The Canadian New Media Awards (CNMAs) are happening December 1st in Toronto and they have just opened up the nomination platform.

Categories for nominations include:

Nominations should be done by the companies themselves. If you belong to a Canadian digital media company that you think should be considered for a CNMA, you can now throw your hat into the ring in any of the categories listed above. The winners will be selected by a panel of judges.

Past winners include Cossette of Vancouver for Designer of the Year (2007), Viigo as Most Promising New Company of the Year (2008), Webnames.ca for a Lifetime Achievement Award (2006) and CBC Olympics for Excellence in News & Information (2006).

In just a few minutes I’ll be heading over to V in Yaletown (at Earls) for the launch of Foursquare in Vancouver. I’ll be liveblogging from 5:00pm until 8:00pm so you’ll be sure to get the entire scoop about this latest craze.

For an overview of Foursquare, check them out here.

Update: To use Foursquare terminology, I have now checked-in at V in Yaletown (at Earls). I did a quick interview with John Biehler to introduce Foursquare and the reason why we’re all here this evening.

Update: Some people without smart phones (iPhone or Blackberry) are trying to “check in” using an SMS (text message) short code. It doesn’t seem to be working for Vancouver locations at the moment but maybe that’s something yet to be activated on the system. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩

It’s not everyday that I published a post filled with photos that all feature me, but today is special. After knowing Kris Krüg for about 3 years now, we finally met up and took some photos together a few weeks ago.

Photo credit: kk on Flickr

I believe Kris used medium format film (not a digital camera) and I really like the way they turned out. The images are informal, gritty, colourful, and I think they’re perfect (even though my smile isn’t always).

Photo credit: kk on Flickr

You can view the rest of the photos in this Flickr set.

Photo credit: kk on Flickr

Kris is one of the first social media people I ever met in Vancouver, and boy I’m glad I did. Kris has a strong collection of musician and fashion photography as well as other portraits.

You can find him online at KrisKrüg.com, StaticPhotography.com, on his wiki page, his Flickr, or you can follow him on Twitter @kk.

The seventh annual Vancouver Latin American Film Festival (VLAFF) continues film fest season in town, running September 10th – September 20th.

VLAFF will present 29 feature-length films along with 33 short films downtown at Pacific Cinémathèque, Granville 7 and the Vancity Theatre. There will also be events at the SFU Harbour Centra Campus, UBC Robson Square, and VCC. It all kicks off tomorrow evening at the Granville 7 with the award-winning Mexican film Arráncame La Vida (Tear This Heart Out), by director Roberto Sneider. Opening night tickets are only $10 and full festival passes are $120.

The festival will be showcasing Chile this year, highlighting its emerging and diverse film industry. Chilean features will include Reel Journeys: Shorts by Chilean Women, along with El Diario de Agustín (Agustín´s Newspaper).

I’m always a big fan of film fest documentaries and there’s no shortage at VLAFF with features like Chevoloution, La Terra Sin Mal, and Condor.

Tickets for all screenings are available online, at Videomatica (1855 West 4th Avenue between Burrard and Cypress) or the VLAFF box office at Pacific Cinémathèque (1131 Howe Street at Helmcken). You can follow the festival on Twitter @VLAFF for updates over the next few weeks.

Update: I have two tickets available for tonight’s screening of Arrancame La Vida. If you would like to win these passes, just leave a comment on this post. I will need to draw the winner by no later than 2:00pm and confirm they can attend tonight by 4:00pm. The screening begins at 7:00pm.
Update: Jason is the winner of the ticket, enjoy the show!

Update: I have two tickets to give away for the closing gala screening of La Buena Vida (The Good Life) for September 20th at 7:00pm over at the Granville 7 Cinemas. If you would like to attend please re-tweet this post or leave a comment below. This does not include admission to the gala party afterward (since it is a fundraiser) but tickets are just $20 at the door (Boss Nightclub (1320 Richards Street).

The Vancouver Observer is an online magazine that features news, headlines, entertainment and in-depth reporting from around our fair city. They’re getting ready to launch their new website design and are celebrating by hosting a contest looking for your best Vancouver observation. “Observe. And blog. Post your observations about our city on your website and submit a 400-word entry to the Vancouver Observer.”

Photo credit: John Biehler on Flickr

You will need to write a blog post (max 400 words) and email your link to [email protected] by Friday September 18th. The staff at The Vancouver Observer will pick some of their favourites and I am their guest judge who will then pick the best of the best blogservations.

The winner will receive a prize pack from Grouse Mountain, including the chance to zipline, as well as other goodies from around Vancouver. The winning entry itself will be published online, on the new Vancouver Observer website as well as in a special print edition on the e-magazine. The Vancouver Observer’s official launch party will take place October 6th at Ceilis downtown. You can follow their updates on Twitter @VANObserver.