Mumbai, March 7, 2006:

AAAI announces a two day Creative Awards Festival in Goa in April.

For the first time in the country, advertising creative awards would take on a festival format. Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI), the premier body of all leading advertising agencies, is planning a major two-day advertising festival on 29th and 30th April in Goa. Hitherto, AAAI has been organising its Creative Awards show as a one-evening offering. AAAI has as its members, all major advertising agencies that produce some significant advertising campaigns. Bulk of the work appearing in media has been created by its member advertising agencies.

Designed on the lines of Cannes Advertising Festival, AAAI Creative Awards festival would over two days showcase the best India has to offer. Entries for Awards selection are expected from all members and non-members of AAAI. This year, over 3000 entries are expected from all over India in a wide spectrum of categories with entries from virtually all the major agencies. All creative work entered would be on display and TV commercials submitted would be screened for everyone to enjoy. Two half-day seminars on Creative aspects of advertising are being organised where two worldwide creative directors are expected to lead the discussions.

The entire event itself is being organised on the Goan sea shore, at a site appropriately called the Ad Village. Major shamianas would be erected to provide shade without taking away the breathtaking beauty of the location. All major indoor events would take place at a neighbouring 5 Star hotel.

Mr Srinivasan Swamy, President of AAAI said, “We expect about 800 delegates to this festival drawn from agencies, advertisers, media and Government. We have special arrangements planned to attract the less than 30 year old professionals, involved in advertising, marketing and media, to attend our festival, enjoy themselves while learning. Even management students and academia can avail of this special offer”.

Mr Arvind Sharma, Chairman of the Awards Committee at AAAI said “The current festival is the brain child of our creative community. They have determined all the critical details and are quite excited of what is being done. This will truly be the awards programme where judging will be fair and transparent and the jury would be drawn from the creative fraternity itself”.

Mr Swamy adds “Our awards festival has two Principal Partners – Star Network and Hindustan Times – supporting it. We also have a number of other Associate Partners who have agreed to lend serious financial support. We therefore have the money, ideas, momentum and the energy to pull this off as a great show that would make our industry proud. And we will build on this show every year and create a festival that India can be proud of”.