Record-Breaking Dubai Lynx Now Underway

Dubai, UAE, March 7, 2016:  The annual Dubai Lynx International Festival of Creativity is in full-swing, with several Festival records already resoundingly smashed.

Delegate numbers are up from around 1,800 in 2015, to over 2,300. Meanwhile this year’s entries, up by 3% to 2,542, are being judged by the Festival’s largest ever assembly of jurors, 50% of whom are women. The 511 entries they’ve shortlisted have just been announced with the UAE behind 312 of them, followed by Lebanon with 64 and Egypt with 54.

Harnessing the well-documented record-breaking zeal of the region, a challenge has also been set for the MENA creative community to notch up their own GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title at the Festival. Delegates are being encouraged to get involved and make their mark using specially designed rubber stamps.

Dubai Lynx Festival Director, Emma Farmer, said a dynamic, advancing industry, coupled with diversified content and expanded awards, was behind the enthusiastic participation from across the region. “There is a ceaseless energy for innovation, palpable thirst for knowledge and passion for creativity here which continues to propel us forward. The Festival has gone from strength to strength in its 10th year, and there’s never been a more exciting time to be part of it.”
The strong emphasis on innovation which will permeate the entire Dubai Lynx programme, is also already evident.

Much of the data and technology-inspired content this year can be found in the Festival Village, which is new for 2016. The Village is also home to Start-Up Alley - an initiative designed to highlight the start-up community in the region while also providing support and advice. In association with Wamda, 10 start-ups are exhibiting and pitching to an audience of delegates and industry mentors for a chance to win tickets to Lions Innovation, part of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. The start-ups involved include: 360MEA, AlphaApps FZ LLC, Crowd Analyzer, et3arraf SAL, Kanari, Metaphorio, Mini Exchange, Seez, Tarifah Inc. and TaskSpotting