Lee

The nominees for the 3rd Festival Congress Awards have just been announced taking place during the Festival Congress on the 1st November at the DEPOT in Cardiff. The awards will be hosted by Glastonbury’s Ben Challis and are decided on by votes from AIF members.

There are ten award categories including, ‘New Festival on the Block’, ‘Unique Festival Arena’, ‘Mind Blowing Spectacle’, ‘Festival Caterer Most Likely to End up on Instagram' and more.

One newly introduced category is the ‘Act of Independence’ award, highlighting a moment in the festival season that embodied the spirit of independence.

Nominees for this particular award include Shambala for introducing a 100% meat & fish free policy and MAST onsite drugs testing, which was piloted at several AIF member festivals this summer.

Others in the running for awards this year include the likes of Bluedot, Glastonbury’s female-only venue ‘The Sisterhood’, ‘The Good Life Experience’, Deer Shed Festival’s Film Production Big Top, Wilderness Festival’s ‘Saturday Night Spectacular’, Bestival’s ‘Spaceport’ and ‘The Tim Peaks Diner’, the brainchild of The Charlatan’s Tim Burgess, who has also been confirmed as a keynote speaker at the conference.

It has also been confirmed that the 2016 ‘Unsung Hero’ award will be presented to health, safety and welfare expert Penny Mellor, who has worked in the events sector for over 40 years, managing welfare services and developing good practice guidance.

The Awards after-party will feature Rob da Bank and Tayo 3000’s ‘Purple Rave’ Prince tribute alongside a DJ set from Tim Burgess.

We will also be taking some of our key team members up to Cardiff and our presentation on the day about TheTicketSellers and eventree will feature a case study with Jon, the director of Shambala.

We hope to see you there! For tickets and information click here.

AWARD NOMINEES


NEW FESTIVAL ON THE BLOCK
Bluedot
Convergence Festival
Lost Festival
The Good Life Experience
Twisterella
The Vicars Picnic


UNIQUE FESTIVAL ARENA Children’s Café at The Good Life Experience Forrest Stage at 2000trees Festival Tim Peaks Diner Glastonbury’s female-only venue – The Sisterhood Deer Shed Festival’s Film Production Big Top Bestival’s Spaceport
LIVE ACT OF THE YEAR Blossoms Symphonica with MR Switch Spring King Moose Blood Jack Garratt
MIND BLOWING SPECTACLE The World’s Biggest Bouncey Castle at Bestival/Common People Wilderness Festival’s Saturday Night Spectacular La Compagnie des Quidams at Festival No. 6 Brian Eno’s Light Installation at Bluedot
BEST SMART MARKETING CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR End of The Road’s Lineup Announcement Video Shangri La’s Media Hell Campaign Secret Garden Party’s Gardner’s Guide To The Galaxy Theme Bestival’s Hand-drawn/painted triptych of the Spaceport Headliners Eastern Electrics Rickshaw DJ/Pacman Lineup Announcement
FESTIVAL JOURNALIST / WEBSITE OF THE YEAR David Hillier Marcus Barnes (Fest300) Slummy Single Mummy Melographic
FESTIVAL CATERER MOST LIKELY TO END UP ON INSTAGRAM Claw The Cheese Truck The Bhangra Bus Café Kelis’ Le Bun Luardos Paelleria
THE BACKSTAGE AWARD Artist Liaison at Barn on the Farm Comedy/Team Ops at End of The Road Sue & Jo at Bingley Music Live Artist Liaison at Blissfields Clean Campsite Team at Nozstock The Hidden Valley LarMac Live at Bestival, Common People, Camp Bestival
ACT OF INDEPENDENCE Shambala goes 100% meat & fish free MAST drugs testing piloted at festivals Bestival staff Swim2Bestival Steve Bedlam – Calais refugee aid General Public’s Hop Project
UNSUNG HERO Penny Mellor