Over the past 20 years, we’ve been lucky to profile some of the world’s top creative executives right here in ADFESTbuzz. So, rather than sing our own praises as we enter our 21^st year, we thought we’d revisit some of the loveliest things that others have said when describing what makes ADFEST unique…
 

Santosh Padhi, Chief Creative Officer & Co-Founder at Taproot Dentsu
 
“Many things go into making ADFEST the remarkable event that it is. To begin with, it is one of the oldest, most reputed and celebrated award shows this region has. It values all things uniquely Asian – be it Asian culture, traditions, insights or behavior. It’s a delightful venue, near the beaches of Pattaya, which just adds to its charm. It provides a great platform for the next generation of communication professionals to interact and absorb what is happening in their field. Not only is one enriched by seeing a fantastic body of work, it also provides a chance for cultures to intertwine and intermingle. To have one's work applauded in such a vibrant atmosphere is amazing indeed.”
 

Valerie Cheng, Chief Creative Officer, Southeast Asia at Havas
 
“ADFEST has been the launching pad for many creatives where their works have been celebrated and gone on to win in many international shows. It has also been a great event for creatives from various countries to share their knowledge, experiences and make new connections.”
 

John Park, Founder & Director of Addict Media Films, Seoul
 
“ADFEST is one of my favorite ad festivals around the world. It not only recognizes creative excellence in the region, but it provides a learning opportunity for participants to see and discuss some of the best works in light of local culture and heritage. This is one of the non-Western originated festivals where you can learn and exchange insights with industry practitioners who have very different and diverse cultural backgrounds. It also celebrates the region’s brightest young creatives, and provides a great stepping stone into the industry.
 

Ted Royer, Chief Creative Officer at Droga5 New York and Grand Jury President at ADFEST 2017
 
“I love going to other parts of the world and seeing how our industry has evolved in different markets. ADFEST has its finger on the pulse in so many parts of Asia: countries I haven't been exposed to in awhile, so the work from these places is fascinating to me.”
 

Graham Fink, Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy China
 
“ADFEST is a fantastic way to see so much creative work at one time in one place. It’s also a great way to learn about advertising from different cultures and see the nuances in style and thinking. ADFEST is a marvellous showcase of the best work in the region. I hope it encourages creatives all over Asia to push themselves to greater heights to get their work accepted.”
 

Yoshihiro Yagi, Group Creative Director at Dentsu Inc. in Tokyo
 
“I feel that Asian design can compete at the highest level in the world. The work showcased at ADFEST overflows with originality that is specific to Asia, as the designs do not reflect the same context as in the West. The next question is whether ADFEST can maintain this uniqueness, while also attracting global attention towards Asia. Creators, too, should consider Asia from an international perspective. I hope ADFEST will always encourage creators to do that, while providing a venue for experimentation. “