Mumbai, April 11, 2006:

GOAFEST AAAI Creative Awards Festival - April 29-30,2006

Traditionally, advertising awards in India have been one-evening affairs with focus on who won. This year, Advertising Agencies Association of India is dramatically up-scaling its awards... to a full festival at Goa.

Patterned on lines similar to the Cannes Advertising Festival, GOAFEST, except for AdAsia at Jaipur, will be the biggest gathering of its kind in India ever.

Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) expects 750- 800 creative, media and marketing professionals at this festival for two days.

Arvind Sharma, Chairman of the AAAI Awards Committee, believes the festival will provide an uncommon learning environment for India's young creative, marketing and media professionals and a rare opportunity for all professionals from India and abroad to interact with each other. All the work entered will be exhibited and so will the shortlists.

The event has been planned over two days -- Sat 29th and Sun 30th April -- on Uttorda beach in South Goa appropriately labeled the Advillage, a five minute walk from the Park Hyatt, Goa. There will be two half-day Seminars on creative aspects of the advertising business on these days. These Seminars would take place at Park Hyatt in the second half of the day. The grand awards night would be at the Advillage on 30th April.

At the Advillage, AAAI will be erecting 5 special air-conditioned domes -- three air conditioned Domes where TVCs will be screened continuously. There will be a radio shack, a cyber cafe in addition to the giant air conditioned central Dome where all the print work will be displayed; this dome would be double storied, 60 meters in Diameter with a round beer bar at the center.

Mr Srinivasan K Swamy, President AAAI, said Star Network and Hindustan Times have come in as Principal Partners. Red FM and Xerox have come in as Associate Partners. Indya.com, Star 7827, exchange4Media, In & Out Advertising and Showtime Events are official promotional partners. We also have beverage sponsors.

He said, AAAI expects more than 3000 entries to be submitted and the creative jury, comprising eminent creative directors from the industry, have all agreed to take part in the show.

The Chief Minister of Goa, Mr Pratap Singh Rane has agreed to preside over the Inaugural Seminar on 29th April. Mr Praful Patel, Minister for Civil Aviation has been invited to be the Chief Guest. AAAI is targeting to have about 750 delegates drawn from agencies, marketing companies, media and the student community. AAAI is also providing a major thrust to ensure the presence of about 350 young (under 30) professionals from agencies, advertisers and media to take part in the festival by giving them a very special all inclusive price of Rs.4500 (which includes travel to Goa, 2 days hotel stay, entrance to the 2 seminars and awards night and all the attendant food, fluids, fun, beach sports and entertainment) for them to attend, learn and enjoy.

The delegates would be treated to a lot of fun and games with special arrangements being made for water sports. The 29th night would have people going in to the sea and partying at the specially organized barges. On 30th, AAAI has some interesting entertainment which would leave a lasting impression, for people to return the following year!

Arvind Sharma, Chairman of the AAAI Awards Committee, said that AAAI would not compromise on anything to make this an event affordable for every adgal and adguy to join in and Celebrate Excellence in Advertising!

More details, registration forms and for bookings are available on the GOAFEST microsite on www.indya.com

Click Here for a layout of where this exciting event will take place.

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GOAFEST - CALL For ENTRIES

• Award Categories list and Entry Form
  (Last date for submitting entries is Tuesday, 11th April 2006, 4:00 pm.).

GOAFEST - CELEBRATION OF ADVERTISING EXCELLENCE

• Delegate Registration Form
• Hotel Accommodation Form
• Ticket Indent Form.

The Under 30s Early Bird Offer closes Monday 10th April 2006 12 noon
but Delegate Registrations will be open till Tue 18th April 2006, 4:00 pm.

AAAI has blocked a limited number of Airline Seats and Hotel Rooms.
These will be allotted through SOTC on first-come-first-served basis after they
receive the Form/s and payment.

Reservations on phone, fax or e-mail cannot be considered as accepted
unless relevant Form (download-able from the site) with full payment is received.

Under 30s only need to fill-in the Delegate Registration Form; not the following:

• Hotel Accommodation Form
• Ticket Indent Form

Seats are limited so hurry and register today.