Montréal’s digital creativity industries are big business. From gaming to immersive experiences to visual effects and animation, we’ve got an expertise, talent pool and competitive landscape worth boasting about. That’s why HUB Montréal is so apropos: happening at the 7 Fingers space, from October 20 to 24, 2024, it’s an international accelerator event that’s been drawing international participants in the digital creativity biz since 2017.
Calling all creative professionals
HUB Montréal isn’t primarily intended to educate or entertain — it’s an event whose mission has always been to produce new business opportunities and working relationships for creative professionals. Consider it a professional development opportunity: it’s an event designed to enhance the promotion and growth of Montréal business in various creative ecosystems, including in the entertainment, cultural and the experiential marketing sectors, as well as provide networking and business development for all of its international participants.
This year, those international participants include representative from Google, Lightroom, Mercedes-Benz Tech Innovation, the Victoria & Albert Museum and Walt Disney Imagineering, among dozens more.
What’s in store?
The 2024 edition promises a rich and diverse program featuring bold panels, expert conferences, workshops, round tables and lots of B2B networking. What presentation is Co-director Rachel Parent most looking forward to? “The conference by Thierry Reboul, Executive Director of the Ceremonies of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games!”
The opening keynote by Experience Engineer Sundar Raman, of RamanInk.com, is boldly titled Storytelling Has Left the Building and aims to explore some of the tools, techniques and challenges that lie ahead for experience, exhibition and interaction designers. That sets the tone for three days packed with networking events, lunches, panel discussions and master classes on topics ranging from the latest revolution in audio technology to future innovations in the creation of dynamic urban spaces.
Some of the most intriguing panel discussions will cover topics like The Power of Engagement, discussed by representatives of GSM Project, Les Innovations CR34TE Inc., TAIT and TKNL Expériences. There’s also a panel on Creativity Fostering Collectiveness, by speakers from Daily tous les jours, LeMonde Studio and Wallrus Creative Technologies, and one on Creating the Unexpected: The Future of Content, aimed to explore both visual and sound projects that redefine the way new technologies are used in content creation. That one will unite reps from Float4, Iregular, Isotone Studio and Ottomata.
As extracurriculars, the event has planned visits of the OASIS immersion experiences as well as the Phi Centre, the MEM - Centre des mémoires montréalaises and various Montréal tech studio well worth a privileged behind-the-scenes peek.
An event in constant evolution
HUB Montréal was founded in 2017 by Montréal creative greats Sébastien Nasra and Marie Côté, because despite the rich creativity ecosystem in the city, they perceived a need for an event that brought it all together and shared it with the world.
Since then, it’s been in constant expansion, with a growing number of international participants every year.
“The impact of the event has evolved,” says Rachel Parent. “There are twice the business meetings as there were, many more activities in addition to the conferences, and master classes that ensure we always present the latest in technological innovation. Our main goal is to provide more and more opportunities to interact, and to occupy more and more space within the city of Montréal — all of the spaces that celebrate digital creativity.”
Cheat sheet
Event: HUB Montréal
Dates: October 20 to 24, 2024
Location: 7 Fingers
Website: hubmontreal.com
X: @hubmontreal
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