Leo Burnett Sri Lanka’s Subhash Pinnapola, first Sri Lankan on Spikes Jury

Subhash Pinnapola, Executive Creative Director at Leo Burnett Solutions Inc. (LBSI), joins Spikes Asia 2012 as a member of the Jury for the ‘Craft’ category, completing a world-class collective of 75 regional industry experts.

As this is the first time that a Sri Lankan has been selected to sit on any international jury it is a recognisable feat for both Subhash and Leo Burnett in Sri Lanka and it is also a fitting recognition for the Sri Lankan advertising industry.

Spikes Asia, Asia’s biggest advertising festival is the region’s oldest and most prestigious awards for the creative communications industry. Entries in Film, Print, Outdoor, Radio, Digital, Direct, Promo & Activation, Media, Design, Film Craft, Print & Poster Craft, Integrated, Mobile, PR, Branded Content & Entertainment and Creative Effectiveness categories are judged by leading international and regional creative’s in Singapore during the week of the Festival and the winners will be awarded at a gala closing event.

Pinnapola has had the honour of serving on many local juries with other key industry leaders. Creating timeless award winning campaigns fit for the world’s stage, Subhash remains as one of the most awarded admen in Sri Lanka. His portfolio has raised the bar in the Sri Lankan and International advertising industry.  His short film ‘Pass It On’ for the Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society, has been ranked in the Gunn Report’s ‘Top 100’ Creative Ideas of 2011.

Commenting on his appointment Subhash stated: “It is an honour to be able to represent Sri Lanka and Leo Burnett as a judge at the Spikes Asia Festival 2012; I look forward to engaging with the region’s creative leaders at this year’s event and seeing the work coming out from this important region which is rapidly gaining prominence as the new hub of creativity. I am waiting to see how different innovations in technique have been deployed in film production to engage people and to stand out in a cluttered environment. I know I will be both fascinated and consumed by the creativity in the category.”

A leading ECD, Subhash has earned a reputation for being one the finest ad-film directors in the country. In 2011, the Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies (4A’s, Sri Lanka) honoured the 20-year veteran for his contribution to Sri Lankan advertising.

Subhash will shortly join the jury members in Singapore during the Festival to judge entries at the Spikes Asia festival, the region’s most respected advertising and communications festival which takes place from the 16th to the 18th of September this year.

The Spikes Asia Craft Jury

Eugene Cheong, Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy & Mather Asia Pacific – Jury President

Subhash Pinnapola, Executive Creative Director, Leo Burnett, Sri Lanka

Ali Shabaz, Chief Creative Officer, Grey Group, SE Asia

Eddie Wong, National Executive Creative Director, Draftfcb, China

Jureeporn Thaidumrong, Founder & Creative Chairwoman, NudeJEH, Thailand

Michael Ritchie, Executive Producer, Revolver Film, Australia

Patrick Tom, Executive Creative Director, TBWA, Vietnam

The Spikes Asia Festival of Creativity, celebrating and inspiring Asia-Pacific creativity in advertising, takes plaace at Suntec City, Singapore, 16-18 September 2012. Building on 25 years of the illustrious Spikes Awards, the Spikes Asia Advertising Festival is the result of a collaboration between the International Festival of Creativity, organisers of Cannes Lions, Dubai Lynx and Eurobest, and Haymarket, publishers of Campaign Asia Pacific.

Spikes Asia, attended by over 1,700 delegates in 2011, offers a challenging programme of seminars and workshops focusing on creativity and learning, exhibitions of creative work from Asia-Pacific, networking events in the evening and the Spikes Asia award show.