Spikes Asia 2012 kicks off; shortlists released

Throughout the three-day festival programme Spikes Asia 2012, global industry heavyweights like Amir Kassaei, global CCO at DDB Worldwide; Tina Manikas, global retail & promotions officer at DraftFCB; Alan Dunachie, director of operations at Economist Group; Ishita Sharma, global platform leader, digital at Unilever; James Thompson, CMO at Diageo Asia Pacific; and Chris Dobson, executive VP of BBC Advertising at BBC Worldwide will entertain and inspire delegates. The advertising festival has a total of 30 seminars.

Other highlights on the programme include Campaign Asia-Pacific editorial director Atifa Silk's interview with chairman and CEO of McCann Worldgroup India Prasoon Joshi and executive chairman and creative director at Ogilvy & Mather South Asia Piyush Pandey, Dentsu's sponsored seminar with media artist Daito Manabe and the Spikes Asia Awards Afterparty Tuesday evening.

In addition, Grey Group will feature comedian Papa CJ in its third 'Eye on Global Asians' seminar, talking about his Oxford MBA, stand-up comedy and advertising, with the agency’s regional chairman and chief executive, Nirvik Singh.

This year, a total of 4,860 entries were received from 23 countries, an increase of 33 per cent from last year. A total of 703 entries were received from Australia, followed by India with 694, Japan with 594, host country Singapore with 524, China with 448 and Thailand with 411 entries.

Early Sunday, Spikes Asia announced the shortlisted entries for the digital, mobile, design, direct, media, outdoor, PR, print, promo and radio categories.

Here is the total number of shortlisted entries in each category:

• Print – 135
• Outdoor – 151
• Media – 62
• Direct – 58
• Promo & Activation – 69
• Design – 56
• PR – 50
• Radio – 31
• Digital – 63
• Mobile – 20