AWARD has extended its call for entries into this year’s Special Awards categories, which will be announced as part of This Way Up: Australia’s Advertising Festival of Creativity on 18 August in Sydney.
The entry-based awards include Individual Agency of the Year, Individual Creative or Team of the Year, Emerging Creative or Team of the Year, Individual Director of the Year, Emerging Director of the Year, and Emerging Indigenous Creative Talent.
Jonathan Kneebone, AWARD Council member, was instrumental in implementing these new categories last year. He commented, “While many award shows continue to allocate awards based on points, AWARD is, for the second year in a row, including entry-based Special Awards which allow a fairer playing field for agencies and individuals.
“Rather than favouring those who are able to enter the most, or indeed are able to afford to enter every category, the Special Awards place more value on the quality and range of projects made.”
Even if agencies didn’t come away with an award at last week’s 43rd AWARD Awards, they are still encouraged to enter. The Special Awards will be judged by a specialist jury who allocate scores for each entered piece of work, the goal being to identify agencies and individuals who have consistently delivered high-quality work across the year.
Kneebone added, “By focusing on quality and not quantity, AWARD aims to spotlight the individuals and companies to share more of the recognition and reward for creative excellence across the region.”
Cam Blackley, AWARD chair, stated, “This is a real innovation for award shows, where creatives and agencies who have consistently produced the very best work across the year are being recognised as opposed to giving recognition only to those who enter a lot, or do one spectacular piece of work. The quality of the competition is high and as a result, these Special Awards will have meaning and value. I hope it becomes something that is prized and supported.”
Last year’s Special Award winners were:
Individual Agency of the Year: CHE Proximity Sydney
Creative or Team of the Year: Ashley Wilding & Daniel Davison
Emerging Creative or Team of the Year: Sam Raftl and Tom Lawrence
Director of the Year: Steve Rogers
Emerging Director of the Year: Courtney Brookes
Emerging Indigenous Creative Talent: Nic Molyneux
To submit a late entry for this year’s awards, contact Jean Probert before Friday June 17.
Read more about the special awards in the entry kit here.
