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Telefilm Canada launches The Great Canadian Video Game Competition
Montreal, November 8, 2006 - In partnership with industry, Telefilm
Canada today launched an innovative competition to create the next great Canadian
video game.
Canada's top, emerging video-game developers will vie for up to $2 million
in financing and invaluable industry mentorship in Telefilm's Great Canadian
Video Game Competition, announced Wayne Clarkson, the Corporation's Executive
Director, at the Montreal International Game Summit.
"Leveraging the Canada New Media Fund, Telefilm has created a new opportunity
for talented Canadian game developers to build business expertise and commercialize
original game content that takes advantage of innovative distribution methods,"
says Clarkson. "With the input and support of industry, this competition
will give independent firms the leverage to attract required financing and distribution
opportunities for its intellectual property."
Industry consultant and partner Danielle Michael, former Vice President of
Business Development for Vancouver game developer Radical Entertainment, adds:
"Telefilm is convinced that Canada has the talent and potential to be a
world leader in the $20-billion video game market. While the country is already
a key international hub for game development, challenges exist for independent
game developers to bring original content to market in the multiplatform environment.
The Great Canadian Video Game Competition, a first-of-its-kind initiative,
will elevate the commercial profile of Canadian-owned gaming companies and help
grow the industry."
The Competition is encouraging eligible game development companies to register
at www.telefilm.gc.ca/game by December
15, 2006.
The initiative will take place in three rounds that mirror traditional industry
financing. In January 2007, 10 companies will be selected by an industry jury
to attain Round 1 status (Innovation) and receive up to $50,000 each
in financial assistance to explore their gaming concepts, develop a visual identity
and elaborate a plan to raise initial private-sector investment. In March 2007
at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, four of the 10 companies
will score Round 2 status (Project Development), receiving up to $250,000
each in financing to create a playable prototype. At Vancouver's VidFest, Telefilm
will announce the winning company that will reach Round 3 (Commercialization),
and receive up to $500,000 in matching funds from Telefilm to support the commercialization
of its game.
However, all initial 10 Round 1 companies will receive key mentorship and insight
from industry veterans with senior experience in game producing and/or business
development.
The Competition is made possible through Telefilm Canada and the Department
of Canadian Heritage, the Canada New Media Fund and the sponsorship of industry
partners Electronic Arts, Radical Entertainment and Ubisoft.
Industry jury members include: Yannis Mallat, CEO, Ubisoft Montreal; Ron Moravek,
Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Electronic Arts Canada; and Kelly Zmak,
President, Radical Entertainment (Vivendi Universal Games Canada).
Competition advisory board members include: Lynda Brown, President, New Media
BC; Jason Della Rocca, Executive Director, International Game Developers Association;
Rick Griffiths, Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP; and Victor Lucas, producer
and co-host, Electric Playground.
Industry mentors include: Warren Currell, President, CEO, Sherpa Games; Rob
Edgar, Manager of Business Development, Union Entertainment; Kirsten Forbes,
Producer, Radical Entertainment (Vivendi Universal Games Canada); Clint Hocking,
Creative Director, Ubisoft Montreal; and Alain Tascan, Vice President and General
Manager, Electronic Arts Montreal.
Industry information sessions will be held in the following cities:
- Montreal: Montreal International Game Summit, Montreal Convention Centre,
Room 522, Level 5, November 9, 10:00 AM;
- Vancouver: Hosted by New Media BC, Centre for Excellence, 555 Great Northern
Way, November 14, 5:00 PM; and
- Toronto: Hosted by the New Media Business Alliance, Devil's Martini, 473
Adelaide Street West, November 16, 6:00 PM.
Competition information is available at www.telefilm.gc.ca/game.
Developing and promoting the Canadian audiovisual industry
Telefilm Canada is a federal cultural agency dedicated to the development and
promotion of the Canadian audiovisual industry. Telefilm provides financial
support to the private sector to create distinctively Canadian productions that
appeal to domestic and international audiences. The Corporation also administers
the funding programs of the Canadian Television Fund.
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Media inquiries:
Glen Edwards, Competition Media Relations
(604) 561-4640, glen@karyo.net
Douglas Chow, Deputy Director, Strategic Communications, Telefilm Canada
(514) 283-6363 or 1-800-567-0890, chowd@telefilm.gc.ca
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