ADFEST held a press conference to unveil ADFEST 2024, marking its 27th year. The 3-day festival held from Thursday 21st to Saturday 23rd March 2024, will take place at the Royal Cliff Hotels Group in Pattaya. Under the theme Human Intelligence, more affectionately abbreviated to the warm welcome “HI”, this year’s theme underscores the critical role of human intellect amidst the advancing landscape of artificial intelligence (AI). Human intelligence serves as the genesis of AI’s boundless potential, a concept elaborated upon during the special ADFEST TALK session held at the press conference.
Vinit Surapongchai, Chairman of ADFEST, shared insights into this year’s theme, “In the current landscape, few topics garner as much attention as ‘AI’ or ‘Artificial Intelligence,’ which has profoundly influenced businesses across all sectors, including the creative industry. The remarkable strides made in Generative AI underscore its unparalleled creative potential, exceeding all expectations. This leads many to fear the battle between human and machine. ADFEST 2024; however, proposes there is symbiotic synergy between human ingenuity and AI. What lies at the heart of human intelligence to guide AI collectively into the future?”
The creative industry has long leveraged AI for various purposes, from streamlining work processes with software to analyzing complex data for quicker and more efficient understanding. Yet, AI’s role has evolved beyond mere convenience; it now intersects more closely with human cognition than ever before. Hence, at this year’s ADFEST, our emphasis lies on the interplay between humans and AI, which has emerged as a crucial alliance in elevating creative endeavors to new heights of distinction and inspiration. Together, we will witness how AI, anchored by human involvement, can propel us towards achievements of greater significance and impact than previously imagined.
In the special session “ADFEST TALK” centered around the theme of Human Intelligence, three distinguished speakers shared their wealth of expertise, experience, and insights on collaborating with AI and forecasting the future of human-AI relationships. The renowned speakers include Dr. Karndee Leopairote, Chief Futures and Digital Assets Officer, FutureTales LAB Co., Ltd., by MQDC, Suvita Charanwong, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Tellscore, and Thasorn Boonyanate, Chief Creative Officer, BBDO Bangkok.
ADFEST 2024 promises an enriching experience spanning 3 days, including:
ADFEST Lotus Awards
The ADFEST Lotus Awards celebrate creative excellence across 21 categories, featuring 1,587 submissions from 18 countries. This year, Sustainable Lotus is added to the award line-up, honoring works that champion sustainable development based on Sustainable Development Goals.
In addition, 6 Regional Agency of the Year awards also joined the Special Awards line-up, including:
- Central & North Asia Agency of the Year
- East Asia Agency of the Year
- Middle East Agency of the Year
- Oceania Agency of the Year
- South Asia Agency of the Year, and
- Southeast Asia Agency of the Year
The prestigious Lotus Awards will be adjudicated by a distinguished panel of 63 jurors hailing from 23 cities, with the esteemed Malcolm Poynton, Global Chief Creative Officer at Cheil Worldwide in London, serving as this year’s Grand Jury President.
Attendees will have the chance to peruse all entries exhibited in the showcase area, fostering an environment of learning and inspiration.
Seminars
ADFEST 2024 hosts 31 sessions featuring leading experts from a diverse field of specialty to deliver valuable insights and inspiring content. This year’s program goes beyond AI to embrace a rich tapestry of expertise, including the convergence of human creativity and AI, gaming, sonic branding, sustainability, and future trends.
Moreover, 6 additional workshops will delve into the following topics:
- Tabletop vs AI by EyeCandy
- Embracing Conflict to Boost Creativity by Guan Hin Tay, BBDO Singapore
- D&AD Workshop by Donal Keenan and Jo Jackson
- Shape My Portfolio Powered by McCann Worldgroup
- Crafting for Commerce by Meta
- World Producers Summit by Steve Davies, APA and CFPE
Program for Next Generation
ADFEST places paramount importance to nurturing the next generation of emerging talents in the industry, featuring:
Young Lotus Workshop: Ogilvy returns to host this year’s Young Lotus Workshop, which will welcome 18 teams from 18 cities, including teams from Almaty of Kazakhstan and Riyadh of Saudi Arabia for the first time.
Fabulous Five New Directors: This program offers an opportunity for five up-and-coming new directors to debut their short films on the prestigious ADFEST stage. This year, three directors hail from Japan, one from Hong Kong, and one from Dhaka.
Business Matching
In addition to networking opportunities at ADFEST social functions, the Production Hut area presents production-related companies with a captive audience to showcase their craftsmanship and network for their future endeavors.
Over the past 27 years, ADFEST has garnered strong support from both the public and private sectors, notably from the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB). These organizations recognize the pivotal role of ADFEST in bolstering the creative economy, positioning Thailand as the epicenter of creative and innovative industries in the region.
For further details, please visit www.ADFEST.com.
