The Dubai International Advertising Festival, the largest ad gathering dedicated to creativity across the Middle East and North Africa, is in full effect at the moment. This is the second year for the event, which is sponsored by Cannes Lions and includes seminars, workshops as well as the annual Dubai Lynx Awards.
This year, Leo Burnett and Dubai Lynx have teamed up for an initiative designed to develop young talent across the region. The Dubai Lynx Academy, a permanent addition to the fest, invites 21 of the most promising students—recommended by universities and colleges—to join the activities. They students will attend special master classes, debates and even receive their own tutors. Better yet, three of the top three of the bunch will be offered internships at an LB office, where they’ll be immersed in agency life and get hands-on training for four weeks.
This year’s students were announced yesterday and come from Egypt, India, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the U.A.E. Here’s a look at them. The ‘adults’ standing in the back of that photo are, from left to right: Kamal Dimachkie, Managing Director of Leo Burnett Dubai, Kuwait and the Lower Gulf, Farid Chehab, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Leo Burnett CEEMA, Raja Trad, CEO of Leo Burnett CEEMA, and Philip Thomas, CEO of Cannes Lions.
Meanwhile, keep watching this space as Raja has kindly offered to answer a few questions about the Academy and the state of creativity in the region. Expect to see that soon.
Tags: dubai, dubai lynx academy, lynx
