Four Indian nominees at 6th FAB Awards, McCann has seven in shortlist

McCann-Erickson India, Orchard Advertising, Delhi-based outfit Visual Eyes and photographer Atul Kasbekar are the Indian nominees at this year's FAB Awards - the annual International Food and Beverage Creative Excellence Awards - that are scheduled to be given away in London on the evening of May 27. The FAB Awards, which is into its sixth year, has been constituted to acknowledge and reward creative excellence for work done on food and beverage brands.

A note from the award organizers states that this year, the FAB Awards received entries from 62 countries worldwide. "All the major advertising agencies were represented, alongside many accomplished regional and local agencies," the communiqué reads. "Entrants also hailed from world-renowned production companies, both large and small design groups, not to mention a dynamic pack of new media powerhouses to round it all off. Some food and beverage clients even entered the work themselves. In total, there were nearly 2,200 pieces of work, all of very high calibre, resulting in an incredibly difficult judging process." The note further states that while the UK dominates the nominations, there are important finalists from France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, USA, Mexico, India, Australia, Argentina, Japan, Norway, Thailand, Spain and Belgium.

There are a total of 10 entries from India that have been nominated for this year's awards, and McCann's Mumbai office accounts for seven of these. The entries from McCann that have made it to the shortlist are the ‘man in shadow' and ‘barber shop' posters for Coca-Cola, the ‘refreshing bath' and ‘refreshing wind' press ads for the same brand, the ‘beach' commercial for Sweetex, and Sweetex banner, and the ‘fire-eater' film for Chlor-mint Ice. Orchard Advertising's Bangalore office finds its name in the nomination list by virtue of the ‘suitcase' press ad for Diet Coke, while the No Escape Pub press ad has helped Visual Eyes of New Delhi make it to the finalist stage. Atul Kasbekar's pupil-dilating photographs for the delectable Kingfisher Calendar have enabled Kasbekar to enter the shortlist in Photography.

"I am absolutely delighted for the Indian nominees," Indian-born FAB Awards President Neeraj Nayar is quoted in the communiqué as saying. He adds, "India's entries were outstanding, the judges loved the work and this makes me very proud. Awesome talents like Atul and Prasoon Joshi have truly burst onto the international stage." The note adds that the other notable nominees this year include AMV.BBDO London, Lowe London, Leo Burnett Chicago, Leo Burnett Sydney, DDB USA, BBDO Germany, McCann-Erickson Germany, McCann-Erickson Argentina, DDB Hong Kong, J Walter Thompson Thailand, BBDO Mexico, Ogilvy & Mather Oslo, Publicis Frankfurt, Euro RSCG Belgium and CLM/BBDO France, for work done on brands such as Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Guinness, Heinz, Johnnie Walker, McDonald's, Burger King, Arla Foods, Diageo, Campbell's and Heineken.

While the note mentions that the names of all the FAB Award winners for 2004 will be revealed on the night of May 27, it adds that a FAB Award represents the best entry in each category, while a ‘FABulous Award' is the best entry in each media, equivalent of a Best in Show. It remains to be seen whether any of the 10 nominations from India end up claiming an award on the evening of May 27… © 2004 agencyfaqs!