Vancouver Digital Week hosts 3rd Annual PopVox Awards

Vancouver is preparing itself for another invigorating week of Business to Business speed dating, an influx of game developers, Obama’s social media guru, and the gathering of digital media industry’s finest at this year’s Vancouver Digital Week 2009.  Taking place from May 11-14, Vancouver Digital Week will be primarily hosted at the newly opened Vancouver Exhibition and Convention Centre. 

Even with much of the world in economic recession, BC’s digital media sectors serve as a shining beacon for the industry as this year’s events promise to be bigger and more meaningful for the digital media community in Canada. The pinnacle of this year’s event is New Media BC’s PopVox Awards, which honours and celebrates BC’s top talent in the digital media sector as voted by members of the digital media community.

Launched in 2007, PopVox (from vox populi – L. voice of the people) is a made-in-Vancouver people’s choice awards event for the local digital media industry driven by a democratic online voting process. Content creators from across the digital media sectors nominate their own work online, and then it’s up to the public to decide who wins.

“BC is home to so many amazingly talented digital media creators,” said Kirstin Richter, Producer of Vancouver Digital Week and the PopVox Awards, “The PopVox Awards is an opportunity for the community to showcase their work and be honoured by their peers.”

This year’s awards ceremony includes categories such as “Best Do-Gooder” which honours nominees who have utilized digital media to raise awareness for social issues to conventional awards such as Best Game and Best Digital Animation.

Other Vancouver Digital Week highlights include keynote speakers such as David Plough, the social media marketing guru behind Obama’s successful utilization of online communities, who will be the Convergence 2009 Keynote Address on May 11th. The Game Developer’s Conference Canada also takes place from May 12th to 13th and in conjunction with MITACS Interactive Gaming Forum on May 14th will serve as game developer heaven for 3 days. With industry leader’s such as EA Founder and Microsoft Sr. VP Don Mattrick speaking about “The Evolution of the Canadian Game Industry” and industry professionals from over 10 countries including Japan, the United States and Canada in attendance, it will be a chance for talented game developers and programmers to build valuable networks and contacts with major industry players.

To find out more got to: www.vancouverdigitalweek.com