ADFEST is delighted to reveal its first speakers for the Craft@ADFEST program on 18^th and 19^th March 2020. From Scandinavian advertising to Chinese millennials, delegates will learn about the trends and technologies impacting the craft of advertising.

ADFEST’s four-day program is divided into two streams: Craft@ADFEST will dive deep into the latest production, digital, content and technology trends, while Creative@ADFEST is all about creativity – the DNA of ADFEST – and takes place on 20^th and 21^st March.

The first Craft@ADFEST speakers to be announced are:

‘Design Everything. Copy that?’ presented by Marko Klijn, Company Director, Cirkus, Auckland

Wednesday 18^th March: 11.15-11.50

The Big Myth persists that by “making it just like that”, you take a shortcut to a quick result. The opposite is true, according to Cirkus’ Marko Klijn: “Copyright issues aside, replicating references sets out unrealistic expectations and puts your project in a straightjacket.”  In this session, using some of the latest and greatest examples from around the world, Klijn will make the case that spots with unique design and storytelling are the ones that cut through the clutter. If you’re an account manager, client, planner, creative or just looking for new content IP to create authentic brand stories, this presentation is just for you!

‘Keeping Addicted Chinese Millennials Digitally Drugged’ presented by Adams Fan, Chief Creative Officer at F5 Shanghai

Wednesday 18^th March: 12.25-13.00

With the explosion of the Chinese digital landscape, how can brands compete for the eyeballs of millennials? Why should Chinese millennials pay attention to branded content since there is so much to see and do online?

F5 Shanghai’s Adams Fan will provide an insider’s view into the Chinese digital landscape. In this illuminating session about the world’s most populous market, you’ll learn how brands can activate social media and complete the purchase cycle using e-commerce platforms. Fan will showcase great examples from Chinese tech giants including Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent.

‘Scandinavian Humour in Advertising: Where Design & Comedy Meet’, presented by Tom Rickard, CEO, Hobby Film, Stockholm

Wednesday 18^th March: 15.05-15.40

Scandinavia has a reputation for producing world-class comedic advertising that is equally aesthetic and design-driven as it is hilarious. At ADFEST 2020, Tom Rickard will examine why Sweden has such a strong design-driven culture, how it has developed over time, and why this approach is ideal for modern marketing online needs. Originally from Sydney, Australia, Rickard moved to Stockholm in 2010 where he has overseen the development and expansion of Hobby Film onto the international stage.

‘Mini Program, Max Mind’ presented by Vincent Li, General Manager of Corporate Marketing and Public Relations, Tencent, Shenzhen

Wednesday 18^th March: 15.40-16.15

Born under WeChat, Mini Program is positioned as a “lightweight app” that’s already being widely used by advertisers. In this session, Vincent Li of Tencent will showcase innovative campaigns developed on the Mini Program, giving ADFEST delegates an exclusive look at its many possibilities. 

‘Digital Placemaking: Our Future in Augmented Reality’ presented by Emile Rademeyer, Executive Creative Innovation Director, VANDAL, Sydney

Wednesday 18^th March: 16.15-16.50

What is Digital Placemaking and how will it change our future into an Augmented Reality?  How can Augmented Reality be used creatively to bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds?  How can Digital Placemaking be used in advertising to connect us with consumers and increase engagement? 

Emile Rademeyer will answer these questions and illustrate the endless potential of AR.

‘Championing Young Directors’ presented by Lyndy Stout, Editor of 1.4, London; Francois Chilot, President of YDA & Les Producers, Paris; and Julie Thomas-Toda, Creative Producer of AOI Pro., Tokyo

Wednesday 18^th March: 16.50-17.25

What can young filmmakers in Asia do to break into the local market and also gain international recognition? 

Julie Thomas-Toda, Creative Producer at AOI Pro. Tokyo invites the founders of the world's two most prestigious awards honoring the craft of young filmmakers, Lyndy Stout and Francois Chilot, to share a selection of winning work as well as what inspires them to discover and nurture emerging new international directing talent.

‘The Evolving Role of a Colorist’ presented by Nikola Stefanovic, Head of Color, MPC Shanghai

Thursday 19^th March: 14.30-15.05

Today, anyone with a computer has access to color grading software, but the art of color grading isn’t easy to achieve. Nikola Stefanovic will explain how colorists can introduce texture to simulate analogue imperfections, create content that looks good on all kinds of screens, and adapt to an era of machine learning and machine vision (A.I.). Stefanovic is an expert colorist having graded projects for brands such as Nike, Adidas, Levi’s, Mercedes, Apple and many more. He joined MPC in 2017.

‘Flipping the Script for Loyalty – Brands Now Loyal to Customers’ presented by Tobias Wilson, Vice President of Growth APAC, MediaMonks, Singapore

Thursday 19^th March: 15.05-15.40

Today’s customers are more fickle than ever, prompting some brands to wonder if customer loyalty continues to exist at all. Wilson presents a unique solution that turns the brand-consumer relationship on its head: brands must work to convey loyalty to their customers. Traditional methods of loyalty are no longer as effective. Rather than rely on points and savings alone, brands must build experiences that offer emotional resonance that allow customers to truly connect with the brand—and build brand love in the process.

Stay tuned for more program announcements from ADFEST.

*Tickets to ADFEST 2020 are now selling: book tickets here.