Why some of the top advertising agencies haven't returned to Goafest, why some have returned, and why a few others may never return. The real picture, by Storyboard18
Nine years, a pandemic, several debates over the event’s quality, and raison d'etre later, a few of the agencies have returned to Goafest. Image: Goafest
In 2013, JWT India (now Wunderman Thompson India) made headlines the world over for all the wrong reasons. The agency created a set of three ads for Ford Figo without the client’s approval, uploaded them online, and entered the work in the Creative Abby competition at Goafest. It was after their appearance at Goafest that the ads blew up the Internet.
The most controversial of the three ads featured a caricature of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. The ad showed Berlusconi grinning and flashing a victory sign from the driver's seat, with over-sexualised caricatures of women bound and gagged in the car's boot. It led to a wave of global attention and criticism. JWT India withdrew the ads from the competition. The global CMO of Ford condemned the ads. Heads rolled. Senior leaders at Ford and the agency in India lost their jobs.
While the industry was reeling from this shock, Publicis Groupe India’s agency Leo Burnett pulled two entries, which were part of its campaign for Tata Salt Lite, from the radio category. The agency had not submitted the mandatory letter of approval from the client for the campaign to be entered into the competition. BBDO India and DDB Mudra's campaign for Electrolux also came under the scanner. The Omnicom-owned creative agencies were charged with plagiarism.
A lot happened that year under the Goan sun, which became a sort of tipping point. Ogilvy India and independent show Creativeland Asia decided to not send entries for the Abbys at Goafest anymore. McCann Worldgroup India followed suit. The agency returned and left again.
Its transparency in question and credibility already in shreds, Goafest was riddled with speculative or scam work and questions surrounding the objectivity of its juries. There were lobbies and superegos. There was also the perpetual question of the fest quickly losing its learning quotient, following a drop in the line-up of international speakers and insightful sessions. Instead, Goafest rain dances became a highlight.