host for this year’s show will be Tom Kenny, known the world over as none-other-than the one, the only … SpongeBob SquarePants©!

“Well now this show’s sure to be a riot,” exclaims Holly Carinci, Founder & Producer of the ELANS, an awards show that just went international honoring the talent behind video games, animation and, also new this year, visual effects. “Honest-to-god, I have to make certain that I have drunk a cup of the strongest coffee on-hand in preparation for a telephone conference with Tom,” Carinci laughs. “I thought Seth would be an impossible act to follow, but not for Tom!” Seth MacFarlane was the Host for last year’s ELAN Awards, following in the footsteps of Captain Kirk (William Shatner) the award show’s inaugural Host.

“Since my kids are far too busy playing video games to talk to me anymore, I’m looking forward to the social interaction of the ELAN Awards,” quips Kenny. And the ELAN Awards are looking forward to Tom Kenny: With the recent difficult times experienced by their awarded industries through studio closures and job loss, the producers of the ELAN Awards’ and their partners’ only wish for this year’s show is to put smiles back on faces. “Tom will make our guests remember that what they do for a living is entertain people at a time they most need to be entertained and that theirs is a talent that should be celebrated and awarded,” says Carinci seriously.

With this in mind, the ELANS have made numerous changes to their production this year in an effort to help the industry deal with today’s difficult economic times, first postponing the date in order to help each company and individual get their submissions in, then changing the venue from an 1,800 theater-style show to a warm, intimate dinner show, essentially keeping the glitz-and-glamour that is the ELANS while keeping the evening obtainable and focused. “This year’s show will be extremely exclusive as well as all-inclusive,” reports Carinci, “because we wanted – no, we needed – to make sure that we were able to produce a world-class show for these world-class industries, offering a truly first-rate, thoroughly enjoyable experience. In order to do this we had to limit the number of attendees to 600 this year.”

This year’s ELAN Awards will take place in Vancouver on a date very soon (TBA) with their red carpet begining between 4 & 5 PM followed by a Champagne Reception, a gourmet meal, a world-class show led by a world-famous Host and an After-Party that will let all ELAN Award Nominees, Winners and Guests take eight hours to escape pressures a little and celebrate a lot.

None of this would be possible without ELAN Awards Event Partners, Activision Publishing, Inc. and the Seven Group as well as the ELAN’S Founding Partners Radical Entertainment, Relic Entertainment, Offload Studios (Official Supplier of the ELAN Award Statuette), IGN (Official Media Partner), and the ELANS Associate Partners Blue Arc, Hitachi, sgi, SPINVFX, David Kaye Productions and the esteemed firm Buckley Dodds & Associates which will once again preside over the judicial process.

“As the Movie Industry goes to Hollywood for its Oscars, so will the world of Video Games, Animation and Visual Effects come to Vancouver for their ELANS.”

- end -
Evening Itinerary and Information including Ticket Puchase: www.theelans.com

ELAN Awards Contact: Holly Carinci, Founder & Producer
604.218.3993 holly@theelans.com

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