3rd Annual ELAN Awards

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 ... 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."

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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