Dubai Lynx Awards 2017

Thea Skelton took over Dubai Lynx as Festival Director in October 2016. That gave her just enough time to put together what was generally regarded as a great show and a fantastic social occasion.

While embracing creative tradition, Dubai Lynx has become a catalyst for innovative thinking. In this, its 11th year, the festival’s theme was ‘The Language of Creativity’ across MENA and how this language resonates in diverse local markets as well as globally.

Continuous transformation in the creative industries across the Middle East and North Africa means more and more people look to the region for creative inspiration with a local viewpoint. As a region steeped in history and diverse cultures, the traditional creative processes are colliding with new technologies at pace. The result: exciting work with a definitive personality that retains its core but adapts to reflect its societies in today’s world. 

The 2017 festival was both a demonstration and a celebration of the breadth of talent and ideas from within the region while providing an opportunity for learning about the challenges and issues of these changing times and how different brands and organisations are responding. 

Themes from this year’s speaker programme included; innovation, creativity in healthcare communications, creative bravery and the creative processes, culture and leadership and industry transformation. Alongside main stage seminars, fresh thinking and focused discussions from CMOs, film producers and directors ignited a more in-depth and open conversation which included the audience with their perspectives.

As a platform for original thinking and reinforcing the demand of the industry for a greater emphasis on future technology, Dubai Lynx this year attracted professionals from the whole spectrum of creative communications.The festival brought creative agencies and production firms together with marketers and media agencies to network, learn and be inspired.