Digital, design and direct throw up a Grand Prix

It wasn't a big name that bagged the only Goafest Grand Prix this evening. Interface Business Solutions, which has the digital mandate for Tata Docomo, walked away with the prize.

In the digital category, Interface's personalised web banner for Tata Docomo stood out for its creative use of the medium; it was the unanimous choice for a Grand Prix, said Ajay Chandwani, chairman, Creative Abbies, Goafest. As Interface members cheered when the prizewinner was announced, many were forced to introspect---were digital needs truly being addressed?

On the second day of the festival, 105 metals were handed out across the design, digital and direct marketing segments---the first set of creative awards announced. Tomorrow, the final day of the festival, eight more creative awards would be announced---for print, print craft, film and film craft.

Today's winners included JWT, McCann, Leo Burnett, Taproot, Publicis, DDB, BBDO and Grey. Specialists such as Webchutney, Hungama Digital and iProspect also won awards. Creativeland Asia, which opted out of the awards last week (protest against scam ads), took home a few trophies, including three bronze medals and a silver.

Predictably, the dais was empty when the agency's name was called out.

In the direct segment, Creativeland bagged the silver for Godrej's Cinthol brand. It also won bronze metals for Parle Agro's Hippo, Cafe Coffee Day (both in design) and Audi (digital).

"We had decided we would give away the awards to Creativeland Asia, if it bagged any," said Shashi Sinha, chairman of the awards governing council at Goafest. "We did just that. While we respect the stand it has taken, it made no sense to deny it the award, when much of the judging had been done."

The gold winners included McCann, Leo Burnett, Publicis, XOX Design, BC WebWise and Hungama Digital. McCann won three golds---two for design and one for the direct category. Leo Burnett and Publicis bagged a gold medal each---in design and direct, respectively. Overall, there were 13 gold winners across three categories.