The Eslinger blog - live from ADFEST

Final day of Cyber Lotus Jury: This morning we started with a clear brief of how to vote for metal, how many we can award per category and how to break the inevitable ties.

Having three stints on Cannes juries under my belt, I knew that a clear brief from the organizer at the top of the day gives everyone an equal chance to question and probe the fine print in the rule book.

It also saves the jury President a lot of repetition and revotes. Then we grabbed our finalist list and hit the mouses for the last time at ADFEST. After some debate, a few (short) re-votes, a list ditch attempt to rescue a lost gem from the shortlist and a call to Jimmy Lam to qualify a vague bit in the rules, we voted for Best of Cyber Lotus from our Gold winners. And we had tie! I then asked the jury to defend their choices to sway the tie breaking juror - it was like being on the high school debate team, but with credit cards.

The next round of voting for Best of Cyber Lotus saw a clear result, in fact more than one mind was changed. And then, it was over. I thanked this great crew for being smart, great and picky and finding the best work. We all exchanged business cards, thanked our team that looked after us and went off to work, watch Festival speakers, lay in the sun or just stop. Which is what I am doing right now. See you on Saturday for the results.

Tom Eslinger is Worldwide Creative Director, Interactive at Saatchi & Saatchi London.