No one thought Goafest would move to Mumbai. This three-day event includes panels, masterclasses, and the Abby One Show awards, India's top advertising awards. Despite the surprise, the show will go on at the Powai Westin Hotel from May 29–31, 2024.
Staying Strong
Prashant Kumar, president of the Advertising Agencies Association of India, says the main thing is not taking a break. They received a lot of support to keep the event going.
A Mini-Goa in Mumbai
Jaideep Gandhi, chairman of the organizing committee, says they found a way to create a "mini-Goa" in Mumbai. The event is set up to help people network and enjoy themselves. Last year, Goafest welcomed over 1600 people, and they expect even more this year.
Keeping People Engaged
Mohit Joshi, co-chair and CEO of Havas Media Group, explains they plan to have two or three entertainment sessions each day to keep people from leaving the venue.
Sponsors and Support
The committee explained the move to Mumbai to sponsors, emphasizing honesty and the need to keep the event going. They received strong support for the decision.
Theme: Age of Adaptability
Prashant Kumar says the theme is about adapting to change and turning challenges into opportunities for everyone to win.
The ABBY One Show Awards
The Abby Awards, now in their 55th year, are a major part of Goafest. The awards celebrate the best in advertising with a rigorous judging process. This year, there are new categories like Digital, Mobile, and Technology.
Increased Participation
There is increased participation this year, with more entries from media and creative companies. The awards also feature a diverse jury with a good mix of new and experienced judges.
New Additions
Some agencies are returning after a long time, and new categories like Best Use of AI and Health Specialist of the Year have been added.
Detailed Breakdown of the Awards
This year, 73 media agencies are participating, up from 63 last year. Creative companies have increased from 181 to 198.Entries and Judges
Media agencies submitted 1258 entries, while creative companies submitted 2248. There are 23 Jury Chairs and 204 jurors across 23 categories. This year, 53 new, young judges were introduced, making up 26% of the jury.
Focus on Diversity
Out of 23 Jury Chairs, 9 are women, reflecting a 40:60 ratio. There are also 68 female judges, contributing to a 33:67 ratio.
New Categories
New categories include Best Use of AI, Copywriting for web and digital craft, and a Health vertical with sub-categories like OTC Oral Medicines and Nutraceuticals. A new award, Health Specialist of the Year, is introduced for the best performance by a company in the health category.
Returning Agencies
Agencies like Lowe Lintas, McCann Worldgroup India, DDB Mudra, and Famous Innovations are making a return.
Judging Process
The Abby Awards 2024, powered by One Show, employ a rigorous judging process, combining the renowned One Show system of shortlisting and award rating with independent verification by KPMG.
