Awards
Deadline extended for Apollo awards
NEW DELHI: The last date for receiving entries for the Apollo Awards for films, television, television commercials and music has been extended to11 April due to the overwhelming requests.
The Apollo Awards is an initiative by Contineo Media, which will be held in Singapore on18 June. The Awards aims at honouring the best in production and post-production across Asia Pacific, with a strong focus on the creative and technical mastery behind the scenes.
Those in the media and entertainment business that comprises films, TV programmes, TV promotional spots, opening sequences, TVCs or music videos, within the qualifying period are eligible for submission.
The entries will be judged by a jury that combines extensive academic knowledge and industry expertise with many years of experience in the fields of technical and creative.
Headed by Ian Bailie, art director and production designer (Reign of Fire, Pride & Prejudice and Atonement), the jury consists of animation stalwart Suresh Eriyat from India. Other members include: Dayne Cowan, renowned director of film VFX (Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, Batman Begins, Stranger Than Fiction); Simon Dobbin, production designer/ art director (Contagion, Uninhabited, Preacher’s Kid, Management, Hotel de Love, Kingdom Come, Jason’s Lyric and Bring it on); Emilio Batungbacal, colourist; Kerry Farrell, Senior editor; Rennie Gomes, managing director and sound specialist; Simon Rosenthal, executive producer (Ted, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, The Pacific, Australia, Charlotte’s Web); Derek Wong, senior director, production and David Wood, visual effects and finishing artist / solutions engineer, among others.
There are seventeen categories for the awards:
1. Directing – Long form
2. Directing – short form
3. Cinematography – Short form
4. Cinematography – long (factual/drama)
5. Art Direction
6. Music Composition – Short Length versions
7. Music composition – full length versions
8. Sound Design – short form
9. Sound Design – long form
10. Editing – long form (factual/drama)
11. Editing – Long form (entertainment/reality)
12. Editing – short form
13. Motion Graphics (2D/3D/Claymation, etc. – short form)
14. 2D Animation
15. 3D Animation
16. Visual Effects/CGI – Long Form
17. Visual Effects/CGI – Short Form
18. Colour Grading
Awards
Ajay Kakar to chair jury for ad:tech Honours Awards 2026
Industry leaders join jury as nominations surge for marketing tech awards
NEW DELHI: The ad:tech Honours Awards 2026 are gearing up for a bigger second edition, with Ajay Kakar, head of corporate branding at Adani Group, set to chair the jury for India’s technology-focused marketing awards.
Organised in partnership with the International Advertising Association India Chapter, the awards celebrate the growing influence of technology in shaping modern advertising and marketing outcomes. This year’s edition has drawn a strong response from across the industry, signalling rising momentum around innovation in marketing technology.
The organisers say the nominations reflect a wide range of ideas and approaches, highlighting how brands and agencies are increasingly leaning on platforms, tools and data to sharpen their campaigns and connect with audiences more effectively.
Leading the evaluation process, Kakar will head a jury made up of senior leaders from across brands, agencies and technology platforms.
The jury panel includes Amaresh Godbole, CEO, digital technology business at Publicis Groupe; Bishwajeet S, head of marketing and PR at Volkswagen India; Carol Goyal, executive director at Rediffusion and CEO of Aesthetic Intelligence Lab; Kushal Sanghvi, director at Komerz; Lara Balsara, executive director at Madison World; Rana Barua, group CEO India, sea and North Asia; Deepak Oram, senior vice president growth marketing and martech; and Priyanka Khaneja Gandhi, head of marketing and creative solutions at Amazon Ads India.
The ad:tech Honours Awards aim to recognise not just creative campaigns but the smart use of technology that delivers measurable impact and business results. Categories this year reflect the rapidly evolving digital landscape, covering areas such as artificial intelligence, data-driven marketing, content ecosystems, automation, martech and adtech integration, and commerce-led marketing.
The winners will be announced on 17 March 2026 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi during ad:tech New Delhi 2026. The event is expected to bring together leaders from brands, agencies, platforms, creators and technology partners for an evening celebrating the ideas and innovations shaping the future of marketing.iconductor industries.
