Kinsale is gearing up for its festival, September 26-29. The speaking programme has now been finalised for Kinsale’s 56th year. Uncommon founder, Nils Leonard, and AMV creative partner (who is also this year’s jury president), Rosie Arnold, are to be joined by Coy Communications executive creative director, Mark Denton, and Merman comedy director of Motherland, Juliet May.

Top editors from Cut&Run, The Quarry and Final Cut will jointly host the panel discussion, Cut Out the Bad Bits – What Makes a Great Edit?, which they will illustrate using examples of commercials, film and music video.

Bull in a China Shop founder and former AKQA chief technology officer, Ben Jones, will present Bitcoin to Sh*tCoin and Ethereum to complete delirium. WTF is blockchain?, about the talking point of the moment – Blockchain. He’ll explain what it is, and how the advertising industry can use it, from artist rights to transparency in creativity.

Interactive production company, makemepulse, will explore applying emerging tech to creative ideas, and how creating a joined-up tech & digital strategy can elevate a creative idea.

Creative director, Neil Dawson, and children’s book author, Kes Gray, also join the speaking programme.

A few changes have been made this year, one of which is the awards presentation. The traditional award ceremonies have been merged into a bigger, less formal evening event. Award winners will be able to collect their shark head award separately. The other is that there is just one festival pass on sale which allows entry to all talks and evening events over the entire festival.

The award entry deadline is Friday September 7. Enter here.