By A Correspondent
While the ad frat is looking at 2013 with the hope that it will usher in good tidings for business, the AAAI and Ad Club found an apt opportunity to get them excited by announcing the dates and launch details of Goafest 2013.
- Nakul Chopra
Scheduled to be held on April 5 and 6 at the Zuri White Sands in Goa, the theme for the 8th edition of the festival is ‘Just what you unexpected’. The organizing committee, led by Nakul Chopra, who has been appointed chairman this year, did not disclose other details of the event, including the speakers that have been approached or any further information about the awards.
A three-member committee that included outgoing Goafest chairman Arvind Sharma, awards committee chairman Shashi Sinha and Nakul Chopra informed a select gathering of mediapersons that the aim this year was to come up with an even more evolved and bigger Goafest compared to 2012. For the record, the 2012 festival saw about 228 organisations entering the festival, received about 4253 entries, gave away a total of 332 awards to eligible winners and saw more than 179 agencies walk away with wins.
- Shashi Sinha
“For Goafest 2013, our focus will be to strengthen the excellent new initiatives that were launched last year,” said Nakul Chopra. Mr Chopra further added, “Last year we opened Goafest to all nations in South Asia and we also brought strong client participation through the Marketing Wizards initiative – our endeavour this year is to further expand and grow these initiatives, apart from of course celebrating creativity and excellence.”
“Goafest is the festival for all in South Asia who are involved in creating ideas”, added Arvind Sharma, President of the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI). “Be it other countries in this region, the marketing fraternity or other allied professionals who participate in creating ideas – we want them all to equally own and participate in Goafest. We are taking a virtual conference/road show to neighbouring South Asian countries to increase awareness for Goafest and invite active participation.”
- Arvind Sharma
Last year Goafest saw the introduction of Marketing Wizards, an initiative whereby young client delegates could not only avail of the special under-30 delegate fees, but were also provided free accommodation – over 70 delegates from client organizations availed of this offer. This year Goafest is targeting about 150 young delegates. In addition, Goafest will continue to have strong participation from senior clients in the knowledge seminars, as was the case in 2012. “Clients are our equal partners in creating ideas. We naturally strive to have their equal participation in Goafest both as speakers and delegates – this year we aim to attract participation from over 75 client organizations and hopefully over 250 people,” added Mr Chopra.
For the 6th consecutive year AAAI and The Advertising Club will come together to deliver India’s premier awards that celebrate creativity. “We have a well oiled and extremely robust process now in place for the awards – we will take on board improvements from our past learnings and continue to follow the stringent and now well accepted norms for the Abbys in 2013,” said Mr Sinha.
The Abbys will continue to be open to all who want to participate, and membership of AAAI or The Advertising Club is not required. “Last year we had over 225 organizations that sent entries – this year we hope to cross 250,” said Mr Sinha.
Continuing with changes that were introduced in 2012, there will be a Grand Prix for all nine verticals including Film, Print, Radio, Out of Home, Ambient, Design, Interactive Digital, Direct and Integrated. There will be a Grand Prix for Media as well.
Media Awards will be held on April 5, together with Digital, Design and Direct. All other Creative awards will be held on April 6.
The Industry Conclave will be held as per tradition on the day before Goafest, April 4. This year the conclave will focus only speakers from client organizations to bring perspective to the industry.