Goafest 2014: The dates are finally out!

Two new categories - Promo-Activation and PR - have been included, along with Broadcaster and Publisher Abbys.

Unlike the previous years, will be an indoor affair this year. The venue has been shifted to The Grand Hyatt, Bambolim in Goa. However, Swamy is quick to clarify that despite being indoors, participants will "not be denied the fun they are used to" (read: rain dance).

The theme of the seventh edition of Goafest has been set as 'Brand Baaja Baraat'. The logo has changed with 'Goafest' being labelled on a trumpet. The committee comprises Srinivasan K Swamy (chairman, Goafest 2014), Pratap Bose (president, The Advertising Club and chairman, The Awards Governing Council) and Arvind Sharma (founding chairman, Goafest and current president, Advertising Agencies Association of India). While Draftfcb Ulka had done the creatives for Goafest last year, this year Dentsu Marcom has taken over the baton.

"Broadcasters and publishers can send in their entries in these categories. The aim is to recognise outstanding advertising and communication ideas for promoting broadcast and print properties," Bose explains.

Branded Content category, which was introduced in Goafest last year, will also be expanded and some new sub categories will be introduced.

According to Swamy, the debate over the event dates was mainly due to the lack of clarity over the General Election dates, which were scheduled to take place between April and May. "We couldn't have cancelled or postponed the dates once it was announced as that would have affected the speakers' schedule," Swamy says. However, in spite of the delay, Swamy is confident about sponsorships falling in place.

Bose highlights that considering the awards fracas witnessed last year, the committee has made significant changes in the judging process after feedback from creative professionals. So, this year, Round 1 and Round 2 will have a 10-day gap. "We will put up all the shortlisted entries from Round 1 on the website for everyone to see. People can report their complaints backed with evidence and the jury chairman of that category will pay heed to the genuine concerns," Bose highlighted, adding that once an Abby is decided and given away, it will not be withdrawn or altered.

To make the festival inclusive, The Advertising Conclave, which boasted of limited or 'only by invitation' participation till now, has been thrown open to all delegates of Goafest. Apart from this, there will be four half-day knowledge seminars held for the media, interactive and creative fraternity.

Even the donor passes have been created in such a manner that delegates can buy two-day (priced at Rs 14,000) or three-day passes (priced at Rs 18000). The fee for general entry is Rs 6500 per entry and Rs 9500 for integrated entries.

Of course, to encourage the younger lot, the Goafest continues to provide 50 per cent rebate of entry fee for under 30 delegates including those coming from client organisations, whose numbers have been swelling in the recent years.

Meanwhile, the award shows for various categories have been spread out across three days. While Publisher Abbys and Media Abbys will be held on May 29, Design, Direct, Promo-Activation, PR, Outdoor, Print Craft, Branded Content and Broadcaster Abbys will be held on May 30. Interactive Digital, Radio, Print, TV and Integrated Abbys are scheduled for May 31.

The committee intends to put up the entry form online by March 1.