News Release

For immediate release                                          September 19, 2001

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA ASSISTS BADDECK
NEW MEDIA FESTIVAL 

SYDNEY, N.S. -- Speakers and participants from around the world will take part in the fifth annual Baddeck International New Media Festival (October 10 - 13) in Baddeck. Festival organizers report that delegates from Finland, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Brazil, the United States and across Canada will attend. 

Government of Canada assistance is being used to help organize and market the Festival, which celebrates the achievements and creative talents of New Media Professionals in Atlantic Canada. 

The Baddeck International New Media Festival is becoming known as a meeting place for new media creative, technical, and business professionals. It focuses on content and creativity in new media and animation. It features workshops, keynote presentations, networking opportunities, pitching sessions, as well as the awards competition celebrating excellence in new media

The total estimated cost of the project is $633,500. Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation will make a non-repayable contribution of $100,000.

"The Festival is playing an important role in stimulating the growth, development and recognition of the new media industry in Atlantic Canada and across the country. The knowledge economy is a recognized growth sector and the Government of Canada's connection with the Festival ties in with its support for economic development activities in this vibrant and growing sector, “ said Mark Eyking, Member of Parliament for Sydney-Victoria on behalf of the Honourable Robert G. Thibault, Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation.

"Once again we are pleased to have the significant support from the Government of Canada, through ECBC, to help make this event happen," said J.D. MacCulloch, Executive Producer, Baddeck International New Media Festival.

New for the 2001 Festival is the collaboration between the Banff Television Festival and the Baddeck Festival. In February of this year an accord was signed to build the collaboration between the two organizations to support the branding of each event at its reciprocal event, share in the presentation of a new media pitching session, and highlight future partnership opportunities in professional development. The Banff Television Festival is a week-long Conference held in June and noted for innovation, excellence and opportunity.

The Atlantic Digital Media Festival Society was established in 1997 to organize the Baddeck International New Media Festival and Awards program. It is a not-for-profit organization composed of private sector participants who volunteer a great deal of time and effort to the annual event.

The Festival attracts multimedia producers, developers, distributors, animators, broadcasters, educators, publishers, telecommunications and cable professionals, industry suppliers, film and video producers, investors, government representatives, musicians and culture pioneers who celebrate new media and look into the industry's future.

Funding for this project was provided for in the February 2000 Federal budget and is therefore built into the existing financial framework.

Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation offers programs in support of economic development initiatives and is responsible for delivering ACOA's programs on Cape Breton Island and in the Mulgrave area.


FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jennifer Savoy
Minister Robert G. Thibault’s Office
Tel: (613) 941-7291
Fax: (613) 941-7844

Mark Eyking, M.P.’s Office
Tel: (902) 567-6275
Fax : ((02)564-2479

Marcie Stanley
ECBC Communications 
Tel: (902) 564-7876
Fax:(902) 564-3825
E-mail: mstanley@ecbc.ca

J.D. MacCulloch, Executive Produce
Baddeck International New Media Festival 
Tel: (902) 425-0943
Fax: (902) 445-7936
Email: jd@baddeckfest.com
www.baddeckfest.com