The Communications Council’s 125 Effies’ judges have created 97 finalists from 34 agencies on behalf of 46 clients.

These finalists will now compete for effectiveness awards across 24 categories, judged by a team of 50 senior marketers, consultants and researchers.

• Clemenger BBDO Melbourne’s Cannes heavy hitter, Snickers Hungerithm: the angrier the internet gets, the cheaper the Snickers, is shortlisted in Food/Confectionery/Snacks against:
• The Monkeys, “Bloody Idiots & Ratbags” do it again for lamb, for MLA

The Monkeys’ new MLA lamb ad: Let’s talk about this

• Ogilvy & Mather, The Home Cricket Ground gets a commentary team, for KFC

KFC creates the ultimate sampling campaign

• Clemenger’s Cannes Superstar, Meet Graham: How the world met Graham, for TAC Victoria is shortlisted in Not for Profit and Cause Related Marketing against:
• BMF, Stop It At The Start: The campaign that got millions of Australians to help prevent violence in future generations, for Australian Government – Department of Social Services

BMF: Perhaps you’re promoting domestic violence?

• Leo Burnett Melbourne, Reword: Changing Online Bullying Behaviour, for Headspace

Most Original Thinking has come down to a contest between:

• The Monkeys’ Celebrate Australia with Lamb for MLA
• Leo Burnett’s Reword for Headspace
• Clemenger BBDO Melbourne’s Snickers Hungerithm
• Clemenger BBDO Melbourne’s Meet Graham, for TAC Victoria

Clemenger’s Meet Graham for TAC Victoria is shortlisted in 5 categories. The other 3 are PR Led Campaign, Insight & Strategic Thinking and Government.

Clemenger’s Hungerithm for Snickers is shortlisted 4 times. Its other 2 categories are Digitally Led Ideas and use of Data.

The Monkeys, Celebrate Australia with Lamb for MLA is shortlisted 5 times. Its other 3 categories are Insight & Strategic Thinking, PR Led Campaign and Short Term Results. For the overarching campaign, You Never Live Alone, The Monkeys has received another shortlist in Long Term Results.

Leo Burnett Melbourne’s Reword for headspace has been shortlisted in 5 categories. The other 3 are New Product/Service, Small Budget and Insight & Strategy.

BMF leads the shortlist with 12 finalists. Clemenger BBDO Melbourne has 11. Leo Burnett Melbourne and Affinity have 6 each.

All finalists here: 2017 Australian Effie Award Finalists (1)

Chairman of judges, Colin Wilson-Brown, commented, “I’d like to thank the first round judges for their time, insights and scrutiny. To see such a high number of finalists progress sends a strong message around the value of the work being delivered by our industry. The next round takes that further, with cases and results assessed by panels of senior marketers, providing a client perspective on how agency work is driving business performance.”

The Effie winners, Effective Agency of the Year, Advertiser of the Year, and Grand Effie will be announced at a presentation in Sydney on Thursday, August 31.

The Effies are jointly presented by The Communications Council and the Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) in association with Think TV. Other sponsors and supporters include Displayground, Healthcare Communications Council, Hourigan International, Shootsta and UnLtd.