'Just what you 'unexpected'': Goafest 2013 from 4 April

Goafest 2013, the annual South Asian advertising festival - and India's largest - will be hosted from 4 and 6 April at the Zuri White Sands, Goa. The theme chosen for this year is ‘Just What You Unexpected’.

As is now the norm, the biggest draw at Goafest, the Creative Abbys awards night, will mark the culmination of the festival - on 6 April. This is the sixth consecutive year that the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and The Advertising Club are coming together to deliver the Abby Awards.

In 2012, over 225 organisations sent their entries for the Creative Abbys, which saw 3,167 delegates participating. Like last year, entries are invited from countries in the region line Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. This year too, there will be a Grand Prix for all nine verticals including Media, Film, Print, Radio, Out of Home, Ambient, Design, Interactive Digital, Direct and Integrated.

The Media awards will be announced on 5 April, alongside the Digital, Design and Direct category winners from the Creative Abbys.

Last year, Goafest saw the introduction of Marketing Wizards, an initiative by which young client delegates could avail of a special 'under 30' delegate fee, and provided free accommodation. Over 70 delegates from client organisations had availed of this offer.

Asked about plans are for this year, Nakul Chopra, chairman, Goafest 2013, said, “This year our target is to get at least 75 client organisations participating in the festival.”

An Industry Conclave will be held on 4 April, acting as the customary precursor to the festival. According to the Goafest Committee, this year the conclave will focus only on speakers from client organisations to bring perspective to the advertising industry.

Arvind Sharma, president, AAAI, said, “Goafest is the festival for all in South Asia who are involved in creating ideas, including agencies from other countries in the region. We’re also encouraging marketing and other allied professionals to participate this year.” Arvind Sharma said.

Shashi Sinha, president, The Advertising Club, and chairman, Abby Awards Governing Council, (joint body of AAAI and The Advertising Club), said, “The committee will take on board improvements from their past learnings and continue to follow the stringent, well accepted norms for the Abby’s in 2013."