ASIA-PACIFIC – MUMBAI INDIA, FEBRUARY 9, 2012: This year’s Goafest will be held on April 19-21, 2012 at the Zuri White Sands in South Goa, India and will have the theme "Magic of Ideas."
“This year, it will be an advertising festival for all in South Asia involved in creating ideas. For the first time, the festival is inviting countries across South Asia- Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal- as delegates as well as award entrants," said ” said Goafest committee chairman, Arvind Sharma.
Goafest is considered one of the largest advertising festivals in India. "It’s really wild. Super party, spectacular set up. Everything’s by the beach so it adds to the grandeur of it," says Joey Ong, executive creative director of DDB Philippines, who has been to last year’s Goafest.
This year’s Goafest expects that all South Asian agencies will participate in the main awards show. "However, there will also be ‘The best of rest of South Asia’ in each of the verticals," said Nagesh Alai, president of Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI).
Digital, Media, Design, and Direct Awards will be held on April 20 while the rest of the Creative categories will have their awards night on April 21.
The Goafest Committee is also looking to attract young client delegates in large numbers. It is offering a special package for under-30 marketers.
Over the years, specialist areas like Out of Home, Ambient, Design, Interactive Digital Advertising, Direct, and Integrated Advertising have been growing in importance. In recognition of this phenomenon, in 2012, Abbies at Goafest will have a provision for Grand Prix in all the nine verticals. It may be recalled that last year Grand Prix were given only in Film, Print and Radio verticals.
In line with the overall festival theme, Goafest 2012 Conclave is themed ‘Ideas for impacting the full circle’. The Conclave aims to help the entire industry gear up for opportunities that lie ahead. The Festival is inviting global leaders from major clients as well as major communications groups to participate in the Conclave. For knowledge seminars too, conversations are on with some big names famous for their much-admired ideas.
Other details like delegate and entry fees will be announced soon.
