
DEFY FEST is a two-day Advertising & Marketing Learning Festival organised by DEFY Advertising
Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The objective of the festival is to bring the highest-level advertising and marketing learning experience home
to Sri Lanka. The first edition of DEFY FEST takes place on the 29th and 30th of May and entrance is by invitation only.
The festival will feature senior figures in Advertising and Marketing from the region, conducting compelling sessions live on stage, moderated panel discussions and workshops.
Workshop Day
Film Production
Harsh Dave
How to kill Advertising
Assam Khalid
State of Mind. State of Power.
How to emerge from an adult state in every conversation
Binaifer Dulani
Brains, Baises, and Behavior: Navigating the Maze
Saji Abraham
Session Day
Writing for the Screen
Rajesh Ramaswamy (Ramsam)
Creativity vs the Copy Machine
Sosuke Koyama
Blah to Brilliant- The Art of the Brief
Saji Abraham
Panel Discussion 1
Rajesh Ramaswamy, Sosuke Koyama, Saji Abraham
Moderated by Dilshara Jayamanna
The Real Work
Bringing Our Whole Selves — and Our Worth — Back Into the Room
Binaifer Dulani
How to Choose a Production Partner
Harsh Dave
Oddvertising: DEFY the Odds Stacked Against Ads
Assam Khalid
Panel Discussion 2
Binaifer Dulani, Harsh Dave, Assam Khalid
Moderated by Hasini Assiriyage






Seating is limited and Starting 6th May, invitations will be shared with CMOs and Agency Heads who will allocate invitations to their teams.
Invitees should RSVP and register by 13th May to confirm their spots.
Any invitations that have not been registered by then will be cancelled and allocated to anyone in the waiting list.
Instructions on accessing the waitlist will be made available on the 8th of May.
** A SMALL BUT IMPORTANT REQUEST **
The only request we have for anyone who registers is to please participate and get to the festival early. If you confirm but do not attend it will take the opportunity away from someone else.
Entrance to DEFY FEST is free of charge but by invitation only. A limited number of invitations have been sent out to Agency heads, Marketing heads and Student administrators of selected universities. Check with your department head/administrator if they have included you in their invitation list as a delegate.
Yes. Confirmed delegates have until 9.30 AM on the 29th to present themselves at the venue registration desk. Venue volunteers will stop holding seats after 9.30 AM on the 29th. In case any confirmed delegates have not presented themselves by 9.30 their slots will be given to any walk-in attendees.
If you have filled in the Google form, you are in line for confirmation. Each confirmed delegate will receive an official email from nastasha@defy.lk confirming your attendance. The confirmation emails will be sent from 19th May till 23rd May. If you have not received your email by 20th May please get in touch with nastasha@defy.lk to clarify.
Yes. However, this is solely at the organiser’s discretion. Please contact nastasha@defy.lk to transfer your pass to someone else. This may not always be possible.
Day 2 / 30th May - Half Day of Workshops - Rise Up, Alwis Place, Colombo.





