GoaFest 2009: Creative Abby Awards Jury announced

The countdown for judging the Creative Abby’s at GoaFest 2009 has begun. The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and The Advertising Club Bombay on March 18, 2009 announced the names of Jury Chairmen for the categories – Print, Out of Home and Radio – for the Creative Abby Awards at GoaFest 2009, to be held from April 2-4, 2009 at the Cavelossim Beach, Goa.

Ravi Deshpande, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer, Contract, will be the Jury Chairman in the Print category. He has been a judge at major international award festivals such as One Show, Dubai Lynx and Cannes. This year, Deshpande is judging D&AD and Clio.

KV Sridhar, National Creative Director, Leo Burnett, will be the Jury Chairman in the Out of Home category. Last year, Leo Burnett India won six Lions at Cannes, including two Gold Lions, and metals at One Show, D&AD and Clio. Under his leadership, Leo Burnett India went on to win Agency of the Year in the Leo Burnett global network in 2008. Leo Burnett also won the Print and Outdoor Grand Prix at Goafest 2008.

KS Chakravarthy, National Creative Director, Draft FCB Ulka, will be the Jury Chairman in the Radio category. He was amongst the first from India to win a Cannes Lion. He has won several One Show awards, apart from India’s first Silver Pencil nomination at D&AD.

Commenting on the judging process, Ajay Chandwani, Co-Chairman, Creative Abby - Goafest 2009, and Director, Percept, said, “We are fortunate to have Ravi Deshpande, KV Sridhar and KS Chakravarthy for the Goafest judging once again. They bring with them enormous experience and talent and the desire to look for freshness in creative.”

He further said, “Some of the winners at Goafest 2008 also won at Cannes and several international festivals, where India did very well. This speaks well of the standards of Indian creativity as well as the quality of our judging. We hope to raise the bar on judging at Goafest 2009 once again.”