EIEF issues final call for BAFTA glory

24th June 2005 - The Edinburgh Interactive Entertainment Festival (EIEF) is issuing a final call to young talent in the Games Industry as the 1st July deadline for entry to this year's BAFTA Interactive New Talent Award approaches. The award will be presented at this year's festival, which will take place from 10th - 14th August at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC).

The coveted award is judged by a panel made up of members of the BAFTA Interactive Committee to recognise notable creative innovation, technical excellence and production achievements and it is the most prestigious award for new talent in the interactive entertainment industry.

Award submissions should be registered by completing the entry form, which can be found at www.eief.co.uk and www.bafta.org/newtalent.htm. Submissions will be accepted from individuals as well as from company heads who can submit entries from staff they considered to excel in their field. Entrants must have been working in interactive entertainment for five years or less and be involved in product development or technology, such as producers, artists, programmers, designers, or those working in audio.

Grant Dean, BAFTA Interactive Committee Chair says "We are very pleased to be working alongside the EIEF in recognising emerging talent within the video games industry. It is essential that individuals gain credit for pushing the technical excellence and creativity within this art form".

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For further information please contact

Andrew Campbell-Edie at Taylor Herring Brand Communications

on 020 8206 5151 andrew.campbell-edie@taylorherring.com

Notes to Editors

• The Edinburgh Interactive Entertainment Festival is a jointly owned venture between the Independent Game Developers Association (TIGA) www.tiga.org and the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA) www.elspa.com. Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian supports the Festival as part of its backing of the creative and digital industries, which are key sectors for Scotland.

• The Edinburgh Interactive Entertainment Festival's aim is to increase the awareness and understanding of interactive entertainment and its place at the heart of popular culture, highlighting the growing bond between video games and other entertainment industries notably music, literature, television and film.

• The British Academy of Film & Television Arts (BAFTA) is the UK's leading organisation dedicated to the promotion of excellence in the film, television and interactive industries. BAFTA is a membership organisation with over 6,000 members from within its represented industries.

• Renowned for its high-profile Awards ceremonies, the prestigious BAFTA mask has long been seen as a symbol of excellence. Six major awards ceremonies are staged by BAFTA annually: Film, Television, Television Craft, Children's film and television, Interactive and Games.