ADFEST has announced this year’s Special Awards winners, which won the highest number of awards at the ADFEST 2019 Lotus Awards.
The following are this year’s Special Award winners:
- Dentsu Inc. was elected Agency of the Year 2019
- CJ WORX, Bangkok won Independent Agency of the Year
- DENTSU was named Network of the Year. The group of 10 offices that entered the ADFEST Lotus Awards includes Denstu Inc., Tokyo; Dentsu Digital Inc., Tokyo; Dentsu East Japan Inc., Tokyo; Dentsu Public Relations Inc., Tokyo; BWM Dentsu, Sydney; Taproot Dentsu, Mumbai; Dentsu Singapore Pte Ltd, Singapore; Que Corporation, Tokyo; Frontage Inc., Tokyo;; ; X-Line Co. Ltd., Taipei.
- Digital Agency of the Year was awarded to BWM Dentsu, Sydney
- Production Company of the Year was awarded to Hub Ho Hin Bangkok / Shots Post Production Bangkok
- Media Agency of the Year was awarded to InHype, Dubai
- Advertiser of the Year was presented to The ALS Association.
LOTUS GRANDE FOR HUMANITY
The Lotus Grande for Humanity recognizes creative excellence in the Public Services & Cause Appeals categories. Gold Lotus winners in other Lotus categories are eligible to win the Lotus Grande for Humanity. This year’s winner is BWM Dentsu, Sydney for The ALS Association ‘Project REVOICE’ – the world’s first voice changing program for people with ALS. Project REVOICE uses a deep learning algorithm to analyze the DNA of a person’s voice and create a complete digital voice clone.
“Enabling people who lose the ability to talk, to continue to speak in their authentic and personal voice is breakthrough. This is a voice cloning revolution. The days of machine-sounding voices may be over. REVOICE, powered by advanced voice changing technology, is groundbreaking and creates remarkable human value. Going forward it will be absolutely life-changing for people living with motor neuron disease worldwide,” said Mark Tutssel, ADFEST 2019’s Grand Jury President, and Executive Chairman and Global Chief Creative Officer at Leo Burnett Worldwide, Chicago.
Interactive and Mobile Jury President Natalie Lam, International Executive Creative Director, New York, said: “This is not only an impressive piece of technology but it serves a human purpose. Voice assistant technology isn’t new, but this idea shows us its possibilities – we really could see the magic and power of using technology to affect lives by giving back someone’s voice.”
LOTUS LEGEND: JUREEPORN THAIDUMRONG
One of Thailand’s most influential creatives, Jureeporn Thaidumrong, has been named the 2019 Lotus Legend at ADFEST 2019. Thaidumrong – or ‘Judee’, as she is affectionately known – is GREYnJ UNITED’s Chief Creative Officer. In a career spanning 30 years, she has consistently ranked among the world’s most-awarded creatives.
“Judee is super smart, brilliant and brave, and despite it all… very down to earth and humble, which I really admire. I’m lucky to have had the chance to work closely with her over the years. She has helped put Thailand on the world map of advertising and inspires many Thai creatives. Congratulations to Judee. So well deserved!” says Suthisak Sucharittanonta, Creative Chairman of BBDO Bangkok, who announced this year’s Lotus Legend at tonight’s Lotus Awards.
“Judee is larger than life, a trailblazer at heart and the brains behind some of Thailand’s most famous, beloved campaigns. She has played a major role in raising the profile of Thai creativity, and has won countless Lotus Awards over the course of her career – she joins some of the industry’s true greats as our 2019 Lotus Legend,” says Jimmy Lam, President of ADFEST.
Thaidumrong is the founder of JEH United, which is now GREYnJ UNITED, part of WPP’s Grey Group Thailand. JEH United is behind Thai classics like the Smooth-E “Love Story” commercial and the controversial “Sorry Thailand” TVC that reflected on the nation’s political turmoil in 2010. More recently campaigns such as the K PLUS “Friendshit” campaign – which has been a big winner at ADFEST 2019 – and Pantene’s #SeeBeautyNotGender have helped her rank #1 in Campaign Brief’s poll of Asia’s Creative Director of the Year 2018.
ADFEST’s Lotus Legends are nominated by the jurors of the annual Lotus Awards.
“My apologies I cannot be with you tonight in Pattaya to accept this award – I want to thank so many people in my life for giving me opportunities and supporting me, and for being my mentors,” said Thaidumrong, who accepted her award remotely as she is currently travelling in the Dominican Republic.
As the 22nd ADFEST drew to a close on the eve of Saturday, 23rd March 2019, the final tally of delegates through the doors was 1,120 delegates from 63 cities and 34 countries worldwide.
Film Craft and New Director Jury President Ali Brown, Partner and Executive Producer at PRETTYBIRD, Los Angeles, says: “The actual judging process has been an incredible experience. My own jury represents 7 different countries and cultural viewpoints, so there are truly diverse perspectives. But what’s incredible was to see how aligned we all were – proving that great work is great work. Quality is universal. Craftsmanship is universal. And seeing that in action is beyond inspiring. The support and kindness of those working with the festival and volunteering to run the judging rooms is unparalleled. The experience has been memorable not only for what the festival stands for, but who stands with it.”
