Gazprom Neft supports social communications festival Pora!-2014

Omsk was this year host tothe „Pora!-2014” social communications festival, general partner towhich was Gazprom Neft, though its „Home Towns” corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative. More than 350 professional and trainee designers, advertising specialists and marketing professionals travelled tothe event from various cities throughout Russia and abroad toshare ideas and experience inimplementing social media projects, with more than 150 student and professional pieces ofsocial advertising being submitted tothe festival’s competition programme.

The festival’s Grand Prix for student work was won byOmsk student Igor Gavar for „Oldushka”, aphotography project dedicated toimages ofthe elderly today. The festival’s professional prize was awarded toadvertising agency Twiga Communication Group for its installation, inthe centre ofMoscow, „Todelay istobury”, highlighting the problem ofmissing children (see avideo about the project here). Aspecial prize supported byGazprom Neft was awarded toagency „Medved Band” for their project „Omsk ILove You!” bringing together initiatives from Omsk residents directed atresolving current local civic issues— help for children’s homes, voluntary blood donation initiatives, and facilitating the installation ofpedestrian crossings atsome ofthe city’s most dangerous spots.

Alexander Dybal, Deputy CEO for Corporate Communications, Gazprom Neft, commented: „Bringing together some highly creative and caring people, the festival’s goals were completely consistent with those our ‚Home Towns’ CSR programme. Weare striving toimprove living conditions inthose regions inwhich weoperate, and toengage asmany people aspossible inworking for positive change: social communications— particularly advertising— facilitate this process. Gazprom Neft plans tofurther extend its cooperation with the festival byproviding support and assistance tothe organising committee inimproving the infrastructure ofthe project, inhelping toestablish aspecial cultural programme, and inproviding grants for award winners. The companyis, also, determined toattract the initiators ofthe best work indeveloping and implementing social projects, wherever Gazprom Neft has interests.”