The Communications Council has rescheduled the Australian Effie Awards 2020 to take account of the COVID-19 crisis.

The Effie Awards Dinner and Presentation will now take place on Friday October 30, assuming that the current restrictions on public gatherings have been rolled back by that time.

The Call For Entries deadline has been extended by several weeks, with on-time entries now closing on Thursday June 11 and the final deadline (incurring an additional entry fee) moved to Thursday June 25.

Finalists will be announced on Wednesday August 12.

Tony Hale, chief executive officer, The Communications Council, stated, “The COVID-19 health crisis has obliged us to reschedule this year’s Effie Awards ceremony to the end of October. We’ll continue to monitor the situation with regard to public gatherings and if necessary review the rescheduled October date, but for now we’re guardedly optimistic that we’ll be able to go ahead.

“It also made sense for us to push back the Call For Entries deadline. With virtually our entire industry now working from home, it just hasn’t been practical for Effies entrants to put together their submissions within the original timeframe – these additional weeks will provide much-needed leeway.”

Now in its 12th consecutive year, the Effies celebrate the effectiveness of creative communications, recognising campaigns that can demonstrate outstanding measurable results.

Hale added, “The Australian Effie Awards ceremony has become a major annual event for the marketing communications industry in Australia, providing both a showcase and a benchmark for excellence in the area that matters most to our clients – delivering results. The Australian Effies continues to evolve with the changing nature of marketing communications.”

The new key dates are:

On-Time Call For Entries Close:
Thursday, 11 June 2020

Extended & Final Deadline:
Thursday, 25 June 2020

Round 1 Online Judging:
Monday, 27 to Friday, 31 July 2020

Finalists Announced:
Wednesday, 12 August 2020

Round 2 Judging:
Tuesday, 15 September 2020

Executive Judging Review:
Monday, 21 September 2020

Awards Dinner & Presentation:
Friday, 30 October 2020

Find full details about the Effie Awards 2020 here.