Goafest 2014 | Taproot bags 21 metals; JWT, Alok Nanda bags the Grand Prix!

The second day of Goafest 2014 ended with the most awaited awards - the Creative Abbys. The awards were given away in nine categories - Print Craft, Outdoor & Ambient, Design, Direct, Branded Contents, and three new categories - Broadcaster, Public Relation and Brand Activation & Promotion. The Creative Abbys had received 188 entries in the Design category, of which 25 were awarded.

Taproot India stood ahead with 21 metals including three Golds under categories Design, OOH and Print Craft; eight Silvers and 10 Bronzes. Standing close to Taproot was JWT India with 20 metals including four Golds (two in Print Craft category and two in Brand Activation & Promotion category), eight Silver and seven Bronze metals.

JWT also bagged a Grand Prix in the Direct category for its 'Bay beat Collective's 'Genomusic Project'.

The second Grand Prix was bagged by Alok Nanda & Company for India Bulls Group's 'The Rising' campaign in the Design category (Environment Design sub-category). Apart from this, the company also won two gold awards in 'Craft in Design - Copy' and 'Book/Diaries' sub-categories.

In the Design category, Umbrella Design bagged three Gold Abbys, one each for Lawman's 'Be the Star- Lawman', Integriti's 'The Spirit Called Youth- Integriti' and Integriti's same 

campaign in 'Craft in Design - Typo' sub-category.

In the Ambient category, the gold metals went to DDB Mudra Group for Country Inn Hotels' 'Earth Hour', Alok Nanda & Company for India Bulls Group's 'The Rising' and Web Chutney Studio for Only Much Louder's 'Wasted Bin' campaign.

In the Branded Content category, MTV India won a gold, Milestone Brandcom won a gold for Viacom18's Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Contract India for First Post You Speak's 'Talk Don't Just Type' campaign Digital Law and Kenneth won two gold awards for Idea's Idea M-ID campaign and Tata Capital's 'Half Stories - The Journey of Doing Right' campaign.

 In the Broadcaster category, STAR Sports won two golds, for 'STAR Sports Refresh Launch' and 'ICC Women's World Cup 2013' respectively and STAR India bagged a gold for 'Saath Hai Hum Uttarakhand' followed by 3 Silvers and 3 Bronze metals. Multi Screen Media's metals tally includes one Gold (Sony Max), three Silvers (Ek nayi Pehchan, Chahan and IPL 2013 Hindi feed) and two Bronzes (Sony Pix for skyfall teaser Bond and No repeat @ 9-dinner). Colors, Viacom 18 Media PVT. LTd bagged 4 Bronze (for  India's Got Talent launch Promo, Comedy Nights with Kapil Launch Promo, Bani Ishq Da Kalma show song and Ranrasiya show song) and 1 Silver for 24-treading new Territory.  

In the Brand Activation & Promotion category, JWT and Candid Marketing won three metals each. While JWT’s bagged two Golds and one Silver, Candid won one Gold, one Silver and one Bronze. Havas Worldwide took home one Silver and one Bronze and DDB Mudra Group, won one Silver and one Bronze.

In the Public relation category, four agencies won gold; IBS, Madison World, Publicis India and Paradigm Plus Marketing Communication.

Speaking about their superlative performance this year, Tista Sen, National Creative Director, JWT India said, “I am immensely proud of the Genomusic project conceived by JWT Mumbai. It's a brilliant idea where DNA meets music meets consumer connect. And what better when we joined the dots and created an original sound track that was literally yours and no one could ever duplicate.”

Colvyn Harris, CEO JWT South Asia said, “I am delighted with our win today. Team JWT’s excellent performance this evening is a testimony to the powerful ideas and brilliant work we put forth for our clients.”

An important thing that one can point out this year is that apart from metros, a large number of entries have come from different smaller markets of the country. Pratap Bose, former COO, DDB Mudra and President, Ad Club also informed that there were special jury members selected from various regional markets, especially for the broadcast category.
He added saying, “Metros like Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore always had large number of entries for the fest, however, this time entries for Abby's 2014 have also come in from places like Pune, Trivandrum, Kolkata. And PR had the most animated and excited jury as they enjoyed the process the most".

He also mentioned that with the addition of a new category almost every year, Goafest is gradually moving from being an advertising fest to a communication fest that widens the base for acknowledging talent across the industry.

The print craft category saw 189 entries from which 27 medals were awarded. OOH and ambient together received 290 entries from which 29 were awarded. Design and direct categories received 188 and 55 entries, respectively, out of which 25 and 13 metals were given out. The Branded Content category received 54 entries out of which awards were given to 21 entries. In the Broadcaster’s category there were 99 entries and 33 metals were given away. In the Public relation category there were a total of 42 entries and 21 awards were given away.