Toronto VR Expo explores a Canadian-wide collaboration with Montreal technology leaders

VRTO Virtual & Augmented Reality World Conference & Expo

Former Montreal leaders from eOne films, Disney, Viacom, and more join the Expo

TORONTO, June 17, 2016 /CNW/ - In light of VRTO's upcoming VRTO Virtual & Augmented Reality World Conference & Expo, running from June 26 – 27, at the Mattamy Centre in Toronto, the organization aligned itself nationally with the addition of a Montreal panel, "The Amazing Montreal VR Scene." The panel includes notable industry leaders such as Frederic Guarino, John Hamilton, Awane Jones, Jeff Tremblay, and Martin Viau, from Montreal to showcase the love affair between both the Toronto and Montreal technology industries.

"Not only do we need top talent but we are aiming to represent Canada nationwide." Keram Malicki-Sanchez, VRTO Executive Director emphasized, "We're slowly doing that with this addition. 

The panel boasts top industry leaders throughout Canada, and internationally. Frédéric Guarino, worked in entertainment for 20 years as an agent and associate producer and was co-head of NYC lab for a French ad group. Recently, Guarino lead his latest venture, VR Valley Network Montréal.

Prior to leading VR/360 projects at UNLIMITED VR, John Hamilton who co-founded Seville Pictures in 1999, which quickly became the premiere distributor and sales company of quality independent features in Canada. Seville and Seville International were both acquired by eOne Entertainment, in 2007, where he remained as co-president until 2012. Hamilton acquired and distributed hundreds of films and most notably the successful TWILIGHT Franchise.

As CEO at Merchlar, which specializes in Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and 360° video, Awane Jones is a leader in digital marketing. As a renowned multimedia production manager, Jeff Tremblay brings over 18 years of experience within the gaming industry prior to focusing on augmented and virtual reality. Tremblay previously worked for Disney, Activision, Viacom, Warner Brothers and more. Martin Viau is the Lead of Technologies at the National Film Board of Canada's French interactive studio.

"We realize we have a group of Canadiens fans storming the former Maple Leaf Gardens," Malicki-Sanchez says. "But it's all about the love as Canada comes together to showcase its Virtual Reality thought leaders."

The VRTO Virtual & Augmented reality World Conference & Expo launches with a packed program with a two-day professional conference, VR and immersive content pavilion, exhibitor halls, and intensive training for various immersive production and a Hackathon. For more information about the conference & expo, visit http://conference.virtualreality.to

About VRTO Virtual & Augmented Reality World Conference & Expo:
Founded in 2015, VRTO (Virtual reality Toronto) is an organization whose mission is to explore, develop and promote the intersection of arts, culture, society, research and science through immersive technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, mediated reality, and wearable technology. Founders of VRTO host the widely known FIVARS (Festivals of International Virtual and Augmented Reality Stories), an annual festival designed to push the boundaries and definitions of interactive and immersive media. Though VRTO successfully ran VAR in 2015, Ontario's largest VR technologies showcase, FIVARS and several sold out events, 2016 is the inaugural year for the VRTO World Conference & Expo running for June 26 – 27.

SOURCE VRTO Virtual & Augmented Reality World Conference & Expo

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Media Contact: Matthew Celestial, VRTO Publicist, [email protected], 289.387.0917