3rd Annual ELAN Awards

For immediate release

VANCOUVER July 24, 2008 – The new categories for the 3rd ELANs – an awards show that recently announced its expansion to global competition and which has for the last two years honored video games and animation with big-name hosts such as William Shatner (1st year) and Seth MacFarlane (2nd year) – were announced today after three days of consultation with the industries themselves including Visual Effects which have been added to the next show taking place in Vancouver on Saturday, February 28, 2009.

“We hold Industry Roundtables in Vancouver and ask each group to determine their own Award Categories and Criteria,” explains Holly Carinci, Founder and Producer of the ELAN Awards. “We then send them out to their peers around the world for their input and that is how our official categories are decided each year. We do this so that we are on top of what each of these fast-paced industries are doing today, acknowledging new areas of importance to each of them such as Mobile Games and MMOs are this year to the Video Game Industry. We could never do this without the industry’s help and they have given it to us very generously.”

Tarnie Williams, GM of THQ Canada Inc. (Relic Entertainment) sits on the Board of Advisors for the 3rd Annual ELAN Awards: “Relic is honored to have collected statues at the ELANS in both of the past two years,” says Williams. “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.”

Doug Campbell, President of Spin West VFX, also a member of the ELAN’s Board of Advisors says, “The ELANS give all visual effects, animation and video games professionals an opportunity to showcase the best they have to offer and be complemented with what will arguably be the most coveted award in Digital Media!”

The following award categories are open to global industry competition. The Qualifying Year is January 1, 2008 – December 31, 2008. Submissions open September 15, 2008 and close December 5, 2008. Final Nominees are announced February 2, 2009. The 3rd Annual ELAN Awards 2009 Ceremony is on Saturday, February 28, 2009. For view criteria for the categories go to www.theelans.com Submission Forms and Rules & Regulations will be available on the ELAN’s Official Website on Monday, September 15, 2008.

The Official Award Categories for the 3rd Annual ELAN Awards 2009 are:

VIDEO GAME CATEGORIES

1. GAME OF THE YEAR

The game released during the qualifying year that the adjudicators have decided was "ahead of the pack".

2. BEST CONSOLE GAME

The best game operated on a videogame consoles which include: Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, Wii

3. BEST PC GAME

The best game operated on Windows, Macintosh OS or Linux based multipurpose computing system. Includes MMOs.

4. BEST CASUAL/ARCADE GAME

Awarded to the best casual game which may be pay-for-play OR free game played on any platform.

5. BEST HANDHELD GAME (psp, ds, ipod or other similar devices)

The best game developed for a portable gaming device. This device may NOT be one that’s primary function is voice communication like iPhone or NGage.

6. BEST MOBILE GAME

Awarded to the best mobile game for devices whose primary function IS voice communication.

7. BEST AUDIO DIRECTION

Awarded to an individuals or team for their creative excellence and collaboration in sound design and music for a video game.

8. BEST ART DIRECTION

Recognizes direction and implementation of cutting-edge visuals in relation to hardware/platform specs and limitations, or most innovative application of graphics techniques.

9. BEST GAME DESIGN

Recognizes best overall new game design. This category is adjudicated based on the implementation and coordination of design concepts in any type of electronic game.

10. OUTSTANDING INNOVATION in PLAY

Recognizes technical or creative innovation that will have a significant impact on future game development.

11. VIDEO GAME HALL OF FAME

Awarded to the individual who in the course of pursuing their art, has excelled in their medium. The recipient will have achieved creative excellence throughout their career.

ANIMATION CATEGORIES

1. BEST FEATURE LENGTH ANIMATED PRODUCTION

Awarded to a feature length animated production that exhibits overall excellence. (At least 44 minutes in length)

2. BEST ANIMATED TELEVISION PRODUCTION

Awarded to a television animated production that exhibits overall excellence. Includes Educational, Television Series & Specials. (Broadcast time of 1hr or less)

3. BEST ANIMATED SHORT SUBJECT

Awarded to the short subject animated production that exhibits overall excellence. This category must not exceed 20mins. If a series of shorts has been produced, only one short per entry will be considered.

4. BEST DIRECTOR FOR an ANIMATED PRODUCTION

Awarded to the Director or team of Directors who exhibits outstanding individual achievement and creative excellence in directing. This category is open to all genres; feature length, short, series, specials, etc.

5. BEST VOICE OVER IN AN ANIMATED PRODUCTION (All genres)

Awarded for the performance by a voice actor in an animated production.

6. BEST SOUND in an ANIMATED PRODUCTION

Awarded to individuals or teams for creative excellence and collaborative accomplishment for musical scoring and sound design in the field of animation.

7. BEST STORYBOARDING

Awarded to the Storyboard Artist or Team of Artists who exhibit outstanding achievement and creative excellence. Copies of the storyboard and a copy of the developed project will need to be submitted.

8. BEST ANIMATION

Awarded to the Animation Director (can include team) that produces the best overall animation in a production (all genres)

9. BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN OR ART DIRECTION

Awarded to the Production Designer or Art Director who exhibits outstanding individual achievement and creative excellence.

10. BEST WRITING IN AN ANIMATED PRODUCTION

Awarded to the writer or team who exhibited outstanding achievement and creative excellence in an animated production.

11. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Awarded to the individual who in the course of pursuing their art, has excelled in their medium. The recipient will have achieved creative excellence throughout their career.

VISUAL EFFECTS CATEGORIES

1. BEST VISUAL EFFECTS in a FEATURE FILM

The Feature Film released during the qualifying year that the adjudicators have decided was "ahead of the pack".

2. BEST VISUAL EFFECTS in a BROADCAST SERIES, MINISERIES or MOW

The TV show aired during the qualifying year that the adjudicators have decided was "ahead of the pack".

3. BEST VISUAL EFFECTS in a INDEPENDENT/SHORT FILM

The Independent/Short Film released during the qualifying year that the adjudicators have decided was "ahead of the pack".

4. BEST VISUAL EFFECTS SHOT

The Best shot of a Film or TV show release/aired during the qualifying year.

5. BEST DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT

Awarded to the best matte painting or virtual environment.

6. BEST REALISTIC EFFECT

The best effect or sequence that shows a high skill in realistic or invisible effects.

7. BEST DIGITAL AUGMENTATION

Awarded to the best effect used to correct, enhance, or change a human actor’s appearance/performance.

8. BEST ANIMATED CHARACTER

Awarded for best digital actor or creature.

9. BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT

Recognizes advancements in software, hardware, techniques, or other innovations in creating visual effects for film or tv.

10. BEST GROUND-BREAKING EFFECT

Recognizes best design for a new style or technique not seen before.

11. VISIONARY AWARD

Awarded to the individual who in the course of pursuing their art, has excelled in their medium. The recipient will have achieved creative excellence throughout their career.

ELANS CONVERGENCE AWARD

A single production using all three genres…video game, animation and visual effects

STUDENT CATEGORIES

1. BEST STUDENT ANIMATION

2. BEST STUDENT VIDEO GAME

PEOPLES’ AWARDS

Categories to be announced for public vote on Elan website

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For more information on the third year of this high tech/high glam awards event, visit our website at www.theelans.com.

Contact: Holly Carinci, Founder & Producer cell: 604.218.3993 holly@caeaa.com

“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 ELAN.”