Go, Goa, Goafest!

By A Correspondent

The three-day Goafest 2016 convention is scheduled to start in Goa today. Clearly, the biggest annual event of the advertising, marketing and media fraternity in the country, the day typically comprises knowledge sessions while the evening sees the Abby Awards being presented for creative excellence, followed by time to network and celebrate.

On Day 1 this year (today, April 7), the Media and Publisher Abbys will be presented and on Day 2 and 3, the Creative Abby winners across various categories will be awarded.

Among speakers a mix of Indian and international captains have been invited in this year’s edition of Goafest. Carter Murray, Global CEO of FCB, Jean Lin, Global CEO at Isobar, Fergus O’Hare, Director of Facebook Creative Shop – APAC, Benny Thomas, Strategy head, Crispin Porter and Bogusky  and former Sri Lanka captain and minister Arjuna Ranatunga amongst others are the key international speakers. Chandramouli Venkatesan, MD, Mondelez India, writer Shobhaa De and Raghu Raman, Group President, Reliance Industries are among the key Indian spearkers. A highlight of the event will be a conversation between film-makers Karan Johar and R Balki who is also Chairman of the Mullen Lowe Lintas group.

When asked how this year’s Goafest will be different from the last, organising committee chairman Nakul Chopra said: “We’ve learnt that the delegates like to hear from people from varied fields and we are trying as hard as we can to bring them the variety that they seek and I hope this Goafest will not disappoint.”

On the Abby Awards which is the highlight of Goafest, Awards Governing Council chairman Ramesh Narayan said: “For the first time, the entire entry process except for three or four categories was online and that ensured the entire scoring process was also online. We’ve also taken on board all the views of the entire creative community.”

According to information received, the number of entries received this year was 3244 for the Creative Abby and 1015 for the Media Abby. The corresponding number last year was 2801 for Creative and 674 for the Media.

On comparisons with other events held in India, especially Kyoorius Awrds which is done in sync with UK-based industry body D&AD, Narayan said: “Most people love an award. If it’s an Abby award all the more because it’s the largest award in the whole of India. I would love to say that the Abby is incomparable. However, I’ll just say that the entire process is easily among the best in the world.”

Chopra meanwhile is bullish about Goafest 2016 that kicks off today. “It’s a great platform, it’s a great award show, it’s the most respected event of this kind in India and we are seeing the enthusiasm to take part in it increasing manifold year after year… so I am very bullish.”