Some events to start the year

“The ideas people are optimists” as the Economist taught us.

In 2009 we should continue developing our ideas and pushing for change and innovation. Events are a big part of that, connecting people and people, people and ideas, and here are four I will be attending in the coming weeks:

Rencontre audiovisuelle (Geneva, 17 Jan)

Courts métrages en ligne – l’Internet comme outil de collaboration, distribution et promotion.
L’Internet a changé le paysage du cinéma. Des sites comme YouTube et Atom Films permettent une distribution facile et globale d’un court métrage. Découvrons comment profiter un maximum des nouveaux canaux de collaboration, distribution et promotion en ligne. La Rencontre audiovisuelle 2009 offre une opportunité unique de rencontrer des professionnels de la vidéo sur l’Internet.

Digital Life Design Conference (Munich,  25-27 Jan)

The lineup of speakers looks extremely impressive once again, and thanks to Lift’s new dates there is now a bit of air between both events which should allow me to enjoy a bit more.

TechnoArk et ses Transformeurs: Les Objets, l’Internet du futur! (Sierre, 29 Jan)

An event we helped organized, and where one of my favorite speaker (Daniel Kaplan) will speak. Jean-Louis Fréchin and David Orban of the Open Spime Project complete a great lineup of speakers for a day of discussion around the internet of things.

Forum NetExplorateur 2009 (Paris, 5-6 Feb)

I’ll might finally get a chance to meet Jacques Attali (who had to cancel his trip to Lift the day before the conference in 2007, and couldn’t come to the 2008 edition, so it will be next year!) when I go to Paris to moderate a panel on Korea with my friend Jaewoong Lee of Daum.

Then it will be time for Lift09… Finally another Lift, and the excitement of meeting hundreds of energized people in a few days, leaving the (lovely) impression of cheating on time, getting 3 months worth of life in a few hours. I’m getting addicted to this feeling, not sure it’s a bad thing.

Happy new year :)