2023 Year-in-Review
As we bid farewell to 2023, it’s time to take stock of the journey we’ve taken. This year has been marked by the significant achievements of our community, our progress in moving our strategic plan forward, and a plethora of captivating projects that have left an indelible mark on both local and global stages.
As we bid farewell to 2023, it’s time to take stock of the journey we’ve taken. This year has been marked by the significant achievements of our community, our progress in moving our strategic plan forward, and a plethora of captivating projects that have left an indelible mark on both local and global stages.
We took a big step forward as we moved ahead with the realignment of the Edmonton Screen Media Fund into the Strategic Initiatives Fund, which paved the way for innovative new programs. Two new programs were launched this fall and underline our commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and the nurturing of talent in the community. The response has been incredible and we look forward to bringing more new programs to life in the new year.
We continued to build our team to better support the community by welcoming CK Dhaliwal as our new Business Development Specialist for the IDM sector. CK has brought fresh perspectives, energy, and expertise to our local ecosystem, promising exciting developments in the years to come.
This year saw the long-awaited release of the first season of The Last of Us, starting with premieres in Los Angeles and Calgary to a special finale screening right here in Edmonton. This show put a spotlight on our city’s versatility and garnered accolades, including multiple Emmy nominations, highlighting the impact that these types of productions can have on our province. We were also extremely proud to receive a prestigious LMGI Award for Best Film Commission along with Calgary Economic Development and Alberta Film.
The 2023 Banff World Media Festival provided our local talent with invaluable exposure on the global stage. While there, we, along with Calgary Economic Development, released Key Frames: A Growth Strategy for Animation and VFX in Alberta. The plan sets the stage for an exciting new chapter in Alberta’s screen industry, focusing on innovation and storytelling in the world of animation and VFX.
In August, we led a phenomenal group of local indie game studios to gamescom in Cologne, Germany. Crimson Herring Studios, Itzy Interactive, Occlusional Inc., Caldera Interactive, and VR Cave showcased their talent to the world and boy did the world respond. From the thousands of new wishlists on Steam and new followers to the prospective deals and inclusion in the gamescom Awesome Indies Show 2023, the trip was a resounding success!
There were so many amazing local events last year as well. This year’s edition of the Alberta Games Series was in Edmonton and brought together game developers from around the province for interesting panels and get-togethers and allowed some local devs to showcase their work to their colleagues. The film community gathered for the AMPIA Producer Power-up filled with enlightening panel discussions featuring top producers, leaders & funders from the Alberta film and television industry. We saw the fifth edition of the Alberta Game Jam hosted here in Edmonton and across the province, uniting and empowering developers throughout our province. The second phase of the BE Collective initiative took place, inviting BIPOC filmmakers in Edmonton to meet key industry stakeholders and decision-makers meant to widen social networks and create a more diverse pipeline of film practitioners in Alberta.
It’s impossible to list everything that happened this year. There are so many more projects that our amazing community has worked on this year, we could write a whole novel! And there’s so much more that we can’t share just yet, but we look forward to when we can.
2023 has been a year of growth, creativity, and recognition for Edmonton’s screen industries. As we eagerly anticipate the adventures that lie ahead, we express our gratitude to the entire community – from talented creators to enthusiastic audiences – for making this year truly special. Here’s to another year of creative brilliance and storytelling excellence!
