Leo Burnett’s Subhash first Sri Lankan on AdFest Jury

Subhash Pinnapola, Executive Creative Director at Leo Burnett Solutions Inc. (LBSI), joins the jury at ADFEST 2013 for the ‘Film Lotus and Radio Lotus’ categories, joining a world-class collective of 7 regional industry experts.

Subhash becomes the first Sri Lankan to be selected to sit on the AdFest jury. This becomes his second role as an international juror, having been the first Sri Lankan to be invited to judge an international advertising and marketing communications competition last year at Spikes Asia. This recognition further enhances Subhash’s standing amongst the international creative community as he is being recognized as a renowned creative professional within the region thus bringing recognition for the Sri Lankan advertising industry as well.

Commenting on his appointment Subhash stated: ““It is a great honour to be a part of the panel of established judges in search for the best film and radio work from Asia Pacific that would lead the way for the future of advertising.”

ADFEST, founded in 1998, is the largest annual advertising festival in Asia & the Pacific celebrating and raising the standard of creativity in the region.

“ADFEST is a great platform for creatives from various countries to share their knowledge and experiences while showcasing their best work. The awards truly embrace and celebrate local culture and heritage while supporting the work done by their peers’’ Subhash further stated.

Pinnapola, one of the most awarded local admen, has had the honour of serving on many local juries with other key industry leaders. Two of his most recent accolades was to be named as runner-up in the region’s South Asia Creative of the Year category at the Campaign Asia Awards 2012 and to be rated as Sri Lanka’s No.1 Creative Director last year by Campaign Brief Asia.  His work has raised the bar in the Sri Lankan advertising industryand he has been instrumental in leading the Leo Burnett team to win Sri Lanka’s first metal at the prestigious Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.  His short film ‘Pass It On’ for the Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society, stands as Sri Lanka’s most awarded commercial ever and was also ranked in the Gunn Report’s ‘Top 100’ Creative Ideas of 2011.

Subhash will join creative leaders such as Tom Martin, Creative Director, Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne and Rahul Mathew, Executive Creative Director, McCann Worldgroup India as jury members in Thailand under the Chairmanship of Graham Fink, Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy & Mather China early this week to judge the entries at AdFest 2013, the region’s most respected advertising and communications festival which takes place from the 17th to the 19th of March this year. ADFEST, a platform designed to promote and recognize creative excellence also provides a unique learning opportunity for participants through seeing the best work, listening to inspiring speakers and exchanging ideas.  

The entries this year in the Film, Press, Outdoor, Radio, Interactive, Mobile/Direct, Promo, Design, Print Craft, Film Craft, New Director, Integrated, Innova, Creative Effectiveness and Lotus Roots finalist categories are to be judged by leading international and regional creative leaders during the week of the Festival and the winners will be recognized at the gala closing event.