The web series sphere has grown by leaps and bounds in the span of a few short years.
Despite the fact that the average web series episode is far shorter than its traditional television counterpart, most web shows can hold their own in the crowded entertainment sphere; the quality bar is high and getting higher as more players join the fray.
Vancouver is a frontier town in the web series world, and so it makes sense that the 604 is home to Canada’s first web series festival.
The aptly named Vancouver Web Fest launched in 2014, and has grown to become a popular annual event that showcases the best and the boldest in the world of web series entertainment.
The 2016 edition of the Vancouver Web Fest features three full days of screenings, networking sessions, and (for those inclined to make their own series) workshops taught by top web series professionals.
Each day of the fest kicks off with free donuts and coffee. Screenings are arranged into blocks, and feature episodes of web series from all over the globe, including Arthur (Switzerland), Burning Wishes (Ireland), Airlock (Australia), Shorts About Giants (Argentina), and Horizon (United Kingdom).
Vancouver fare on the schedule includes Coded, Mythos, Standard Action, and Supernatural Fandom: The Movie.
Workshops explore a diverse range of topics of interest to web series producers, including audience development, workflow, lighting, legal issues, and brand building.
The weekend caps off with an awards ceremony and gala hosted by the duo behind homegrown comedy web series Fools for Hire, Mike Cavers and Nick Harrison.
The 2016 Vancouver Web Fest runs March 18-20 at Performance Works on Granville Island. Schedule and info at www.vancouverwebfest.com.
