Dubai: The Dubai Lynx International Advertising Festival, the largest festival in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, begins on Monday.
The festival will run until Wednesday and will host various exhibitions, workshops and seminars for the advertising and marketing industry.
Different seminars will look at digital media, how Middle Eastern brands engage with the world and the world of networking.
Participants include Mounir Harfouche, CEO and creative lead at Lowe and Partners Mena, Katharine Viner, deputy editor at The Guardian, Michael Wall, CEO at Lowe and Partners, Tim Walmsley, regional managing director at Impact Porter Novelli, Dr Lance de Masi, president of IAA UAE chapter, and Jean-Marie Dru, chairman of TBWA\Worldwide.
There are also a number of networking opportunities for industry players sponsored by The Guardian and Big Kahuna films.
The Dubai Lynx awards which are organised by Cannes Lions and Motivate Publishing will take place on Wednesday.
P&G wins award
The awards are bestowed on advertisers in the Mena region who have distinguished themselves in their various categories.
This year, Dubai Lynx has received 2,037 entries from 17 countries. The awards are bestowed in 14 categories; film, film craft, print, outdoor, print and poster craft, radio, direct, design, PR, promo and activation, media, mobile, interactive and integrated.
Some 1,211 entries were submitted by companies in the UAE making up the majority of submissions. They were followed by Lebanon, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
"The fact that the awards have attracted over 2,000 entries is testament to the importance of Dubai Lynx to the creative community in the Mena region. It also shows that the industry in the Middle East is standing strong in what are difficult times. We look forward to showcasing and celebrating the greatest work from the region," said Philip Thomas, CEO of Cannes Lions.
This year, P&G has been awarded the Dubai Lynx Advertiser of the Year 2012 trophy which will be presented to Al Rajwani, vice-president and general manager of P&G Arabian Peninsula and Pakistan, during the awards ceremony.
