Encompass Events and Wizcraft bag most golds at EEMAX 2010

The second edition of the EEMAX awards saw 25 event and activation agencies walk away with 67 awards in all

The two-day convention of the event and activation industry, EEMAGINE 2010 was held at ITC Grand Maratha in Mumbai on August 28-29. The event was organised by the Event & Entertainment Management Association (EEMA).

EEMA consists of over 100 members from all over the country. It is guesstimated that all the members put together contribute to over 80 per cent of the event and activation industry's turnover.

While a number of speakers and stakeholders came together to discuss industry issues at the convention, which is in its third year; the evening of day two saw the second edition of the EEMAX Awards, which felicitated excellence in the area of event and activation.

A total of 67 awards in 22 categories were given out to 25 events and activation agencies. In all, 20 gold, 21 silver and 26 bronze awards were handed out at the ceremony. The awards ceremony was the culmination of the two-day event.

Actors Anil Kapoor and Dia Mirza, who were present at the ceremony, gave the 'Special Contribution to Event Management industry' award to the founders of Wizcraft, Sabbas Joseph, Viraf Sarkari and Andre Timmins. The legendary lighting designer, Tapas Sen was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously, which was received by his son. Stand-up comedian and actor, Vir Das and his group provided hilarious moments throughout the event.

The 22 categories for the awards were: Best Conference, Best Consumer Activation Program, Best Dealer Activation Program, Best Exhibition Design, Best In-Store Promotion, Best Integrated Communication Program, Best Internal Communication Campaign or Event, Best Mall Promotion, Best New Event or Activation Property, Best Product Launch Activation Program, Best Product Launch Event, Best Public And Outdoor Event, Best School Contact Program, Best Signature Event, Best Use of Digital Marketing for an Event or Activation, Best Use of Technology in an Event, Best Wedding, Best Road Show of The Year, Best CSR Event or Environment Initiative, Best International Event, Best Sporting Event and Best Live Televised Event.

According to EEMA, the wide array of trophies awarded to multiple agencies across categories is a testament to the development and depth of the industry in India.

Encompass Events took home the most number of golds, four in all. It won these for its work on Asian Paints Privilege club convention 09 (Best Conference), Godrej Aladdin Make a Wish Offer (Best Integrated Communication Program), Gillette Mach 3 Shave India Movement (Best Mall Promotion) and Red Ribbon Express (Best CSR Event or Environment Initiative). It also won two bronzes, winning six awards in all.

Wizcraft International won seven awards -- including three gold, two silver and two bronze. It won the golds for the India Youth Icon Awards 2009 (Best New Event or Activation Property) and for Red Bull Speed Link in two different categories, namely Best Public and Outdoor Event and Best Sporting Event.

Sabbas Joseph, director, Wizcraft International Entertainment tells afaqs!, "The biggest reward for us is to see the success achieved for our clients and their target audience, especially when it gets reflected in business profit for the client."

He adds that he is proud of each win; but if they were to select among their wins and nominations, they would choose the Red Bull Speed Link event and the Yahoo Yodel launch, which was in synergy with the global launch. "The success achieved by our own initiatives, such as IIFA, Youth Icon Awards and the CSR project, A Nation in Solidarity are special, because they are unique initiatives that are path breaking," he adds.

Showtime Events and G2 Rams India won two gold awards each. Showtime also won two silver and two bronze awards; while G2 Rams won an additional three bronzes. Showtime won the golds for SBI TCS World Premier Technology in Concert (Best Signature Event) and ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Logo Launch (Best Use of Technology in an Event). G2 Rams struck gold with their MTS Launch in Delhi (Best Product Launch Activation Program) and for Hero Honda marketing convention (Best International Event).

Mudra won the maximum number of silvers -- six in all, for its work on brands including Philips, Castrol, Diet Pepsi and 7Up. It also won two bronzes.

Event and activation agencies, Jagran Solutions, Vibgyor Brand Services, Rashi Entertainment, Candid Marketing, Seventy EMG, ABSIL 360 Degrees, Krayon Events, Mapsor Advertising & Events and Cineyug Entertainment won a gold award each, besides silvers and bronzes won by some of them.

E-Factor Entertainment and Showworks Eventz won a single silver and bronze each; while Show Space Events, Fountainhead and E18 won a silver each for their work on Auto Expo 2010, Cartoon Network's Go Active Fun Run and New Beetle & Tourareg launch respectively.

Phase 1 Events and Entertainment won two bronzes; while Marketing Solutions, Vibez Entertainment, SOI Live Marketing & Outdoor Event, Beep Experience Management and Communique Marketing Solutions won a single bronze each.

Click here to see the entire winners' list.