Dubai Lynx festival shortlist out

The Dubai International Advertising Festival (Dubai Lynx) saw encouraging attendance on its second day, with industry professionals signing up even as the sessions inside showed house-full status.

Regarding entries, the jury announced its favourites in a shortlist of entries in the print, print craft, outdoor, direct sales and promotion and media categories from the Middle East and North Africa (Mena). In all, there were 292 shortlisted entries out of a total of 998 entries submitted in these categories: 82 Print, 47 Print Craft, 57 Outdoor, 36 Direct and Sales Promotion and 70 in Media.

The jury comprises a high-profile team of 21 leading creatives and media experts from around the world who are currently judging in Dubai. The Radio, Interactive, TV/Cinema and TV/Cinema Craft shortlists will be announced today and the integrated shortlist will be available the day after.

Commenting on the challenges of picking the best of the best, Barry Cupples, CEO, Omnicom Media Group (OMG) Asia Pacific, said: "I am very honoured to have been asked to take part in such a prestigious event and I take the responsibility seriously to ensure that the best work gets the recognition it will surely deserve. Great work is no respecter of borders and I am really excited at the prospect of seeing this year's entries and the solutions to business challenges that they will represent."

David Nobay, Creative Chairman, Droga5, Australia, who is ranked in Archive magazine's top ten most published copywriters of the last millennium, and was named as Australia's most awarded creative director by Campaign Brief magazine in 2008, conveyed his excitement of being appointed as head of jury, saying: "Of course, I'm honoured to be leading the Direct and Sales Promotion and Interactive juries, but even more so, I'm genuinely intrigued. The categories are, in my opinion, where the most ambitious creativity is happening and geographically this is a region I've never worked in so I'm fascinated to see what will be revealed."

The Mena region's premier advertising festival started with an exclusive regional premiere of Art & Copy, the new film on advertising and inspiration, from documentary filmmaker Doug Pray.

With over 1,000 delegates attending the festival, The Palladium was packed on the first day of seminars and workshops with delegates attending presentations including a seminar titled, 'Blame it on the Client, Agency or the Consumer'. This was presented by the International Advertising Association (IAA) and its panel from PepsiCo, du, TBWA\Raad and Leo Burnett. David Mayo, President of Ogilvy & Mather Advertising, Asia Pacific, presented 'Selling and Keeping it Sold' and Mark Tutssel, Chief Creative Officer of Leo Burnett Worldwide, presented 'Humankind', which looks at marketing that serves true human needs.

The event is being hosted at The Palladium for the first time. "The Palladium is the perfect venue for a festival such as Lynx and we are delighted to be hosting an event which brings together the creative advertising talent from not only the Middle East and North Africa but internationally as well," said Raymond Gaspar, General Manager of the venue.

The Print and Media Young Creatives competition also started yesterday with 16 teams taking part, alongwith The Dubai Lynx Academy. The academy is offering 20 creative students from the region a three-day educational programme focusing on all aspects of the communications industry.

"Leo Burnett recognises that creative, young, talented students are the future of the industry, and as a leading communications group, it is imperative to inspire and nurture creativity among today's talent," noted Raja Trad, CEO of Leo Burnett Group-Mediterranean. The awards are presented by Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival with regional partners, Motivate Publishing, and support of Dubai Media City and the UAE chapter of IAA.

Great work is no respecter of borders and I am really excited at the prospect of seeing this year's entries Barry Cupples, CEO, Omnicom Media Group-Asia Pacific

Saudi Telecom is a young and dynamic company with the imagination and drive to advertise its products in innovative ways Ian Fairservice, Motivate Publishing

Despite an inevitable drop in the overall number of entries, we are delighted to still see growth in the media category Philip Thomas, CEO, Cannes Lions

Creative, young, talented students are the future of the industry… it is imperative to inspire and nurture creativity among today's talent Raja Trad, CEO, Leo Burnett Group-Mediterranean

The categories are where the most ambitious creativity is happening and… I'm fascinated to see what will be revealed David Nobay, Creative Chairman, Droga5

It is an intense agenda [at the festival] with some hot topics presented by a host of world-class speakers Steve Lane, Director, Dubai Lynx Awards Festival

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