Countdown to Vancouver VR Day at Annecy Begins
May 23, 2019 – (Vancouver, B.C.) — VR/AR Association Vancouver, the Vancouver Economic Commission and the Government of British Columbia European Office today announced a Vancouver VR Day at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival and Market in June.
Annecy is home to the world’s leading festival for animation, film and entertainment, and its business marketplace MIFA attracts over 10,000 industry professionals each year. The film and animation festival runs from June 10–15, with Vancouver VR Day activating on Wednesday, June 12 from 9:30a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
This year, Annecy will welcome a Vancouver delegation of five companies comprised of Pansensory Interactive, Arcana Studios, Shape Immersive, Paper Oni Productions and Volumetric Camera Systems. This new initiative offers a unique opportunity for delegates to demo their products and experiences and explore potential cross-industry partnerships at the festival. The studios will have access to the top studio executives, new markets and audiences from around the globe.
Source: Annecy
Among the programming surrounding Vancouver’s VR Day is a curated panel discussion moderated by VEC’s Nancy Basi on the topic of Immersive Realities: Prepare New Talents and Business for Tomorrow’s Challenges. This discussion on the industry’s benefits, best practices and challenges features leaders from Magic Leap, Wacom, Association France Immersive and the VRARA Vancouver’s president Dan Burgar.
Sponsored by Telefilm Canada, this collaboration comes as Annecy announces changes to its 2019 edition, including a new Virtual Reality section to the feature film competition and increased representation by women on selection committees.
“After supporting the Vancouver animation industry at Annecy MIFA for the past four years, VEC is proud and excited to host a Vancouver VR Day in partnership with industry and other levels of government,” says Nancy Basi, Executive Director of Media and Entertainment. “Now is the time to show what VR can do in the animation space – whether it’s a supplemental piece to attract new audiences or stand-alone IP that keeps viewers coming back for more.”
As proven by the recent success of Vancouver Day at SXSW, these initiatives bring awareness to extended reality (XR) companies within BC while also providing opportunities for further collaboration and expansion overseas.
“The Vancouver ecosystem is something that we’re all very proud of. We want to keep providing these experiences for delegates to enable our innovative and inspiring community — and its technology — to thrive,” says Dan Burgar, President of VRARA Vancouver. “Annecy provides us with a great gateway to those opportunities, and we’re excited to continue this partnership long into the future.”
For more information about the delegation, please contact Dan Burgar of VRARA Vancouver.
Header Image Courtesy of: Pansensory Interactive
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