ASIA-PACIFIC, SEPTEMBER 14, 2010 – A total of 3058 entries from 22 countries will be competing at this year’s Spikes Asia Festival, which kicks off this Sunday in Singapore, a 14 percent increase versus last year. Entries in Radio, TV/Cinema Craft, Direct & Sales Promotion have doubled, while Print, Print Craft and Outdoor (though receiving the most entries) had fewer entries than last year.
The top countries participating are India with 452 entries, followed by Singapore with 379, Japan on 333 and Australia with 309 entries. The Philippines is eighth with 198 entries, more than a quarter of which is competing in the Outdoor Spikes. The country is represented in all 11 categories. Contenders from outside the region are France, Germany, South Africa, Sweden and The Netherlands, which have between one and five entries each.
“This year we have seen growth across practically all categories, and in some areas the entry levels have more than doubled. Awards provide recognition, inspiration and motivation and we are delighted with the support the agencies are giving to Spikes Asia, now the largest awards in the region. With a record number of attendees expected, Spikes Asia is proving to be the leading industry event to attend,” said Philip Thomas, CEO of Cannes Lions, joint organisers with Haymarket of Spikes Asia.
Due to the unexpectedly high increase in the number of entries, five more judges have been appointed: Ricky Pesik, Managing Director of Satucitra in Indonesia and Toshiya Kono, Executive Creative Director of Hakuhodo, Japan (who is also on the Craft jury), will both join the Direct and Sales Promotion jury; Cheuk Chiang, PHD’s CEO for Asia Pacific will become a member of the Media jury; and both Marcus Rebeschini, Y&R’s Chief Creative Officer–Asia and Ben Cooper, Digital Director of Three Drunk Monkeys in Australia, will be on the Digital jury.
The winners will be announced and honoured during the Spikes Asia awards ceremony that will be held during the evening of Tuesday 21 September at the Esplanade Theatre, followed by the After Party at IndoChine Waterfront.
