Spikes Asia to honour Yasmin Ahmad

Spikes Asia has announced that a special tribute will be made to Yasmin Ahmad, who tragically passed away in July at the age of 51 after suffering a stroke. Yasmin will be remembered and celebrated through a tribute that will be made in a fitting environment among her peers and friends during the Awards Ceremony on 18 September.

Widely respected both at home and abroad, Yasmin Ahmad was executive creative director of Leo Burnett Malaysia as well as an acclaimed director and scriptwriter.

With a career in advertising spanning over 25 years, Ahmad's work accumulated over 150 awards including Golds at the Clio Awards, the Andy Awards, London International Awards, Kancil Awards and momentously at Cannes Lions, where she became the first Malaysian winner of a Gold Film Lion in 2008 for Tan Hong Ming. Yasmin was inducted into the Malaysian Advertising Hall of Fame by the Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia in November 2008.

Commenting on her career at Leo Burnett, Jarek Ziebinski, president of Leo Burnett & Arc Asia Pacific said, "Yasmin was a brilliant star at Leo Burnett and the whole creative industry. Her works truly reflected humanity and love. They touched people's hearts and inspired them to change and to make a difference in life. We are thankful to Spikes Asia for acknowledging Yasmin and allowing all who love and admire her to pay tribute to her at the event."

Festival chairman Terry Savage said, "Yasmin Ahmad made a real contribution to Asian creativity. It is therefore entirely appropriate that we pay tribute to her life and work at an awards ceremony that is celebrating creativity."

The montage tribute to be shown at Spikes Asia is being created by VHQ, The Gunnery and producer Pamela Phang.