Launch Party Vancouver

If you haven't already registered for VIDFEST 2008, you should check it out.  Organized by New Media BC , VIDFEST takes place during digital media week on May 21-24 and "showcases the power of digital media to achieve altruistic goals from tackling climate change to enabling entrepreneurs in the development world." 

From their opening reception at the Vancouver Art Gallery to a digital recruiting fair,  the Festival is jam-packed with 11 events over 4 days and many insightful speakers as noted on their website including: 

• Chris Anderson, Editor-in-Chief of Wired Magazine will address VIDFEST on the model of “giving it away” as a key business strategy for generating revenue
• Tom Williams, CEO of GiveMeaning.com, an online charitable foundation that brings people together to support a charity of their choice
• Erik Karjaluoto, founder of DesignCanChange.org, an online movement to unite designers to collectively address climate change
• Dylan Higgins, from Kiva.org, the first person-to-person micro-lending website that enables entrepreneurs in the developing world
• Jason Mogus, the developer behind NothingButNets.net, a website dedicated to preventing the spread of Malaria throughout the African continent
• Super-star bloggers Heather Armstrong of Dooce.com and Maggie Mason of Mightygirl.com
  

 Check out the highlights of VIDFEST 2007:

How are new media technologies reshaping the way we produce, distribute and consume media? What are some of the ways that broadcasters can leverage new media to connect with their audience online? From copyright issues and content delivery to monetization, media is undergoing a major transformation right now that is inciting a lot of questions and a very interesting debate. Recognizing this, Erica Hargreave and Megan Cole thought that all of the questions that were floating around "deserved a day." A day, where experts on both sides of the media debate could come together to share knowledge, address challenges and work together to develop solutions. After a few conversations and a bit of a planning, Erica, Megan and team created Bridging Media:

Bridging media is an event designed to open the channels of communication between the broadcast and digital media communities. We aim to increase an understanding of our respective industries and strengthen our approach to building multi-platform projects.

Briding Media's first community sponsored event is coming up this Saturday, March 29 at the Centre For Digital Media at the Great Northern Way Campus. They have a bunch of great speakers lined up, so if you are an investor or an active member of the broadcast or digital communities, register now.