Ad Stars has announced its finalists for the Ad Stars 2020 Awards, 1,651 of them from 20,028 entries from 60 countries. All shortlisted entries are now in the running to win two Grand Prix of the Year trophies and a cheque for US$10,000. Winners will be announced online on September 7. 

 Australia has received the highest number of finalists.

The finalists by country are:

• Australia – 203 finalists
• Korea – 201 finalists
• Japan – 169 finalists
• United Arab Emirates – 153 finalists
• Thailand – 104 finalists
• Philippines – 85 finalists
• Singapore – 71 finalists
• New Zealand – 68 finalists
• Malaysia – 64 finalists
• China – 56 finalists
• United States – 55 finalists
• India – 55 finalists
• Brazil – 51 finalists

“It was impressive to see the high standard of production in many of the film entries that have been produced remotely this year due to COVID-19. It just goes to show that a pandemic doesn’t get in the way of creativity,” stated Kim Ellison, creative director at Stanley St, New Zealand and a judge of Ad Stars 2020.

Frederico Roberto, executive creative director at Interweave in London, judged the Direct and PR categories. He commented, “Whether the projects were more or less commercial, more or less with a social cause at heart, the common thread is the burning desire to make an impact. And this is something that is not bound to just one country’s work or even a region. Ad Stars has a broad reach and significance: from Iran to Indonesia, I saw work that truly elevates the human spirit through the craft of stories and messages that will surely be part of everyone’s day-to-day. Inspirational, to say the least.”

The five most awarded agencies in the countries with the highest number of finalists are:

AUSTRALIA:

• Ogilvy Australia – 27
• M&C Saatchi Sydney – 21 finalists
• VMLY&R – 20 finalists
• Clemenger BBDO Sydney – 19 finalists
• whiteGREY – 16 finalists
• Deloitte Australia – 15 finalists
• AIRBAG – 10 finalists
• DDB Australia – 10 finalists
• OTTO – 9 finalists
• Good Oil – 9 finalists
• Thinkerbell – 7 finalists
• McCann Melbourne – 6 finalists
• SDWM – 6 finalists
• Fenton Stephens – 5 finalists
• 303 MullenLowe Sydney – 4 finalists
• BWM Dentsu Melbourne – 4 finalists
• Alt.VFX – 3 finalists
• The Editors – 3 finalists
• Rare – 2 finalists
• The Works – 2 finalists
• Block Perth – 1 finalist
• BMF – 1 finalist
• Intoto – 1 finalist
• Meerkats – 1 finalist
• The Producers – 1 finalist

KOREA:

• Innocean Worldwide – 30 finalists
• Cheil Worldwide – 27 finalists
• Serviceplan Korea – 10 finalists
• HSAd – 8 finalists
• DminusOne – 7 finalists

JAPAN:

• Dentsu Inc. / Dentsu Creative X Inc. / Dentsu West Japan – 85 finalists
• Hakuhodo / Hakuhodo Kettle – 17 finalists
• Geometry Ogilvy Japan – 8 finalists
• Google – 7 finalists
• ENJIN TOKYO  – 7 finalists

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES:

• Impact BBDO – 70 finalists
• McCann Worldgroup MENA – 29 finalists
• Wunderman Thompson – 18 finalists
• Geometry MENA – 15 finalists
• The Classic Partnership Advertising – 7 finalists

THAILAND:

• WPP Marketing Communications (Thailand) – 24 finalists
• CJ WORX – 12 finalists
• Ogilvy Group Thailand – 12 finalists
• The SOUR Bangkok Co., Ltd. – 11 finalists
• GREYnJ UNITED – 9 finalists 

The agency networks with the highest number of finalists are:

• BBDO Worldwide: 155 finalists
• Ogilvy: 127 finalists
• Dentsu Inc.: 113 finalists
• McCann Worldgroup: 60 finalists
• Grey Group: 55 finalists

By category, there are 349 finalists in Film and Video Stars; 185 finalists in Design and Print; 397 finalists in Diverse Insights, Outdoor, PSA, Pivot, Place Brand, Radio & Audio; 260 finalists in Interactive, Integrated, Innovation, Mobile, Data Insights, Social & Influencer; and 299 finalists in Brand Experience & Activation, Creative eCommerce, Direct, Media, PR.

There are also 54 finalists in the Pivot category for work created in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Ad Stars offers a category for non-professionals to encourage students and non-professionals with a passion for commercial creativity to further their careers. From 1,651 finalists, there are 161 finalists who are non-professionals.

View the complete shortlist here.