The 2013 edition of the continent’s only awards and conference event devoted to the
art of on-air marketing and broadcast design, PromaxBDA Africa, will now take place in
November at The Maslow in Sandton, Johannesburg.
Previously held in October, the move to 22 November was motivated by a desire to turn
the event into a summer conference, according to PromaxBDA Africa director, Vanessa
Sheldrick.
Commenting on the new venue, Sheldrick says: “The Maslow is the newest hotel in the
Sun International chain. This is the old Southern Sun Grayston that has been
refurbished into a more hip-modern version and is fast coming the number one
conference venue in the area.’
Tim Horwood, the creative director of MTV Base Africa, VIMN Africa, was selected to be
chairman for PromaxBDA Africa 2013.
Sheldrick continues: “Tim’s enthusiasm and passion will up the ante. He is assisting us
in bringing more of the rest of Africa to the conference, as well as looking to the future
with the creation of the Student Award (see below). Tim has amazing energy as a MC on
stage, having been a TV presenter when he was 10.
“He has also spoken for us internationally at PromaxBDA events in Paris and Sydney and
hopefully will join us in Asia later this year.’
This year’s theme is The Art of Storytelling. “Storytelling is a fundamental part of our
craft and should always be revisited. In fact, it’s even more important to tell good
stories and stand out in the fractured media world we are now navigating,’ says
Sheldrick.The call for entries into the 2013 PromaxBDA Africa Awards competition is now
open.
Five new award categories have been added: Something For A Little Something (any
highly creative on-air promo that was produced for under R50 000); Best Outdoor
Poster (any outdoor poster promoting a programme, channel or platform including
transit, billboard, adshell); Best Print Ad (any print or press advertising for a
programme, channel, platform or service); and Best CSI.
“The Best CSI category is different from Best PSA as it must communicate the 360
degree conception and delivery of a CSI that has proven to both change lives as well as
uphold the brand values of the broadcaster behind it,’ explains Sheldrick. “The
marketing objective should both explain what the objective of the CSI was and how it
was obtained, with figures explaining the projected and actual amount of people
reached. The overall creativity of the CSI will be judged on what devices were used to
obtain the objective and their creativity.’ The 5th new award is the Future Award
proudly sponsored by Thackwell and Whittaker. This award has been introduced to
recognise outstanding creative work by a student in a tertiary institution in Africa.
Entries must not exceed two minutes and are open to design, print, digital, film, video
and motion graphics and can include music videos and short films. The winner will attend
the PromaxBDA Africa 2013 Conference and be presented with a Gold Muse at the
Award Show.
Two existing awards have been updated. Most Outstanding Promo Of The Year (any on-
air promo from any genre, which is considered to be ground breaking, innovative and /
or outstanding and which has been entirely made in Africa); and Most Outstanding
Design In Promotion (graphic design excellence in any on-air promotion made entirely in
Africa).
Entries close on 6 September. For more information visit: www.promaxafrica.tv.
