AdStars shortlists down to 1,267 finalists for the August 25 to 27 Busan-based advertising festival

The organizing committee of AD STARS 2011, chaired by Busan city mayor Nam-shik Heo, announced on the 27th that the 1,267 works were selected for the final round after the shortlisting process involving 105 judges from around the world.

As of the closing date, the number of entries from 46 countries was 7,130, recording explosive year-over-year growth of 31%. The 1,267 works that advanced to the final round, which will be held August 25 to 27, will contend for the grand prize throughout a final screening process conducted by 26 world-class creative directors from 16 countries. A cash prize of USD10,000 will be awarded to the grand prize winner. By category, gold, silver and gold medals and special prizes will also be presented.

This year 17.8% of the total entries made it through to the final round. By category, 661 product service, 286 craft and 214 public commercial entries were selected. In the product service category, electronics, IT and office supply-related advertising recorded the largest number of 214 finalists, followed by 107 works in the financial service sector. Around 60 finalists were from the pharmaceutical, healthcare and automotive sectors. In the interactive sector, newly established this year, 90 works were selected and the public brand sector has 16 finalists.

Last year, financial and service sectors recorded the largest number of finalists; however, this year, the increased number of finalists from the electronics, IT and office equipment category, the craft sector and the newly established interactive sector demonstrates that the AD STARS 2011 reflects recent advances in digital technology and the paradigm shift toward new digital communications.

By countries, entries from South Korea topped the list (184 works), followed by Thailand (127), Philippines (116), Indonesia (113) and Japan (84).

Eui-ja Lee, Co-Chairperson of AD STARS executive committee, said: “It was not easy to select the finalists from among 7,130 excellent works from 46 countries. You will see a lot of outstanding advertising works that drew global attention in this year’s final round.”

The final round of AD STARS 2011, with opening ceremony that starts on the 25th at 6:30 PM, will be held over three days at Busan Haewoondae Grand Hotel and Haewoondae beach. Works that advanced to the final after the fierce preliminary round will be on display on the second floor of the Grand Hotel, where there will be available for public viewing. In addition, this year, various seminars will be held under the theme “the Future of Advertising” to provide participants with the opportunity to experience the hottest trends in advertising. “Beach Ad Night,” which will be open to the public will screen interesting advertising films and stage various performances.