Digital Arts World cancelled while LEAF suspended

Digital Arts World (DAW), the exhibition dedicated to the 3D and special effects market, has been cancelled and LEAF, the London Effects and Animation Festival that was planned to run alongside DAW, has been suspended for 2003.
DAW and LEAF were scheduled to take place October 28-30 2003 at Earls Court London.
"The market for animation and 3D solutions has undergone dramatic change over the last 10 years. Creative professionals and post-production houses are now able to buy technology that is as good and easily half the cost as it was last year. Manufacturers and suppliers have therefore seen their margins reduce dramatically and marketing budgets have declined in similar measure. Under these circumstances the need for a dedicated tradeshow disappears," said Karen Parks, Event Director. "In the interests of the market and our customers we have decided it would be inappropriate to spend any more time and effort on an event, which is unable to achieve a minimum amount of support from the market to make it worthwhile for exhibitors and for Advanstar."
"LEAF has received commitment from a large number of experienced artists and leading US film studios this year as well as European games, web creative and post-production houses.
"We know suspending LEAF will disappoint many people," continued Parks. "It has run annually for ten years and is an industry fixture for creative individuals from both sides of the Atlantic. The LEAF Awards are known world wide for rewarding creative excellence and we’ve seen some great winners over the last 10 years. Sadly, although we have received a significant amount of support this year, LEAF does not have the critical mass needed to make the event commercially viable in its own right.
We have therefore decided not to run it at the end of October, but to put the programme on ice while we review our options."
(GB)