Fun, feni, festival – Josy Paul returns to Goafest after over a decade

As the countdown begins for Goafest 2023, scheduled to take place on May 24, 25, and 26, the excitement is palpable. At Adgully, we are eager to delve into the anticipation and enthusiasm of industry leaders as they gear up for this year’s Goafest. With our sights set on capturing their thoughts and insights, we are reaching out to these influential leaders to uncover their “Josh” (enthusiasm) for Goafest 2023.

Co-hosted by AAAI and The Advertising Club, the event will be held at the Grand Hyatt in Bambolim, Goa. Goafest 2023 will feature the 54th edition of the ABBYs, a prestigious awards ceremony that has been recognizing creative excellence in advertising for over 50 years. With an expected attendance of over 2,000 industry professionals, the festival provides a unique combination of knowledge sharing, networking, and celebration.

In conversation with Adgully, Josy Paul, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer, BBDO India, shares his excitement at returning to Goafest after over a decade, the key takeaways expected, and much more.

Paul admitted that it had been a long time since he had attended Goafest – the last being in 2011. At Goafest 2023, he will be there on the first day as part of the panel that’s discussing ‘The future of creativity’. When asked about his expectations from Goafest 2023, Paul said, “I am looking forward to a healthy debate and mind-altering discussion with my panelist friends on the future of creativity.”

On the key takeaways that one can expect from Goafest this year, he named “friendship, partnership, leadership and a bottle of Feni”, adding, “I think Feni is to Goa what rosé (wine) is to Cannes!”

Replying to a question on what brings the A&M industry back to Goafest year on year, Paul said, “Everybody has different reasons. Sea, sand, sun, freedom, learning, earning, friends, nostalgia! I have a beautiful memory from 2011. That year I was the head of the Radio jury. When they called me on stage to announce the winners, I hid below the podium so that no one could see me. And on the microphone I said, “I am radio! You can’t see me, you can only hear me.” That was feni!”