Ukraine's main advertising event, 9^th Kyiv International Advertising Festival has started at the Chamber of Trade and Commerce of Ukraine. Renowned experts of the advertising market from Ukraine, the CIS countries and Europe have arrived to the Festival. The event will last till May 30, 2008.

This year a record number of participants have registered for the KIAF - 500 agencies from 15 countries have presented over 2000 advertisements for the contest. The greatest number of works for the Festival has been prepared by Ukraine (1046), Russia (698), Estonia (71) and Belarus (66).

"KIAF is a mirror of the Ukrainian advertising communications market, and just like any mirror, we reflect all the changes occurring at our market, - says Irina Kuznetsova, the KIAF's President. - This year Kyiv International Advertising Festival will include a diverse program that of interest both to market participants from agencies and the companies -clients of advertising and communications services. The program will reflect all features and all current realities of the modern advertising industry".

9^th Kyiv International Advertising Festival includes contest, seminars and night parties programs.

A number of changes have occurred in the competition program of KAIF 2008. The total number of competitions was reduced to 14; moreover, almost all competitions of the Festival have undergone certain category adjustments: some have been joined, others, on the contrary, have been allocated into independent nominations. "Through these changes, we have made the competition more balanced, in other words, it helps to equally distribute the number of works in each of the categories based on previous years submissions numbers", explains Maxim Lazebnik, Festival's Producer.

Apart from the demonstration of contest works, visitors and participants of the 9^th KIAF seminars and the master classes of Ukrainian, Russian and international lecturers will discuss the most diverse, but definitely vital topics including all components of advertising and marketing communications. During the master classes renowned advertising leaders from from Ukraine, the CIS countries and Europe will share their experience. Festival participants will be able to participate in over 50 master classes at the KIAF.

International advertising festivals will also be presented at the Festival: Moscow International Advertising Festival, Golden Drum, EPICA Awards, Cannes Lions, where all participants will see previous years' best advertising works.

9 juries will evaluate the contest works; these are professionals with vast international experience. Best representatives of the different advertising sectors will lead the juries. For instance, Robin Weeks, Regional Creative Director of Ogilvy Group in the Central and Eastern Europe will head the Creative jury (Main Jury).