India's representation surges at Cannes Lion Intl. Festival 2013

The Cannes Lion International Festival which is in it’s 60th year is scheduled to take place during the week of June 16 – June 22, 2013. Since 1954, the Cannes Lions Awards has always set the benchmark for excellence in creative communications. This year India has made a remarkable headway at this annual festival.  Nine Indians have been selected to the international jury panel of the coveted annual festival of Creativity. The list includes panelists in Advertising, Marketing and even Film Production categories.

The Titanium & Integrated Lion jury is presided by Dan Wieden, co-founder and chairman, Wieden+Kennedy. Piyush  Pandey, executive chairman and creative director, South Asia, Ogilvy & Mather India will be part of this jury.

Sandeep Kaul, CEO, personal care product SBU, ITC, will be a part of  the Creative Effectiveness jury led by Shelly Lazarus, chairman emeritus, Ogilvy & Mather

Abhinay Deo, director, Ramesh Deo Production is selected to be a  part of the Film Craft Lions jury. Joe Pytka, director, Pytka Productions is the president of this jury.

Russell Barrett, managing partner, BBH, is on the Film Lions jury, which is coincidentally headed by Sir John Hegarty, founder, creative, Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH).

The Press Lions jury led by Marcello Serpa, partner and CCO, AlmapBBDO will have Santosh Padhi, chief creative director and co-founder, Taproot, as part of this jury.

Prathap Suthan, managing partner, Bang in the Middle, has been selected to be in  Outdoor Lions jury with Tony Granger, global CCO, Young & Rubicam who is jury president.

Sabbas Joseph, director Wizcraft is on the Promo & Activation Lions jury. This jury is headed by Rob Schwartz, global creative president, TBWAWorldwide.

On the Radio Lions jury panel is Akshay Kapnadak, executive creative director, McCann. It is presided by Ralph van Dijk, co-founder and creative director, Eardrum.

The ninth panelist is Umbrella Design co-founder Bhupal Ramnathkar  in Design Lions category.  Mary Lewis, creative director and founding partner, Lewis Moberly, is the jury president of this category.

The festival comprises of 16 categories viz. Branded Content & Entertainment Lions, Creative Effectiveness Lions, Cyber Lions, Design Lions, Direct Lions, Film Craft Lions, Film Lions, Press Lions, Media Lions, Mobile Lions, Outdoor Lions, Promo & Activation Lions, PR Lions, Radio Lions, Titanium & Integrated Lions and Innovation Lions . The last category has been introduced for the first time this year and it will recognize and award technology and innovations.

The Times of India, the official representative for the festival will coordinate the nomination entries and delegates for the award. The deadline for the entries for all awards is March 28 2013 , with the exception of the Creative Effectiveness Lions category. The festival is currently open to delegate registration.