South Yorks leads way in 3-D field
19 October 2009
The opportunities offered by 3-D technology will be the focus for Sheffield's contribution to Yorkshire's Digital Week, which starts on Monday November 9.
Enjoy a 2-4-1 Meal at Revolution Electric Press (16/10/2009)
October 2009
Kick Start Your Career at Eurogamer Expo (15/09/2009)
September 2009
GamesIndustry.biz has announced its 2009 Career Fair, which will run alongside the Eurogamer Expo At The Royal Armouries in Leeds on 27th/28th October. Screen Yorkshire and Game Republic have partnered with Eurogamer and GamesIndustry.biz to offer students, graduates and job seekers the opportunity to meet some of the industry's leading games developers, publishers and universities.
Team 17, creator of Worms and the forthcoming Alien Breed Evolution, is already signed up, along with the University of Bradford, with more announcements to be announced shortly. This year's Career Fair will also feature the BAFTA surgeries, allowing attendees to have face-to-face talks with companies as well as offering special speaker sessions giving valuable advice on various aspects of the games industry.
Eurogamer Expo will give 4,000 games enthusiasts the opportunity to play all the latest titles - some for the first time - including Mass Effect 2, Army of Two: The 40th Day, Left 4 Dead 2, Assassin's Creed 2, Dragon Age: Origins, Lost Planet 2 and WET.
Sega has confirmed that two of its most eagerly anticipated games for 2009 - Aliens vs Predator and Bayonetta - will be playable exclusives at the Eurogamer Expo. Other games playable at the event will include Christmas blockbusters Assassin's Creed 2, Halo 3: ODST, Borderlands, Tekken 6, Left 4 Dead 2 and Dante's Inferno, which is slated for release in 2010. More games will be announced during the build-up to the event.
Entrance to the Career Fair is included with your Eurogamer ticket, priced at just £6 - book now at: expo.eurogamer.net/register
For more information on the Eurogamer Expo 2009 or to buy tickets, go to expo.eurogamer.net
YORKSHIRE MUSIC NETWORK - INVITATION TO TENDER (11/09/2009)
September 2009
Screen Yorkshire is seeking an individual or company to develop and manage a network for the Music Industry in Yorkshire. The need for a music network was identified through research commissioned by Yorkshire Forward and Arts Council England. Arts Stra then undertook a specific piece of work to engage key industry leads in a consultation exercise. The successful tender will address the main issues raised in these documents and devise an approach is highly valued by the music industry in Yorkshire, both commercial and subsidised.
For more information visit:www.screenyorkshire.co.uk
- Time table of procurement:-
- Date tender issued: Thursday 10 September 2009
- Deadline for tender: 12.00noon, Wednesday 30 September 2009
- Interview date for tenders: 5 October 2009
- Date of award decision: 9 October 2009
- Anticipated contract start date: 15 October 2009
- Please email Emma Cheshire if you have any queries. emma@screenyorkshire.co.uk
Doc/Fest Announce 2009 Film Highlights
September 2009
Sheffield doc/fest is delighted to announce a taster of this year's film programme, which includes award-winning documentaries from around the world. The 16th annual festival will screen more than 100 films over the five days from 4-8 November including 16 world and 10 EU premieres.
Doc/Fest splits its films into several themed strands, highlighting the current trends of documentary filmmaking. Following their success in previous years at Sheffield Doc/Fest, the Music Doc, Green Doc, Arts Doc and Bent Doc strands will be returning. Two new strands for 2009 are Comedy Docs and Cross-platform Docs.
The programme will also feature a special focus on Russian documentary.
Film Programmer Hussain Currimbhoy comments: "It has been a record breaking year in terms of film submissions and I was humbled on a daily basis while viewing them. Especially with films from and about Russia. There are things we think we know Russia, but it's still an endless enigma to many of us. With the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Soviet Union I felt it was the perfect time to revisit this mystery that has contributed so tremendously to cinema and art of every form".
"I have to say I've never laughed so much programming a festival. A comedy doc strand was staring us right in the face as the recession seems to have made sense of humour a crucial survival tool."
All films will be available to both festival delegates and the general public. Tickets for the public will be on sale from Monday 5th October. For further details go to www.sheffdocfest.com
Screen Yorkshire are offering a limited number of subsidised passes for regional freelancers to this year's Doc/Fest.
Financial support offered direct to media industry
May 2009
Yorkshire Forward, Screen Yorkshire & Leeds City Council met last week as part of the ongoing review surrounding a package of support for the media industry, following the announced closure of the ITV Yorkshire Studios.
The partnership commissioned a report by media consultancy Olsberg-SPI Ltd to provide an independent assessment of the future of the ITV-Yorkshire in March. This report analysed the options regarding potential future use of the studios and the partnership considered its recommendations in particular with regard to their viability, sustainability and fit with the Leeds City Council city development plans and regional sector strategy.
"We can confirm that potential public ownership and management of this studio complex as a facility for the region is no longer being considered by Yorkshire Forward. It is felt that the future of the production industry would be best served by the investment of public funds into activities that generate production work - in generating jobs and maintaining the skills & talents of both creative and technical staff, here in the region.
A range of financial support measures have been set up by Yorkshire Forward to offer support to businesses to survive unforeseen strain on their finances as a result of economic changes. Businesses within the media sector should contact Screen Yorkshire for assistance to maintain their current employment and cash flow.
Leeds City Council has also committed their support to activities that will stimulate business and jobs through its current business support initiatives for Leeds based production companies.
For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact Leona Thompson, Press Manager on 0113 3949589 or email leona.thompson@yorkshire-forward.com
Scarborough crowned most enterprising place in Europe
>May 2009
Scarborough has been crowned the most enterprising place in Europe at the Enterprising Europe Awards, held in Prague this evening.
The seaside town won the Enterprising Britain competition in October 2008, in recognition of its transformation from tourist destination to enterprising hotspot in recent years through the Yorkshire Forward supported renaissance programme.
After being crowned winner of Enterprising Britain, the Scarborough entry went forward to the European Awards, where this evening, it beat off competition from 12 other finalists to take the top award.
Yorkshire Forward Chief Executive Tom Riordan comments; "This is incredible news for Scarborough and my wholehearted congratulations goes to everyone who has been involved, not only in this fantastic achievement, but in the whole process of Scarborough's Renaissance. We have always known that our region's combination of teamwork, entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for making the very best of our great places was a winner, but this is proof positive of its value.
"What an accolade that Scarborough will not only now be known as being one of our country's original tourist destinations, but now also, the most enterprising place in Europe - and what great proof of how our region has the ability to position itself for the 21st century global economy."
Yorkshire's Digital Week welcomes DADIs home
Return of prestigious awards to Yorkshire region signals local firms' appetite for innovative & creative technology
April 2009
Digital Week 2009 beginning on 9th November, is growing up and spreading out across the region. For the second year in a row, Digital Week will climax with the prestigious DADI awards, as a week of events, talks and workshops to explore the bright future for Yorkshire's digital and creative industries, comes to a close. Organisers are predicting record entries this year, as even more digital professionals take the opportunity of Digital Week & the DADI Awards to compete on a national platform and demonstrate how Yorkshire is fighting the economic downturn with creative and technical flair.
Digital Week is organized by Holbeck Urban Village, and Leeds Media, with continued investment from Marketing Leeds and Yorkshire Forward to bring the DADI awards back to the region for the next three years under the banner of Leeds Live It Love It.
Digital Week 2009 has announced its plans to grow across the region in order to involve even more businesses from the expanding creative and digital sectors, with events expected in Leeds, Huddersfield, Bradford, Sheffield & Scarborough. In 2008, the first Digital Week events in Leeds included a round table discussion about the future of print media as the internet continues to dominate, a knowledge auction, breakfast briefings, networking and practical showcases. Digital Week 09 will focus on buying local, and look at how certain towns and cities here are becoming knowledge-rich in particular subjects such as 3D Design, social marketing, music, digital art practice, training and professional development.
For more information please contact Anita Morris Associates: Fran Graham on 07815 790189 or debbie@anitamorrisassociates.co.uk or jo@anitamorrisassociates.co.uk
