PATTAYA – ADFEST 2014 kicked off today, with 56 of the advertising industry’s best names, specifically chosen for their expertise and global recognition, converged at Royal Cliff Hotels Group over the past three days to vote on the best creative works of 2013.
With more than 10 countries and three continents represented on the jury panel, the diverse range of personalities and advertising-related savvy is one of the hallmarks that make ADFEST one of the industry’s most anticipated events.
“You have been invited based on your expertise,” explained ADFEST President Jimmy Lam before judging began on Monday, 3rd March. “You are all industry leaders and bring a unique stance and specialty in your own markets and this is how we know you in terms of your integrity as judges.”
This year’s Lotus Awards will feature 17 Lotus categories, including the inaugural Media category.
Ravinder Siwach, Executive Creative Director at McCann Erickson New Delhi, a first-time judge at ADFEST, talked about his experience, the type of advertising pieces that caught his eye and the voting process that went on during ADFEST’s Press Lotus category judging sessions.
“What I like about ADFEST is that the process is very fair and the jury are very transparent. The first thing about an advertising piece for me is, is it new? Next comes the execution part of it. As for the judging, all the entries are displayed and then we vote in or out to shortlist the pieces. Then, we examine them again piece by piece to decide which then progress as finalists. These are the pieces that people get to see and are considered for medals. That’s basically how it goes.”
The winners will be announced this Friday and Saturday March 7th and 8th at the Awards Presentations at 6pm, before an After Party at 8pm at the Infinity pool overlooking the Gulf of Thailand waters.
