Festival of Media Global Awards 2012 - Shortlist Announced

- MediaCom leads the way with the most shortlisted entries -

The Festival of Media Global today announces the much anticipated shortlist for the Festival of Media Awards 2012, with entries selected across the 14 categories chosen from a record breaking 870 plus submissions.

Organised by Festival founders C Squared the highly popular awards are now in their 4^th year, with an established reputation for recognising the very best of creative media thinking from around the world. This year's shortlist is made up of more than 70 companies from over 20 countries, with 100 brands represented.

MediaCom has more shortlisted entries than any other agency, with 27 submissions currently up for awards. They are closely followed by OMD with 24 entries and last year's most successful agency Starcom, with 22. A wide variety of brands are able to boast multiple shortlisted campaigns, with Coca-Cola and McDonalds at the top of the pile, closely followed by the likes of Volkswagen, Dell and Vodafone.

In terms of country representation the United States leads the way with a staggering 32 entries making it through to the final round of judging. Australia is second with 29, with the United Kingdom just behind with 26 entries. The top five is completed by India on 10 and Norway on 6. Finland is the only new country to make an appearance in the shortlist this year, although first time entries were also received from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

The 'Best Engagement Strategy' award, new this year and focused on recognising campaigns that can demonstrate tangible audience related engagement results for the client, has proven to be a particularly popular category. Entries across all categories revealed a number of broad trends, with talk of a digital 'tipping point' being reached now that social and digital media are completely integrated into the vast majority of campaigns, as well as mobile as a media appearing to go mainstream.

The awards are judged by a global panel of industry experts, including brand representatives such as Nadine McHugh from Colgate-Palmolive, Anna Pradzynska from Lego and Julie Chan from Pfizer. Agencies are represented on the panel by the likes of Nikki Mendonca from OMD, Nihar Das from MediaCom and Brian Elliot from Amsterdam Worldwide.

Michael Donnelly, Group Director of Worldwide Interactive Marketing at The Coca-Cola Company and Chair of the Awards Jury, comments:

"It became clear from speaking to my fellow judges that we were all genuinely impressed with and inspired by the calibre of entries to the Festival of Media Awards this year. Competition was particularly fierce given the tremendously high level of entries received, but I'm happy to say the standard of submissions met our high expectations. It was a real pleasure to have the opportunity to review so many innovative campaigns from around the world. I wish all the shortlisted companies good luck and look forward to seeing everyone in Montreux!"

Campaign entries will be available on www.creamglobal.com. Award winners will be announced at a Gala dinner on the final night of this year's Festival of Media Global, a two day event offering delegates industry insight and unrivalled networking opportunities. The Festival is taking place in Montreux, Switzerland from 15-17 April.

-ENDS-

For press information please contact Jessie Winston (+44 7977 118186) or Elizabeth jones (+44 7825 077686) or on firstname.surname@withpr.co.uk

Or visit for all event booking information.

Check out videos of previous festivals and key presentations at www.YouTube.com/thefestivalofmedia

Please credit Festival of Media with all images and videos used.

Notes to the editor

Confirmed judges for the Festival Of Media Global Awards include:

• Michael Donnelly, group director, worldwide interactive marketing, The Coca-Cola Company
• Jakob Kalkar, global media director, Carlsberg
• Nikolas Badminton, director of digital strategy, DDB
• Suresh Balaji, global head of media and marketing innovation, HSBC
• Dave Benson, global head of communications planning, ZenithOptimedia
• Chris Botha, chief executive officer, The Media Shop
• Laurent Broca, executive vice-president, network and client development, Havas
• Gordana Buccisano, business director, ZenithOptimedia
• Cheuk Chiang, chief executive officer, Asia Pacific, PHD
• Ben Collins, digital media director, EMEA, Initiative
• Nihar Das, regional managing director, MediaCom
• Rich DelCore, global director of branded entertainment, P&G
• Amy DuPon, SVP, head of strategic planning, MPG
• Caroline Foster Kenny, chief client officer, MEC
• Monica Gadsby, regional chief executive Latin America, Starcom Media Investment Group
• Jeff Hyams, chief strategy officer, MEC
• Frederic Joseph, worldwide chief digital officer, ZenithOptimedia
• Sarah Kramer, president, client services, Starcom MediaVest Group
• Gerhard Louw, international media management, Deutsche Telekom
• Mike Mathieson, founder and chief executive officer, Cake
• Nadine McHugh, vice president global integrated media communications, Colgate Palmolive
• Nikki Mendonca, chief executive officer EMEA, OMD
• Kerstin Millar, partner, strategy, Mindshare
• Peder Mittet, chief executive officer, Starcom Norway
• Vishnu Mohan, chief executive officer APAC, MPG
• Nicolas Ramonde, chief executive Argentina, Initiative
• Carlos Ospina, general manager Colombia, Mindshare
• Anna Pradzynska, marketing director, Lego
• Ricardo Reis, chief executive officer, Havas
• Kate Rowlinson, new business and marketing director, EMEA, MediaCom
• Marc Schader, chief commercial officer, MPG
• Thorsten Schulz, chief executive officer, Initiative Germany
• Scott Schwartz, global strategist, UM
• Rupert Slade, head of international, PHD Media
• Chris Stephenson, strategy director, PHD
• Scott Tegethoff, president global product, UM
• Nick Vale, global planning director, Maxus Worldwide
• Melanie Varley, chief strategy officer, MEC
• Steve Williams, chief executive, OMD UK Group

About C Squared

C Squared is the global media and marketing industry's fastest growing publishing and events business. Since the launch of its first international industry publication - Cream - in 2005, C Squared has grown twelve-fold and, though still headquartered in London, over half the Group's turnover now comes from outside the UK. Known for our creative approach, vibrant team and unrivalled global connections, C Squared's brands are leaders in their markets and offer knowledge and networking to senior decision-makers in advertising and communications across the world. Across C Squared's portfolio of market-leading magazines, websites and conferences, it has readers, subscribers, visitors and clients from over 50 countries and produces successful events on every continent - from New York to New Delhi; from Valencia to Vilnius and from Amsterdam to Accra.

www.csquared.cc

Contacts

For information on the awards:

email Nisha Ashra nisha@csquared.cc or call +44 (0) 207 367 6986

For information on delegate booking rates:
email Rachel Barber Rachel.barber@csquared.cc or call +44 (0) 207 367 6978

For information on sponsorship and exhibition opportunities:
email Caroline Holmes caroline@csquared.cc or call +44 (0) 207 367 6980

For information on the agenda:
email Dee Gage dee@csquared.cc or call +44 (0) 20 7367 6976