The MENA Cristal Festival has been founded in 2005 as a continuation of the Europe Cristal Festival with the aim of introducing a new and ambitious competition for advertising in all Middle Eastern & North African countries. It was created as the 1^st Advertising Festival for the Arabic countries.

The MENA Cristal Festival in a nutshell:

// More than 800 professionals in 2013 amongst leaders of the region: regional CEOs, Managing directors, Creative directors, Marketing directors, Art directors, photographers, and journalists...

// 3 days of judging & networking with industry's top professionals, gathering a unique Jury made of International & regional leaders and clients

// More than 25 participating countries

// More than 1850 campaigns entered last year.

// Conferences and debates on Innovation & Digital advertising.

Prestigious  International and Regional Speakers 2014

Martin Spillmann, Executive Creative Director, Leo Burnett Western Europe / Stéphanie Hospital, Executive Vice President - Orange Digital & Vice Chairman -  IAB Europe / Andrew Lazzaro, Chief Brand Officer Worldwide - OMD Worldwide / Hussein Freijeh, Managing Director MEA - Yahoo! / Farid Chehab, Honorary Chairman & Advisor to the Board, Leo Burnett Mena / Gilles Babinet, President  - Captain Dash & EU Digital Champion of France

2014 initiatives

// Scriptwriting for Brand Content Contest - As talent endorser, the MENA Cristal Festival offers new or confirmed talents the opportunity to promote and showcase their best creative work through one of its unique international contests. The 2014 edition of the Scriptwriting for Brand Content Contest is sponsored by LiquidThread (SMV Group), Endemol, Yahoo!, in partnership with Samsung.

// Leadership Council - It will bring together top leaders of the main advertising networks and agencies. Numerous networking and new business opportunities! The Council will select the festival's best campaign, the festival's most prestigious trophy - the Leadership Council Award!

// Advertisers Grand Jury - This special jury is composed of advertisers, including the most recognized CMOs and Managing Directors of the biggest brands of the region. This unique Jury is a strong message on what advertisers are expecting for the upcoming year.

// Presidents of previously judged competitions during the Cristal Festival and the Brand Entertainment & Content Summit held in COURCHEVEL - France, 11/15th December 2013. This year, the Cristal Festival went global, therefore all competitions were open for international entries:

President of the Media Jury

Mainadro de Nardis

CEO OMD Worldwide

President of the PR Jury

Matt Neale

International President, GolinHarris, UK

President of the Promo & Direct Jury

Jose Miguel Sokoloff

President Lowe Global Creative Council, Co-Chairman & CCO Lowe SSP3, Colombia

President of the Digital & Mobile Jury

Tash Whitmey

Group CEO Havas EHS, USA

President of the Production Jury

Pierre Marcus

President & CEO Prodigious, France

// Presidents of competitions judged in Lebanon

President of the MENA Creative Jury

(Press, Design, Print Craft, Outdoor, Film, Radio & Integrated)

Martin Spillmann

Executive Creative Director

Leo Burnett, Western Europe

President of the Arabic Culture Jury

Mounir Harfouche

CEO, Lowe Mena