Five Indians make it to CLIO 2012 jury

Five Indians have made it to the CLIO jury, this year. Piyush Pandey, executive chairman and creative director, South Asia, Ogilvy & Mather, has been named the chairperson of the jury for print, OOH, innovative, and direct mail categories at the CLIO 2012 Awards.

Sonal Dabral, managing partner, India, and creative head, Bates Asia, has been chosen as one of the 10 jury members for the film category at the event.

The other two Indians will be part of the jury for the second consecutive year.

Manohar Nayak, managing director, Lingo India, will be part of the 17-member radio/radio technique jury. Prasoon Pandey, director, Corcoise Films, will be on the jury for the film technique category, which includes direction and cinematography techniques.

Commenting on his appointment, Dabral says, "It's an honour to be associated with a global and distinguished award of CLIO's stature alongside an eminent jury. I look forward to an exciting week, as I judge the year's best work from around the world in a category that I am deeply passionate about."

Speaking about the type of entries in the animation category, E Suresh says, "Unfortunately, there are hardly any entries from India at CLIO. Especially, in the film technique category, there are practically negligible entries from our country. But, if we consider the entries from all over the globe, technology is better used. Despite the intervention of digital media, the visual effects and animations being used are more controlled. The story is well-integrated with the technology, and animation is no more used as a magical technique. I feel that all the entries are intellectual in their own sense."

CLIO is one of the most recognised international advertising, design, and communications competitions.

As far as the Indian entries are concerned, Nayak says, "I was disappointed at CLIO last year, not necessarily with the quality of Indian entries, but with the fact that in spite of a lot of good work on radio last year, there were hardly any Indian entries except for Leo-Burnett's radio innovation work 'Pleasure of mixing' for Bajaj hand-blender. I expect India to fair much better this year. Some of the spots recorded this year are brilliantly crafted and well-executed; but you have to enter to win."

Nayak adds, "We must not refrain from entering some 'regional' spots. It's wrong to conclude that 'local doesn't sell globally'. Plus, the radio jury always has a ready pair of eyes for anything unheard of. I think what fascinates today's jury is not necessarily the smart work on sound design, but the solid crafting of script and execution. I wish that Indian radio takes the category to its next level".

Like every year, the 53rd CLIO Awards has nine categories. These categories honour work in a broad range of mediums including interactive, direct mail, content & contact, film, print, out of home, innovative media, integrated campaign, radio, design, and public relations.

The final awards ceremony will be held at the American Museum of Natural History on May 15, 2012. The jury will work from April until the Annual awards.

Karl Vontz, director, CLIO Awards, says, "CLIO maintains a list of both established and emerging creatives that is continuously updated throughout the year. We use this list, along with recommendations from former jury members, to select our jury."