Dubai Lynx and YouTube 7-Day Brief Returns to Challenge MENA Creatives
30 November 2014 – Returning to Dubai Lynx for another year, the 7-Day Brief, powered by YouTube, is a competition that aims to raise awareness of a particular charitable cause through a creative video ad for YouTube. The competition is supported by Audio Network, Leo Burnett, The Collective and Getty Images.
Announcing the competition, Terry Savage, Chairman, Lions Festivals said, “Online video advertising is an essential area within the industry and this competition combines creative talent with a fantastic interactive platform for a great cause. The features that YouTube provide allow brands to be really innovative in how they connect with their audience and to be able to use this creatively to make a difference and raise awareness is a tremendous opportunity for all involved.”
The cause will remain unknown until the brief is released online on 14 January and entrants will have until midday (UAE) on 21 January to submit their film. Contestants from Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and this year Lebanon, are all eligible to submit films. Teams of up to two contestants can enter commercials that address the brief in either English or Arabic with English subtitles and upload them to the publically accessible YouTube channel, youtube.com/dubailynx, to further promote the cause.
The entries will be assessed by a panel of highly respected individuals from the advertising industry in the region, headed by Ramsey Naja, Chief Creative Officer, JWT MEA. The jury will also evaluate the entries responsiveness, interactivity and suitability for YouTube. The winning team will receive an all expenses paid trip to the Dubai Lynx International Festival of Creativity where they will be awarded with the trip of a lifetime to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in June 2015.
Commenting on the competition, Tarek Abdalla, Head of Marketing, Middle East & North Africa at Google, says, “The 7-Day Brief competition offers a great chance for anyone with a camera and strong idea to experiment with new ideas and create compelling content to entertain, inspire and inform valuable audiences that YouTube reaches around the world. Now in its third year, the 7-Day Brief has become a highly anticipated part of the Dubai Lynx season and we are particularly excited to see what amazing ideas we will get this year!”
Further information on how to enter along with full terms and conditions can be found at www.dubailynx.com and YouTube. The Dubai Lynx International Festival of Creativity celebrates creative communications in the MENA region with the Festival taking place from 8-10 March and the Awards Ceremony on 11 March 2015.
The Dubai Lynx International Festival of Creativity is the leading competition and awards for advertising creative excellence in the Middle East and Africa.
Presented by Lions Festivals together with their regional partners, Motivate, the Dubai Lynx International Festival of Creativity, is held in association with the UAE Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA) and with the support of Dubai Media City (DMC). The 8th Dubai Lynx International Festival of Creativity will bring to the Middle East and Africa a series of high profile seminars, workshops, exhibitions and screenings aimed at giving creative inspiration, learning and networking opportunities to the advertising and allied industries in the region. The Academies, The Young Lynx Competitions and Networking evenings are amongst the events enjoyed by participants. The Dubai Lynx awards, which are part of the Festival, will honour creative excellence in Film, Print, Outdoor, Radio, Direct, Promo & Activation, Media, Interactive, Film Craft, Print & Poster Craft, Design, Mobile, PR, Integrated and Branded Content & Entertainment advertising and communications. High-profile international jurors will award the coveted Dubai Lynx trophy to establish the definitive standard for creative excellence in the Middle East and Africa region. www.dubailynx.com
About Lions Festivals
Lions Festivals Limited is the organiser of international and regional festivals of creativity in communications, including its flagship event, Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Eurobest and Lions Health as well as co-organisers, with its joint venture partners, of Dubai Lynx International Festival of Creativity, Spikes Asia Festival of Creativity and the Festival of Asian Marketing Effectiveness. www.lionsfestivals.com. Lions Festivals is powered by Top Right Group.
About Motivate
Motivate is the Middle East’s leading publisher of magazines and books. Motivate’s portfolio comprises of more than 20 market-leading magazines – many of which have independently audited circulations – and over 300 books. With a staff of more than 200 experienced and dedicated professionals, Motivate is committed to providing editorial excellence, audited circulation and transparent research data across its platform of publications.
In addition to partnering Dubai Lynx, Motivate, through its cinema advertising company, Motivate Val Morgan, is also the Official UAE Representative of the Cannes International Festival of Creativity. http://www.motivatepublishing.com/
Key Dates:
Delegate registration open
1st Delegate Early Bird Discount: 10 December 2014
2nd Delegate Early Bird Discount: 29 January 2014
Entries: open
Earlybird entry deadline: 29 January 2015
Entry deadline: 5 February 2015
Festival Dates: 8–10 March 2015
Dubai Lynx Awards: 11 March 2015
