This is the full text of Bitsummit's 10/12/2016 press release.
 

BitSummit Returns To Kyoto In 2017 The Weekend Of May 20th For A 5th Of BitSummit, Submissions Open For Developers. 

With over 6,000 attendees filling the halls of Kyoto’s Miyako Messe convention center this past July, it was BitSummit’s largest gathering yet. Founded in late-2012, BitSummit is a pioneering and innovative gaming event unlike any other, paving the way for global exposure of Japanese independent developers, resulting in greater distribution and success in Western markets than ever before. In five short years, BitSummit has established itself as Japan’s leading indie games festival, growing year after year since its humble beginnings as an industry-only event, and blooming into Japan’s second-largest annual gaming event. Nestled in the heart of Kyoto, The BitSummit Organizing Committee is proud to announce the details of A 5th Of BitSummit (the official title of the fifth BitSummit) in anticipation of the festival’s fifth anniversary.

A 5th Of BitSummit will take place the weekend of May 20th and 21st, 2017, and will be open to the public from 10:00am to 5:00pm each day. The event will be open for a special media session on Friday, May 19th, from 6:00pm to 9:00pm, and Saturday morning, May 20th, from 8:30am to 9:30am. As has been tradition since the second BitSummit, all of the activities will take place at the Miyako Messe , the expansive and modern convention site of the past three festivals.

The event is expected to grow in 2017, with a planned 80-100 game developers from both Japan and abroad showcasing their latest works, and attendance expected to surpass 7,000 visitors over the course of the weekend. Entry fees are ￥ 2000 (approximately $20 USD) for adults, ￥ 1000 (approx. $10 USD) for students, while elementary students and younger may attend for free. (2-day entry)

Developers looking to submit to A 5th Of BitSummit can do so between now and January 19th, 2017. More information on the application process can be found on the BitSummit homepage. A 5th Of BitSummit is sponsored and produced by The BitSummit Organizing Committee and Japan Independent Games Association (JIGA), along with the CrossKyoto Media Partnership (KCROP), The City of Kyoto, and Kyoto CMEX (Cross Media Experience).

Additional information regarding special guest speakers, musicians, and sponsors will be unveiled in the coming months. Please bookmark the BitSummit website or follow our Twitter or Facebook channels for the latest announcements as they’re revealed.

For more information regarding sponsorship, ticket sales, game submissions, news and more, please visit the BitSummit website: http://bitsummit.org