AdFest unveils first speakers; FINCH, Massive Music, MPC, Carat, Contagious + ADK join line-up

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Screen Shot 2018-02-14 at 6.43.14 am.jpgAdFest has begun to unveil its 2018 program with FINCH, Massive Music, MPC, Carat, Contagious and ADK all joining the line-up, with many more speakers yet to be announced.

AdFest 2018 is divided into two streams: Craft@ADFEST (21 – 22 March) or Creative@ADFEST (23 – 24 March). Whereas Craft@ADFEST is dedicated to production, digital, and technology trends involving VR, production, sound and VFX, Creative@ADFEST is focused on pushing the boundaries of the creative and communication industry.

Says Kem Suraphongchai, festival director, AdFest: “Although we have only just begun to reveal our ADFEST 2018 program, I can confidently say it will be our strongest line-up yet in our 21-year history.”

ADFEST is pleased to announce the following sessions:

Female Creative Technologists Are Going to Save the World, presented by Greg Attwells, IP strategist at FINCH, Sydney

Wednesday 21 March, 12:15 pm

The gender disparity in STEM education is a cause for concern, which is why FINCH – a production company made of filmmakers, artists and engineers – has developed a high school creative technology curriculum especially for girls which teaches creativity first, with technology in pursuit.

Says Attwells: “Make no mistake, we need to ignite a passion for creative technology in young women or we are all stuffed. A male dominated tech industry means our capability is limited. New solutions require new people. More women means more possibility. This has become one of the most exciting things we are doing as a company from a cultural perspective. We have every reason to believe that it will engage and inspire at ADFEST in 2018.”

Dear Marketeers: Here’s Why You Should Stop Procrastinating on Music, presented by Tamon Fujimi, business development manager at MassiveMusic, Tokyo

Wednesday 21 March, 2:30 pm

We all know music has the power to trigger memories, make us fall in love and move us, so why don’t brands always know how to fittingly integrate music and sound into their identity and build brand equity as a result?

Says Fujimi: “My session at AdFest 2018 will share musical insights and untapped possibilities to help you answer the question: What does my brand sound like?”

As an artist Fujimi has toured around the US, opening up for big artists such as LMFAO and Trace Cyrus. He plays piano, drums and guitar, and composes and produces for production-duo Cedrics and other talents.

Digital Darwinism: Bringing the Next Level of Character Creation to Advertising, presented by Barry Greaves, VFX supervisor, MPC Shanghai

Wednesday 21 March, 4:00 pm

MPC is renowned for having an exceptional suite of tools at its disposal when it comes to creating CG characters. In this session, Barry Greaves will demonstrate how the company’s creative talent, technologies and methodology are used to not only sculpt and create, but also to bring life, humor and realism to each character it creates.

With over 15 years VFX experience across two continents, Greaves has worked on epic campaigns for global brands including Coca-Cola, Budweiser, Mercedes, Land Rover, L’oreal, Yves Saint Laurent and Nike. Starting his career in London, he moved to Shanghai in 2012, where as VFX supervisor for MPC Shanghai he has been instrumental in the studio’s success and expansion.

Entertainment: From Category to Culture, presented by Adam Bow, head of content, APAC at Carat Asia Pacific, Singapore

Wednesday 21 March, 4.45 pm

“Brand storytelling is no longer about disrupting entertainment; it has to become entertainment,” says Carat’s Adam Bow, whose session will demonstrate how brands can win the audience game through “content assets that attract audience, gain affinity and create sustainable relationships”.

Bow has been developing stories in the entertainment space for over 10 years from short form digital series to long form TV series.  He is the executive producer and creator of a new family game show in China, which will air this summer, and is excited about the opportunities in the APAC marketplace.

ADK Presents Young Lotus Workshop 2018: You Are What You Consume, presented by Rob Sherlock & Chris Gurney

Saturday 24 March, 11:30 am

In the age of click-bait and fake news, content is becoming more nuisance than knowledge. Our content diet is in urgent need for a detox, according to Rob Sherlock, chief executive officer of ADK Global, and Chris Gurney, regional ECD of ADK Global. Their session is all about feeding your mind with the right sources and ingredients in order to start generating ideas that may help solve some of the bigger challenges facing the health of our consumer-driven society.

Says Sherlock: “As part of the creative community, it is our responsibility and our opportunity to feed consumers with healthier content. Creators have an opportunity to break through the content cacophony and develop richer, healthier ideas.”

As part of the session, the 2018 Young Lotus finalist teams will also take the stage to present their works, and delegates will have the chance to vote for their favorite team to determine the Young Lotus Popular Vote.

How to Win in 2018: Contagious Trends for Future-Proof Brands, presented by Paul Kemp-Robertson, co-founder of Contagious Communications, London

Saturday 24 March, 2:30 pm

Kick-start the year in the best possible way by attending this ‘Contagious Briefing’, which will uncover the most defining trends of 2018. From redefining masculinity to agile long-termism, this session is a must-see for creative and marketing executives.

“My session is designed to inspire and equip people with some key knowledge to succeed in the year ahead. I’ve distilled some of the biggest and most important trends happening in the world of marketing, based on research done by the Contagious editorial team throughout the previous year,” says Kemp-Robertson, who left Leo Burnett in 2004 to co-found Contagious, which interrogates the world’s most exceptional marketing ideas and disruptive trends to help brands ignite extraordinary ideas, fast. Contagious is headquartered in London, with offices in New York, Singapore and Sao Paulo.

For more details about the AdFest 2018 program, session times and purchasing delegate passes, visit www.ADFEST.com.