Blogs

Congratulations to all the B.C. studios that received nominations for this year’s Canadian Game Awards, and we look forward to watching the broadcast when they announce the winners. The award shows take place in Toronto on April 20-21 and will also be streamed live on Twitch.
 

CLICK TO SEE FULL LIST OF NOMINEES

CGA TWITCH CHANNEL

Canadian Game Awards - B.C. Nominees

Best Art Direction
Mario Strikers: Battle League – Next Level Games
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist – Northway Games

Best Audio Design
FIFA 2023 – EA Sports / Electronic Arts

Best Narrative
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist – Northway Games
Hardspace: Shipbreaker – Blackbird Interactive
Glitchhikers: The Spaces Between – Silverstring Media Inc.
The Chant – Brass Token

Best Score / Soundtrack
FIFA 2023 – EA Sports / Electronic Arts

Best Mobile Game
Disney Mirrorverse – Kabam
Yeager: Hunter Legend – I Got Games (IGG)

Best Content Creator
Linus Tech Tips (Ladner, BC)

Best Esports Event
Vancouver Battle Royale
 

Canadian Indie Game Awards - B.C. Nominees

Best Art Direction
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist – Northway Games
Glitchhikers: The Spaces Between – Silverstring Media Inc.

Best Audio Design
Hardspace: Shipbreaker – Blackbird Interactive
Melatonin – Half Asleep Games

Best Game Design
The Last Hero of Nostalgaia – Over The Moon Games

Best Narrative
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist – Northway Games
Hardspace: Shipbreaker – Blackbird Interactive
Glitchhikers: The Spaces Between – Silverstring Media Inc.
The Chant – Brass Token

Best Score / Soundtrack
Hardspace: Shipbreaker – Blackbird Interactive
Glitchhikers: The Spaces Between – Silverstring Media Inc.

Best Technology
Hardspace: Shipbreaker – Blackbird Interactive
The Chant – Brass Token

Best Debut Indie Game
Hardspace: Shipbreaker – Blackbird Interactive
Glitchhikers: The Spaces Between – Silverstring Media Inc.
The Chant – Brass Token

Best Mobile / Casual Game
Melatonin – Half Asleep Games

Best PC Game
Hardspace: Shipbreaker – Blackbird Interactive

Indie Game of the Year
Hardspace: Shipbreaker – Blackbird Interactive
 

We'd like to congratulate DigiBC board members Sharon Taylor (COO, Animal Logic) and Shyang Kong (Co-founder, SkyBox Labs) for being named in the Maclean’s Power List 2023. This list recognizes the top 100 Canadians who are shaping the country. It's a cohort of changemakers whose ideas and inventions are forging new industries and reinventing old ones.

◾ Sharon Taylor: Top 10 Hollywood North Stars
The Canadian performers, creators and executives shaking up the industry

◾ Shyang Kong: Top 10 Gaming Tycoons
These tech whizzes are ensuring the revolution will be gamified—and Canadian

CLICK TO SEE FULL LIST

The R2R Film Festival for Youth inspires and equips youth to analyze, appreciate, explore, create, and share independent media. This year’s event takes place from March 28 to April 6 and will include elementary school programs, high school programs, online shorts, a Sunday Funday and an Opening Film & Party. The three animated features and two short films being shown at the festival include:
 

GOODBYE, DON GLEES! 
Saturday, April 1 - 6:30PM at VIFF Centre
Director: Atsuko Ishizuka. In Japanese with English subtitles 

Teen misfits Roma, Toto, and Drop call themselves the “Don Glees,” an informal name for their backyard adventures. One day, the trio fear they may be blamed for a nearby forest fire and set off into the woods to prove their innocence.  Director Atsuko Ishizuka delivers her first original feature film, and what a remarkable anime it is! With luminescent hand-drawn work and lush backdrops, Goodbye, Don Glees! is a tender coming-of-age story about the fearlessness of being young and the bittersweet journey of self-discovery. 

THE HOUSE OF THE LOST ON THE CAPE  
Saturday, April 1 - 4:00PM at VIFF Centre
(岬のマヨイガ)  Director: Shinya Kawatsura. Dubbed in English 

Ten years after Tohoku, Japan’s Great East Earthquake, in which many people lost their lives and homes, director Shinya Kawatsura adapted a story from a Sachiko Kashiwaba novel that pays tribute to the area and its people. Seventeen-year-old Yui is consumed by anger, and eight-year-old Hiyori has not spoken since being separated from her family. Both girls find themselves in a temporary shelter confronted by an unassuming elderly woman who has suspiciously taken an interest in their plight. A heart-warming story of new beginnings, personal growth and childhood wonder. 

New Gods: Yang Jian
Saturday April 1 @ 8:30PM.  VIFF Centre
(China) Director: Ji Zhao. In Mandarin with English subtitles

Thirteen years after Yang Jian (known to some as Erlang Shen) imprisoned his sister beneath a mountain, the once powerful god now scrapes by as a penniless bounty hunter. As Yang Jian confronts his past, he must face a host of dangerous vigilantes seeking the same treasure with the power to alter the balance of their worlds. This latest entry in the New Gods universe from Light Chaser Animation (White Snake, New Gods: Nezha Reborn) features awe-inspiring action sequences set against breathtaking and wildly imaginative environments. Combining ancient lore with dazzling animation, New Gods: Yang Jian is a timeless adventure of epic proportions featuring one of China’s legendary mythic figures. 

Animated Short Films
Sunday Fun Day: April 2 at the Roundhouse
Includes pancake breakfast from 9:30–11am

Shorty Short Shorts – Mixed Animation @ 10:00am
Inner & Outer Animated Worlds @ 11:15am
Family Matters @12:30pm

Is your company looking to hire for co-op or new grad roles? Northeastern University Vancouver has a call for companies to participate in their upcoming career fair on March 30. Employers will have booths to network and engage in meaningful conversations with NU students, and they anticipate having over 200 attendees.

Most students are searching for co-op opportunities starting in spring and fall 2023, as well as winter 2024. Additionally, graduates of 2023 will be seeking permanent roles at junior and intermediate levels. Attending students will be from the following programs:

• Masters of Science in Computer Science
• Masters of Professional Studies in Analytics
• Masters of Science in Data Analytics Engineering Analytics
• Masters of Science in Information Design and Data Visualization
   

Thursday, March 30 @ 12-3pm
Deloitte Summit Building, 14th Floor, 410 West Georgia St
Registration is free of charge and includes an exhibitor table, wifi, power access, and refreshments. Parking and display monitors are available by request.
 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

The Corporate Finance Stakeholder Forum gives you the chance to advise the BC Securities Commission on policy initiatives, capital market trends, and other issues affecting reporting and non-reporting issuers and investment funds. It is is really a good opportunity to influence BCSC's policy making, and they encourage applications from general investors and investor advocates, underwriters, lawyers, academics, and other securities market participants and stakeholders.  The Forum will:

• foster continuing communication between Corporate Finance staff and stakeholders
• advise on the effectiveness of Corporate Finance initiatives
• keep staff up-to-date on market participant views, current business practices and emerging trends as a means to support practical, efficient and cost-effective regulation

They are looking for up to 25 members to serve for a three-year term. Participation will be a mix of in-person meetings and consultations by video conference or email depending on the issue or type of feedback sought. The time commitment will vary but will be no more than two hours each quarter.

The Corporate Finance division protects investors and fosters capital raising by: reviewing public offerings and continuous disclosure required to be prepared by issuers, including investment funds; monitoring exempt market activity; collaborating with Canada’s other securities regulators in rule and policy development; monitoring insider reporting; responding to legal and regulatory issues arising in takeover bids; and monitoring the development of accounting and auditing standards.

If you are interested in participating in the Forum, please send your resume to the following persons listed below by no later than March 22, 2023. They encourage applications from issuer executives, investors and investor advocates, underwriters, lawyers, accountants, academics, geologists and other securities market participants and stakeholders.

Larissa M. Streu, Manager, Corporate Disclosure, Corporate Finance
lstreu@bcsc.bc.ca

Leslie Rose, Senior Legal Counsel, Legal Services, Corporate Finance
lrose@bcsc.bc.ca