History

In 2006 the Canadian Awards for the Electronic and Animated Arts (CAEAA) brought recognition commensurate with Canada’s worldwide ascendancy in Video Game Development, Animation and New Media/Digital Arts Education. Bridging these three key industries with one singular awards event, the “Elans” highlighted Canada’s record of exceptional productivity and talent.

Hosted by Hollywood legend, William Shatner, the gala evening at Richmond, British Columbia’s River Rock Show Theatre was sold out early and was attended by industry luminaries who flew in from across North America. All praised the glamorous 1st Annual Elans Awards Evening for its ambience and achievement. Elans producers conscientiously donated $10,000 to the community. In 2006 the charitable beneficiary was The Richmond Therapeutic Equestrian Society, a group dedicated to helping children with disabilities. A “life wish” was also granted to a special needs child whose dream it is to someday become an animator.

The 2006 CAEAA enhanced partnerships and accelerated momentum for significant and continued Canadian accomplishment. This 1st annual event paved the way for competition in international award categories and for the Elans to go global.

As the Movie Industry goes to Hollywood for its Oscars, so the World of Video Game and Animation will come to Canada for its Elans.

Future
Honour and accolade will be bestowed on the deserving Video Gaming and Animation Industry on November 2nd 2007 in Vancouver Canada, by means of The ‘Elans’. The 2nd Annual Canadian Awards for the Electronic and Animated Arts (CAEAA) will be presented at The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts.

The venue nearly triples the previous year’s audience capacity to 1858 guests and will see awards presented to three sectors of the industry: video game development & publishing and animation. Student work will also be recognized and competition will be opened worldwide with international award categories in all three sectors. Event organizers will focus on Asia, Australia, Germany, France, the UK and the US as the international participants in the upcoming awards.

As a world class event, the 2007 Elans Award Show will involve the country’s top production talent and surpass in quality and grandeur anything currently produced for Video Gaming and Animation Art. The CAEAA’s representation of the top entertainment industry in the world and its affiliation with the industries it is awarding make possible an otherwise unattainable shine and sophistication for an awards event. The animation, special effects and creative talent available for this industry showcase guarantee a visually enthralling and entertaining show.

Industry Sponsors who have already committed their support for CAEAA 2007 include: Electronic Arts, Foundation 9/Backbone Entertainment, The Arts Institute of Vancouver, Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, Selkirk College, Vancouver Film School, Western Imperial, Autodesk and the Provincial Government of British Columbia. Ernst & Young has lent both generous sponsorship support and also joined as a Strategic Partner. Numerous industry luminaries have expressed interest in sponsorship and marketing positions for the 2007 event and the producers look forward to welcoming them officially.

Platform companies and conglomerates outside the awarded industries have requested marketing packages to consider support for 2007. Industry sectors expressing interest include: beverage and brewery; telecom and IT; computer software and hardware; film & television studios; automotive; finance and banking institutions and publishing amongst others.

Organizers anticipate the content, scope and the high profiles of Host and Presenters will lead to the acquisition of television and broadband partners. Elans producers are traveling throughout Canada for meetings with prospective decision-makers beginning early February 2007. The itinerary currently includes interviews with the media in all cities visited as well.

Through focus, determination and a resolute belief in the value and need for an Awards Event for the Video Game and Animation Industries, the Producers of the CAEAA have created the building blocks to an augmented CAEAA 2007. Alignment with the right partners affirms Elans Producer’s knowledge that they are creating an Awards Event based in Canada that will capture the world’s attention and the Industry’s worldwide participation.