News in Brief 11 Dec 2013

Company Stopp’s in New York

Stopp/Family, the award winning integrated production company, continues to expand with the opening of its new office in New York. The move comes in response to its ever increasing US business and to satisfy its US client requirements. The new office is part of continued expansion of the Stopp Group which is already based in LA and Stockholm. Ola Björling, creative technologist will head up the production arm at Stopp New York. He was one of the original founding members of Stopp Interactive and has a wealth of knowledge and expertise to guide the new team. Recent award-winning US work includes an integrated Honda campaign, an app for Land Rover and an interactive website for Hello Again the Beck and Chris Milk collaboration.

Dubai Lynx opens for entries

The Dubai Lynx International Festival of Creativity has opened for entries across 15 categories ahead of the 2014 edition of the Festival and Awards, taking place from 9-12 March 2014. The final three jury presidents have now been announced and complete a line-up of outstanding industry professionals. Prasoon Pandey, ad film director at Corcoise Films, will head up this year’s Film Craft jury. Leading the Direct, Promo & Activation, Interactive and Mobile jury will be Andy DiLallo, chief creative officer of Leo Burnett Sydney. Björn Kusoffsky, CEO & founder of Stockholm Design Lab, will preside over the Design jury. Entries are now being accepted into Film, Print, Outdoor, Radio, Media, Direct, Promo & Activation, Interactive, Print & Poster Craft, Film Craft, Design, Integrated, PR, Mobile and Branded Content & Entertainment. The deadline for submissions is 6 February 2014 and further information on how to enter can be found here. www.dubailynx.com

Publicis acquires Synergize

Publicis Groupe has announced the 100 per cent acquisition of South African digital search marketing company, Synergize. Founded in 1999, Synergize is one of only a few Google Analytics accredited agencies in Africa and the Middle East. The agency offers services in SEO, online marketing, web design, CMS development, mobile, PPC/Paid Media, analytics, copywriting and social media. Its portfolio of 100 clients varying in e-commerce, property, finance, retail and travel include those such as Prime Meridian, a South African car insurance company; Car Magazine, Property 24; and Cash Crusaders, a popular local second-hand e-commerce site. The agency will be integrated into Saatchi & Saatchi South Africa, further boosting its integrated communications capabilities in the region and across the Saatchi & Saatchi Africa network. Saatchi & Saatchi’s At Play digital arm will be absorbed into the new division, which will be renamed Saatchi & Saatchi Synergize.

BETC Start Up Lab partners the Hello TOMORROW Challenge

The Hello TOMORROW Challenge is an ambitious, non-profit mix of a start-up competition and mentorship to connect and empower young change-makers all over Europe. The challenge is calling for the most creative European minds to compete in five tech tracks that will shape the future: Bio & Med Tech, Energy, Big Data, Hardware & Robotics, IT & Com. With over 400K€ in prize money and 100K€ for the grand winner it's a unique opportunity for European start-ups. The BETC Start Up Lab partners the Challenge and has created the brand, the signature and the storytelling of the competition. Further on, the Start Up Lab will be mentoring the 25 selected teams and Stéphane Xiberras, CCO of BETC Paris will be part of the jury in April next year.

IPA announces new members

At the IPA’s quarterly council meeting (on Thursday 5 December) six agencies were elected into membership of the IPA. 101 Projects, Above+Beyond, Amnet, Forever Beta, M4C and Mason Zimbler have now all been inducted. This brings the total number of agencies in IPA membership to 303. For more information about IPA membership, click here.

Oyutfit7 looks to creative industry

Outfit7, the entertainment company responsible for the global app phenomenon Talking Tom and Friends, has announced it is to take idea submissions from the professional creative industry for the first time. The news comes as the company launches an ideas submission page on its website that marks its quest to seek and develop its next groundbreaking IP. Having achieved standout success with its portfolio of family entertainment apps, the company now boasts a network of 170 million monthly active users, 1.3 billion global downloads and a host of other achievements including chart-topping YouTube singles, an animated web series and innovative merchandise. Now, in its next stage of development, Outfit7 is eager to harness its creativity and expertise in a way that offers something unique to the entertainment industry while helping achieve its aspirations of introducing the ‘next big thing’ to the global stage. For an opportunity to get involved click here.

NYF announces first jury appointments

New York Festivals World’s Best Advertising™, now in its 57th year, has announced the first round of the 2014 Executive Jury appointments. The list includes Pancho González, co-founder & chief creative officer, Inbrax, Chile; Merlee Cruz-Jayme, chairman & chief creative officer, DM9 Jayme Syfu, Philippines; James McGrath, creative chairman, Clemenger BBDO Melbourne, Australia; Debbi Vandeven, chief creative officer , VML, USA and Stephane Xiberras, president & chief creative officer, BETC Paris, France.

The Gunn Report Christmas Quiz

Ready for some festive fun? Think you know about the world’s greatest-ever ads? Then have a go at The Gunn Report Christmas Quiz, which includes 20 multiple choice questions on the work. Deadline for completion 31 December and prizes will go to the 10 highest scorers in the New Year.

The Artery expands for commercials

After a year of rapid expansion and flawlessly executed feature length film projects, The Artery VFX is capitalising on its new resources with visually stunning commercial and music video content. Recent months have seen the Artery’s artists turn their efforts toward captivating spot work for Target and Mercedes, as well as collaborating with Digital Agency Interlude on the groundbreaking new interactive music video for Bob Dylan’s Like a Rolling Stone.

Sweet Shop directors win big in NZ

This week’s New Zealand Film Awards saw four of The Sweet Shop’s directors come away smiling with multiple wins. Directing duo Mark Albiston and Louis Sutherland won big for their debut feature Shopping. The duo picked up a phenomenal Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography and Best Poster Design. Campbell Hooper and Joel Kefali of Special Problems also enjoyed wins in the short film category, picking up awards for Best Screen Play and Best Cinematography for The Weinstein Company and The Sweet Shop produced short Echoes. A full list of winners from the night is available to view here.

Asian Marketing Effectiveness & Strategy Awards

The Asian Marketing Effectiveness awards, honouring campaigns across Asia Pacific that have achieved results by combining creativity and effectiveness, is adding three new  strategy sections that will complement its existing recognition of effectiveness to become The Asian Marketing Effectiveness and Strategy Awards. The three strategy sections will be Digital Strategy, Data & Analytics and Media Strategy. Each of these three new sections will have its own jury president and jury, which will judge alongside the Effectiveness jury, bringing the total number of juries and their presidents to four. Entries will open on 17 December 2013 and will close on 7 March 2014. In expanding the awards structure, the awards presentation will relocate from Shanghai to Singapore, where the winners will be announced at the AMES awards on 29 May 2014 at the St Regis Singapore.