Dubai Lynx awards announces its short listed entries

The shortlist of nominations for 11 categories out of 12 in the Dubai Lynx advertising awards is due to be given on Wednesday.

Of the total 2068 entries, 419 have been shortlisted in categories spanning print, outdoor, direct, promo and activation, media, radio, design, interactive, film, craft and print and outdoor craft. Print, outdoor and media take the lead in the number of entries.

In the Use of Broadcast, including TV, Cinema and Radio category, Henkel Arabia, du One World Rate, Mercedes-Benz, Saudi Telecom and Brand Collective have all been shortlisted.

In the digital media sector, which includes internet and mobile devices, the shortlisted companies are Batelco, Saudi Snack Food Ltd., Music Master, Bel Group, Standard Chartered Bank, Castrol, Microsoft and Proctor and Gamble.

Following a drop in the number of entrants during the recent downturn, and controversy over retracted awards for ads that were never created for clients, the award this year has seen a pick up of 52 per cent in the number of entrants.

Dubai Lynx 2011 Agency of the Year, Media Agency of the Year and Network of the Year will be revealed during the awards ceremony that will take place tomorrow. The winner of each category is decided by a group of 28 international jury members, all prominent players in the industry.

The full programme of the Fourth Dubai International Advertising Festival started yesterday with seminars and workshops from prominent regional advertising agencies such as Leo Burnett, TAXI and Lowe+Partners.