Countdown to New York Festivals next week: never before has so many chief creative officers gathered in one place to judge an ad competition

The 2011 New York Festivals International Advertising Awards will take place next week (May 4th-5th) at the Skylight West in New York City – and CB will be there along with the jury from Monday May 2 through to Friday May 7.

This year the New York Festivals has assembled its first ever Executive Jury – and what a line-up. Never before has so many chief creative officers gathered in one place to judge an advertising competition. This exclusive group of prominent worldwide chief creative officers and VP executive creative directors will participate in one group in a live judging session held in New York from May 1 – 5. This elite group, assembled from the world’s best ad agencies, will select the 2011 trophy and Grand award winners from the Finalists winners, decided upon by the 2011 Grand Jury which was conducted online.

Worldwide heavies the likes of Leo Burnett’s Mark Tutssel, Ogilvy’s Tham Khai Meng, Dentsu’s Akira Kagami, DDB’s Amir Kassaei, Crispin Porter + Bogusky’s Rob Reilly, Mother’s Mark Waites, The Jupiter Drawing Room’s Graham Warsop, Jung Von Matt’s Jean-Remy Von Matt, BETC Euro’s Stephane Xibberas, Euro RSCG’s Lee Garfinkel and AKQA’s Rei Inamoto.

Beside Kagami, the Asia Pacific region is represented by Aussie expat Steve Back, chief creative officer of Ogilvy Singapore; Kitty Lun, chairman and CEO, Lowe China; Jureeporn Thaidumrong, founder and president of JEH United, Bangkok

The two-day celebration will feature keynote speakers including one by Keith Reinhard, chairman emeritus of DDB Worldwide, creative panel discussions, gallery and exhibits as well as the presentation of the NYF Lifetime Achievement Award and 2011 NYF Advertising Awards winners.

Reinhard will receive the 2011 NYF Lifetime Achievement Award and 2011 NYF Living Legend Awards will be presented to Bob Giraldi, award winning commercial & feature film director and Bob Carr, award winning commercial film editor, Red Car Chicago.

VIEW THE SCHEDULE

Are you an Aussie or Kiwi expat ad person in New York?

CB will be hosting a few drinks for the Aussie and Kiwi expat gang from 7pm this Monday May 2 so if you’d like to join us contact Lynchy.

Can’t make it to the Big Apple for the event?

Then log on, Thursday, May 5th beginning at 6:00pm EST as New York Festivals presents a live broadcast of the World’s Best Advertising™.

Available worldwide, this live, online event will feature over 3 hours of entertaining industry content, including highlights from multiple creative conferences, keynote speaker presentations, interviews with the 2011 Executive Jury members and of course, the presentation of the 2011 NYF International Advertising Awards.

The presentation of this year’s awards include the Gold and Grand Awards as well as the acclaimed Living Legend, Lifetime Achievement Awards, Best New Agency, Boutique Agency, Production Company of the Year, Advertiser of the Year, Agency of the Year, and Network of the Year.

Access this live broadcast on Thursday, May 5th by visiting newyorkfestivals.com