Digital Alberta Awards Finalists Announced

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - June 2, 2011) - Digital Alberta is pleased to announce the finalists for the annual Digital Alberta Awards. A total of 87 nominees have been selected in 17 categories spanning from digital innovation, to Government 2.0, to Best Use of Film, Animation or Special FX.

The awards program is designed to recognize leaders in innovation, creativity and the evolving digital media sector in Alberta. A full list of nominees and categories is detailed below.

Formerly known as the mediaFRESH awards, the ceremony will take place at Hotel Arts in Calgary on Monday June 6th, 2011 from 6-10 pm. Sponsored by Macleod Dixon, the Canadian Media Fund (CMF), Postmedia Network (The Calgary Herald and the Edmonton Journal), the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA), Adobe, AMPIA, Calgary Technologies (CTI), Robots & Pencils and Critical Mass. The evening event will be emceed by CTV Calgary Reporter/Anchor Camilla DiGiuseppe and there will be a live performance from the band InFunkstignation.

Commenting on the awards, Digital Alberta President Michelle Sklar said, "This year we expanded our reach of categories allowing us to include companies that may not traditionally be considered in the realm of digital media, but have pioneered much advancement in the space both nationally and globally. We are thrilled to recognize the 'Best in Breed' in Alberta based companies."

To purchase a ticket to attend the 2011 Digital Alberta awards visit www.awards.digitalalberta.com.

2011 Digital Alberta Awards Nominees:

B2C Innovation - Presented by Macleod Dixon and Best in Games Development

- Robots & Pencils for Ripplewave - Ayala Malls

- Robots & Pencils for Rightmove PLC - Rightmove for iPad

- Chaordix for Orange (France Telecom) UK - Mobile Volunteering

- Pirates Love Daisies - gskinner.com

- Strut for Brookfield Homes - Website, iPhone App & Touch-based Kiosk

B2B Innovation

- Robots & Pencils for Avalanche Air Systems Ltd. - Contractor Forms HD App

- Robots & Pencils for Ayala Malls / Ripplewave - Ayala Malls App

- Chaordix for IBM (Global) - Information Governance Community

- Touchmetric

- WMode - Cricket

Best Digital Advertising/Marketing or Design Agency - Presented by the CMA

- Donovan Creative

- Medium Rare

- Suitcase Interactive

- Evans Hunt

- Critical Mass

Best Digital Design - Presented by Adobe

- Robots & Pencils for Rightmove PLC - Rightmove for iPad

- Suitcase Interactive - Jayman MasterBuilt Web Site

- RED The Agency - EPCOR Blue Bucket Crew

- Calgary Herald In-house design team - Swerve Calgary

- Strut for Brookfield Homes - Website, iPhone App & Touch-based Kiosk

Best in Cross-Platform Content - Presented by Postmedia Networks

- SnowSeekers - The SnowShow

- Enthrill Entertainment - One Child Transmedia Experience

- Corus Entertainment - ExploreMusic - powered by Cardinal

- SnowSeekers Go-Guides

- EA / Bioware - Mass Effect 2

- Conceptual Films - FOTO with Struan

Best Combined Hardware & Software Experience

- Suitcase Interactive - Jayman Touchscreen Application

- JetVision

- eQube Technology and Software Inc - Lil Gecko

- SMART Technologies - Multitouch Interactive Whiteboard

- SMART Technologies - Mixed Reality in education

Best in E-learning

- Rocket Fuel Games for Discovery Kids - Seek Your Own Proof

- 3DI - Simulation Training on Aerial Work Platform

- Global e-Training

- SMART Multitouch Interactive whiteboard

- SMART Mixed reality in the classroom

Best in Games Development

- Big Nerds in Disguise - Own This World

- EA / Bioware - Dragon Age 2

- EA / Bioware - Mass Effect 2

- BigStack Studios - Sigma

- Games Cafe - Sally's Studio Pirates Love Daisies - gSkinner.com

Best Use of Film, Animation or Special FX

- Solid Green Promo

- Jump Studios - IZOD Indy Rebranding Package

- Science Alberta - Do You Know What Nano Means

- 3DI - MARL Technologies Launches Revolutionary Sub Sea Drill

- EA / Bioware - Mass Effect 2

Government 2.0

- Lift Interactive - HEALTH DETERMINANTS FOR FIRST NATIONS in Alberta

- City of Calgary - Road Conditions Map

- City Of Calgary - 2010 Calgary Civic Election iPhone App

- Studio Dialog for the City Of Calgary - The Bow is Below

- ShareEdmonton Wiki Site - Mack Male

Best In Financial Services

- Fulucai Productions Ltd. - "The Real Deal"

- Habanero for Servus Credit Union - Servus Website

- Suitcase Interactive for Neteller Net+ Credit Card - Facebook Ninja Defense Game

- Solium Capital - Adhoc Financial Reporting Engine

Mobile Innovation

- Poynt Corporation - Poynt

- PureInbox - Syncamatic

- Big Nerds in Disguise - Own This World

- Athentech Imagaing - Perfectly Clear (iPhone & iPad Apps)

- Fluik Entertainment - Office Jerk

Best in Social Media

- Suitcase Interactive for The Forzani Group - Athletes World "Stand Out" Engagement Campaign

- Cardinal for Corus Entertainment - ExploreMusic

- RED the Agency for EPCOR - Blue Bucket Crew and Digital Aquarium

- Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) - Canada's Oil Sands: Come see for yourself.

- Edmonton Journal - Grey Cup 2010

- Shell Canada - Shell FuellingChange

Best Social Impact

- Chaordix for University of Oxford (Global) - Global Voices for Maternal Health

- Suitcase Interactive for United Way of Calgary - "BeCause" Social Campaign

- Joe Media for angrysue.ca - Get Turned off. For Good (aka. End Idling)

- Benevity - Spark! Workplace Giving Solution

- Womentum - From Competition to Connection - Bringing Women Together with Womentum

Best Digital Startup

- Empire Avenue

- ExploreMusic - powered by Cardinal

- Beamdog

- Calgary Herald In-house design team - Swerve Calgary

- decorateIT online

Student Digital Award

- Alana Thorburn-Watt - Synaesthesia Squares

- Jessie Altura and Oana Avasilichioaei - Celan Mirror

- Greg Crossfield - Guru Digital Arts College - Pulsar Chocolate Bar

- Lindsay MacDonald - University of Calgary - A Delicate Agreement

- Jeremy Pudlowski - Guru Digital Arts College - The Man of Hat

Outstanding Achievement Award

- iStockphoto - Bruce Livingstone

- Bioware - Dr Ray Muzyka and Dr Greg Zeschuk

- Critical Mass - Dianne Wilkins

- Smart Technologies - David Martin

- StumbleUpon - Garrett Camp

About Digital Alberta:

Digital Alberta is an industry-led organization devoted to promoting and connecting the thriving digital media community across Alberta, Canada. Through professional development workshops, advocacy work, education, event, and business development activity, Digital Alberta is building the digital media industry provincially and promoting it abroad.

The digital media industry is defined as the creative convergence of digital arts, science, technology and business for human expression, communication, social interaction, and education. The industry spans several disciplines, including but not limited to: audio, video, game design, animation, modeling, simulation, and interactive design.

In Alberta, digital media is considered a key contributor to the provincial ICT industry which is made up of 6,300 companies, 57,000 employees, and generating over $450 million in annual revenues. Areas of key growth in Alberta's digital media industry include: Social media content and applications, Interactive entertainment, Content and applications for mobile devices, E-Learning and games for training and education, Interactive marketing, and finally Standards-based web design and development.

www.digitalalberta.com