The Dubai International Advertising Festival, the leading creative advertising competition for the Middle East and Africa, will extend in 2010 to also allow entries from Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria.

"The eligibility of these three countries to participate at Dubai Lynx opens up the fantastic learning and inspirational opportunities that the festival has to offer to their respective advertising communities," says Philip Thomas, CEO of Cannes Lions, organisers of Dubai Lynx. "We already have developed strong working relationships with the Advertising Association of Ghana, Imagine IMC in Kenya and Chini Productions in Nigeria so it's a natural progression to also welcome both entries and delegates from these three countries."

Agencies wishing to submit entries in the nine different categories namely TV/Cinema, Print, Outdoor, Radio, Direct & Sales Promotion, Interactive, Media, Integrated and Craft or delegates wishing to attend the two-day festival and awards ceremony can register online from Monday 7 December.

The third Dubai International Advertising Festival, the leading creative advertising competition for the Middle East and Africa, will adopt a new and exciting format in 2010 that will take place at a new, state-of-the-art venue, The Palladium, in Dubai Media City.

Dubai Lynx registration opens on March 14 with a special welcome event from 4pm to 6pm that day. The Festival seminar programme kicks off on 15 March when, over two days, attendees can benefit from an insightful, inspirational and world-class learning programme of 16 seminars and four workshops presented by high-profile international and local experts addressing current and topical industry issues. Chuck Porter, Chairman of Crispin Porter + Bogusky, and Prasoon Joshi, Executive Chairman and Regional ECD Asia Pacific of McCann Erickson India, are the first speakers to be confirmed, with more international leading names to be announced soon.

A programme of evening networking events will take place during the Festival, details of which will be announced shortly. The Festival will culminate on 17 March with the famous Lynx Awards, where the 2010 winners will be revealed during a celebratory Dinner, the largest event of its kind in Dubai.

A new lower delegate registration fee has been introduced to reflect the current financial circumstances. The cost for the full delegate pass is US$400, but registrations made before 1 February 2010 can enjoy an early-bird discounted rate of US$325.

"The global recession has heavily affected the region, but keeping abreast of the industry's changes and challenges as well as the recognition of good work is now more crucial than ever," says Terry Savage, Chairman of Cannes Lions, who, with Motivate Publishing, are joint organisers of the Festival. "This new price point makes Dubai Lynx accessible to all in the region, and we believe that with the quality speaker list we will bring, it will be a must-attend event for all."

Entries can now be submitted online in the categories of TV/Cinema, Outdoor, Print, Radio, Interactive, Direct & Sales Promotion, Media, Integrated and, NEW for 2010, Craft.

Dubai Lynx introduces Craft as a new entry section rewarding excellence of craft technique in Print, Outdoor, Radio and TV/Cinema advertising, over and above the creative idea of the work. Categories include best use of animation, special effects, computer animation, best use of film direction and cinematography and best use of music in the TV/Cinema category. Print and Outdoor ads can be submitted in best use of copywriting, illustration and photography. Radio ads can be submitted in categories for best script and best use of sound, while both Outdoor and Print work can also be judged in best art direction.

Entries deadline across all categories: 11 February 2010.

Exhibitions, interactive kiosks and screenings will showcase all the competing work from the Middle East and Africa.

A new award for agency networks will also be introduced. Network of the Year will honour the most awarded network of the region by assessing its agencies' success across all categories entered at Dubai Lynx. Other special awards include Agency of the Year, Media Agency of the Year, Advertiser of the Year and Advertising Person of the Year.