New York Festivals World’s Best Advertising has opened the doors on its second annual Torch Awards.

The Torch Awards is a competition with a USP. It sets a creative challenge and offers mentor training on how to pitch an idea (as well as rather a substantial amount of kudos). The ultimate prize is to see your work go live.

This year’s challenge is a 60 second video.

For the 2015 Torch Awards, New York Festivals has partnered with The Project Solution, a donor community that provides solutions to people in distressed areas of the world. Its projects are funded by groups who make an annual contribution to the organisation. Its work is accomplished by collaborating with local NGOs who have a history of working within a community and managing projects.

“Our goal is simple and straightforward: fund a few small scale projects every year and make a substantial difference for a group of people somewhere in the world.”

“New York Festivals partnered with The Project Solution because we are impressed by their international reach and commitment to community, as well as their ability to funnel 100% of the donations received directly into their projects,” Alisun Armstrong, executive director, Torch Awards, explained.

“And with entries and judges coming from more than 70 countries every year, the New York Festivals family extends to the four corners of the world; these projects have a very real, meaningful impact on individuals, yet affect us all.”

To be part of this year’s Torch Awards 60 Second Spot Challenge, you will be asked to submit your creative concept for a one minute video promoting The Project Solution’s Subscription for Change program.

You will be competing for the chance to see your work go live. Your video needs to communicate to people how they can make a real difference in the lives of others by creating a video to assist The Project Solution’s mission.

Five finalist teams will be invited to New York City to present their ideas. Before they head into the pitch, they’ll fine-tune their work with their mentor—a member of the New York Festivals World’s Best Advertising Executive Jury. The teams will then have 10 minutes to pitch their idea to an exclusive jury panel including members of The Project Solution team and members of the New York Festivals Executive Jury.

The Torch Awards was launched in 2014 to champion young creative talent. Read this year’s brief in full here.

There is no entry fee for the Torch Awards. Teams of two to four people 18-25 may enter. The submission deadline is March 13. Finalist teams will be announced on April 9. Finalist teams will meet in New York City May 20

and the winning team will be announced live and will accept its trophy at the New York Show on May 21.

Want to know more about The Torch Awards? Click here.

To enter, click here.