3rd Annual ELAN Awards

For immediate release

VANCOUVER October 9, 2008 – Submissions are officially open now for entry into the 3rd Annual ELANs, the awards show that’s become something of a phenom over the past two years with Hosts such as William Shatner and Seth MacFarlane helping them to celebrate greatness in video games, animation and, new this year, visual effects.

Not only have the ELANs added another whole industry to their show this year, they’ve gone entirely global. Anyone in the world from these three industry sectors can submit their work for an ELAN. Quite the undertaking, but then they have quite the industry support: Doug Campbell, President of Spin West VFX, says, “The ELANS give all visual effects, animation and video game professionals the opportunity to showcase the best they have to offer and be complemented with what will arguably be the most coveted award in Digital Media!”

Kelly Zmak, President of Radical Entertainment says, “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 of entertainment and art.”

The ELANs will give out a whopping 39 statues at the Centre in Vancouver for the Performing Arts on Saturday night, February 28, 2009. All three sectors have twelve of their own categories, including one Honorary Award and one publicly chosen award, and students have one for each of the three industries. On February 2, 2009 the ELANs will announce 144 nominees for their upcoming awards show. “That’s a lot of nominees,” smiles Founder & Producer, Holly Carinci. “We’ll need to find a way to make it entertaining for all of you!” With Shatner as her first Host and MacFarlane as her second, it’s a pretty good bet that Carinci will be true to her word.

And speaking of Hosts, who will be emceeing their next show? No official word yet but “we’d like him to be someone who’s strong … very strong with a tough hide,” Carinci hints.

The ELANs will be putting out a call for Jurors/Judges to industry and media professionals from all around the world … watch for that announcement to come out in November.

In the meantime, get your submissions in by going to www.theelans.com and downloading the submission forms. Make sure you read the RULES & PROCEDURES Manual because, with three industries and global submissions, entrants need to be especially careful to provide all the right materials and support information. Submissions close at 5pm on Friday, December 5, 2008 and there is an early bird rate substantial enough to get entries in by that deadline which is November 14, 2008.

The next ELAN Awards promises to be one of the most exciting award shows in the world … “If you win, you can honestly say your work or production is the best in the world,” says Carinci. “Hope to see you there!”

3RD ELAN AWARDS CATEGORIES

“Relic is honored to have collected statues at the ELANs in both of the past two years,” says Tarrnie Williams, GM of THQ Canada Inc. (Relic Entertainment). “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.”

VIDEO GAMES:

1. VIDEO GAME OF THE YEAR

2. BEST CONSOLE GAME

3. BEST PC GAME

4. BEST CASUAL/ARCADE GAME

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

6. BEST MOBILE GAME

7. BEST SOUND in a VIDEO GAME PRODUCTION

8. BEST ART DIRECTION

9. BEST GAME DESIGN

10. OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL INNOVATION

11. VIDEO GAME HALL OF FAME

12. GAMER’S CHOICE (Publicly-voted)

ANIMATION:

1. BEST FEATURE LENGTH ANIMATED PRODUCTION

2. BEST ANIMATED TELEVISION PRODUCTION

3. BEST ANIMATED SHORT SUBJECT

4. BEST DIRECTOR for an ANIMATED PRODUCTION

5. BEST VOICE OVER in an ANIMATED PRODUCTION (All genres)

6. BEST SOUND in an ANIMATED PRODUCTION

7. BEST STORYBOARDING

8. BEST CHARACTER ANIMATION

9. BEST ART DIRECTION

10. BEST WRITING IN AN ANIMATED PRODUCTION

11. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

12. ANIMATED AUDIENCE AWARD (Publicly-voted)

VISUAL EFFECTS:

1. BEST VISUAL EFFECTS in a VISUAL EFFECTS DRIVEN FEATURE FILM

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

3. BEST VISUAL EFFECTS in an INDEPENDENT/SHORT FILM

4. BEST VISUAL EFFECTS SHOT

5. BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT

6. BEST GROUND-BREAKING EFFECT

7. BEST DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT

8. BEST REALISTIC EFFECT

9. BEST DIGITAL AUGMENTATION

10. BEST ANIMATED CHARACTER

11. VISIONARY AWARD

12. VISUAL VIEWER’S AWARD (Publicly-voted)

STUDENT:

1. BEST STUDENT VIDEO GAME

2. BEST STUDENT ANIMATED PRODUCTION

3. BEST VISUAL EFFECTS in a STUDENT PROJECT

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For more information on the third year of this amazing digital convergence awards show, visit our website at www.theelans.com.

Contact: Holly Carinci, Founder & Producer cell: 604.218.3993 holly@theelans.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 ELANs.”