Ad Stars releases 2018 finalists: Thailand has 239, Japan 234, Korea 125 and Philippines 103

Ad Stars has announced this year’s finalists. From a total of 20,342 entries, 1,719 have been shortlisted by an international panel of 229 judges from 74 countries.

Executive and Final Judges now have the task of voting on the Grand Prix, Gold, Silver and Bronze winners in Busan, South Korea. They will meet one week prior to the 2018 Ad Stars Awards on Saturday 25th August.  

The countries with the highest number of finalists include Thailand (239 finalists), Japan (234 finalists), Korea (125 finalists), Australia (118 finalists) and Philippines (103 finalists). Here is a full list of finalists by country:

Argentina – 3 finalists

Australia – 118 finalists

Belarus – 3 finalists

Brazil – 37 finalists

Chile – 3 finalists

China – 97 finalists

Colombia – 3 finalists

Costa Rica – 9 finalists

Croatia – 1 finalist

France – 1 finalist

Germany – 6 finalists

Hong Kong – 64 finalists

Hungary – 7 finalists

India – 53 finalists

Indonesia – 68 finalists

Japan – 234 finalists

Jordan – 1 finalist

Kazakhstan – 3 finalists

South Korea – 125 finalists

Malaysia – 44 finalists

Nepal – 1 finalist

New Zealand – 90 finalists

Pakistan – 54 finalists

Panama – 1 finalist

Peru – 19 finalists

Philippines – 103 finalists

Portugal – 1 finalist

Russia – 1 finalist

Singapore – 43 finalists

Slovakia – 1 finalist

Slovenia – 1 finalist

South Africa – 3 finalists

Sweden – 8 finalists

Chinese Taipei – 30 finalists

Thailand – 239 finalists

Ukraine – 1 finalist

United Arab Emirates – 20 finalists

United Kingdom – 5 finalists

United States – 42 finalists

Uruguay – 13 finalists

Vietnam – 1 finalist

Hwan Jin Choi, Chair of the Ad Stars Executive Committee, said, “It is exciting to see so many different countries represented on the shortlist for the 11th Ad Stars Awards. Ad Stars accepts entries free of charge so that it’s fair for anyone to enter, no matter how small their company is. As a global festival, we aim to discover excellent creative ideas from anywhere, so we are very happy to see such a diversity of companies represented on this year’s shortlist.”

Five Executive Judges will lead a panel of around 30 Final Judges: Wooh Hoh, Chief Creative Officer of Hakuhodo Asia Pacific; Toby Talbot, Chief Creative Officer of Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand; Joji Jacob, Co-Founder and Creative Partner at BLK J in Singapore; Anna Qvennerstedt, Copywriter and Chairman of the Board at Forsman & Bodenfors in Sweden and Ari Halper, Chief Creative Officer at FCB New York.

Ad Stars is the only global advertising festival to reward two US$10,000 cash prizes to its Grand Prix of the Year winners. Winners will be revealed at the 11th Ad Stars festival, a three-day festival of ideas and creativity that runs from 23rd to 25th August 2018 in Busan, South Korea.

Ad Stars also welcomes entries from non-professionals as part of its mandate to be a festival for everyone interested in creativity, not just for those in the advertising industry. This year, 162 entries from non-professionals have made the shortlist.

Purchase tickets to Ad Stars 2018 before 31st July to receive a 10% discount. Online registration closes on 3rd August 2018. For more information visit here.

DOWNLOAD THE AD STARS FINALISTS: Finalists_Professional_AD STARS 2018-2.pdf