DDB Aotearoa scores three Gold Pencils at 45th annual AWARD Awards; ranks #3 Individual Agency of the Year; Special takes home one Gold; The Monkeys named Network of the Year
The winners of the 45th annual AWARD Awards have just been announced at the Gold Pencil Award Party, held as part of This Way Up at Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art.
A total of 31 Gold pencils were awarded across 18 different campaigns, with a further 74 Silver and 118 Bronze pencils awarded. Special Awards were also awarded across 16 categories.
DDB Group Aotearoa had an incredible night ranking second runner-up Individual Agency of the Year behind The Monkeys Sydney (1st) and Special Australia (2nd) and runner-up Network of the Year behind the The Monkeys. The agency scored three Gold Pencils; two for Team Heroine ‘Correct the Internet’ and one Gold for McDonald’s NZ ‘We speak late night’. The agency’s ‘Correct the Internet’ campaign for Team Heroine also collected two Silver Pencils plus another two Silver Pencils; one for McDonald’s NZ ‘We speak late night’ and McDonald’s NZ ‘Fax-4-Kiwiburger. In total the agency collected three Gold Pencils, four Silver Pencils and three Bronze Pencils.
Adding to the night, DDB Group Aotearoa’s Jacob Newton (below left) and Josep Jover (below right) were named runner up Individual Creative Team of the Year.
Special picked up Aotearoa’s fourth Gold Pencil for Partners Life ‘The Last Performance’. Special’s Gold Pencil win added to the Group being named second runner-up Network of the Year behind The Monkeys (#1) and DDB (#2).
VML New Zealand had a successful evening with the agency securing four Silver Pencils for Stats NZ ‘Even Harry Styles’.
The Monkeys Aotearoa added two Silver Pencils to its haul. The agency scored a total of two Silver Pencils and five Bronze Pencils for ASB Bank ‘Bagels by BENEE’.
FCB was awarded a Silver Pencil for NZ Transport Agency – WAKA KOTAHI ‘Would You Rather’ in addition to its Bronze it secured for TUX ‘Puppy News-pee-per’, whilst RUN Aotearoa scored a Silver for ‘Manaakitanga Pencil’.
New Zealand companies with Bronze Pencils include Dentsu Aotearoa with two for FreshChoice ‘Aid Aisle’ and Assembly for ASB | Youthline ‘Benee Bagels’.
Revolver collected five golds across three pieces of work and was named Production Company of the Year. The Monkeys, part of Accenture Song, was crowned Agency Network of the Year, taking home four golds for ‘Play it Safe’, celebrating Sydney Opera House’s 50th anniversary, and the coveted The Grand Award.
The inaugural Best B2B Campaign, supported by LinkedIn, was awarded to Special Australia for the ‘Shift 20 Initiative’ for The Dylan Alcott Foundation.
Says Daniel Hochuli, head of content solutions (APAC & China), LinkedIn: “The Shift 20 Initiative specifically targeted behaviour change in brands and was the judges’ favourite because it drove significant B2B effects. Its messaging was incredibly effective, motivating 200+ brands to take action and get involved – a remarkable achievement.”
Says Mandie van der Merwe, chair, AWARD: “Congratulations to all who picked up a Gold or Special Award at tonight’s Gold Pencil Award Party. You’ve earned bragging rights across our region with work that not only stood out, but made us lean in, moved us and spurred us into taking action.
“A massive shout out as well to the silver and bronze winners who were recognised during the virtual announcements earlier this week. The winners this year represent the pointy end of creativity and set the bar high for the standard of work AWARD champions and celebrates in this corner of the world.
“AWARD Awards is the most prestigious creative show in our region because of our world-class judges. Heartfelt thanks to our jury president Liz Taylor, jury chairs and our team of judges who have given their incredibly valuable time freely and debated vigorously to uphold AWARD’s exacting standards for recognising creative excellence every year.”
45th AWARD Awards | Special Awards Winners
INDIVIDUAL AGENCY OF THE YEAR
1st: The Monkeys Sydney, part of Accenture Song
2nd: Special Australia
3rd: DDB Group Aotearoa
AGENCY NETWORK OF THE YEAR
1st: The Monkeys, part of Accenture Song
2nd: DDB Group
3rd: Special Group
4th: TBWA
5th: VML
PRODUCTION COMPANY OF THE YEAR
1st: Revolver
2nd: FINCH
3rd: Collider
4th: Exit Films
5th: Scoundrel
GRAND AWARD
Play It Safe, The Monkeys, part of Accenture Song / Revolver
CREATIVE LEADER OR LEADERSHIP TEAM OF THE YEAR
Winner: Tara Ford & Barbara Humphries – The Monkeys, part of Accenture Song
CREATIVE DIRECTOR OR TEAM OF THE YEAR
Winner: Jared Wicker & Scott Zuliani – Howatson+Company
Highly Commended: James Sexton, Special Australia
INDIVIDUAL CREATIVE OR TEAM OF THE YEAR
Winner: Jake Ausburn & Alex Polglase, (former Monkeys now at MIRIMAR U.S.)
2nd: Jacob Newton & Josep Jover, DDB Group Aotearoa
3rd: Zac Blakemore & Filipe Oliveira, TBWA\ Australia
EMERGING CREATIVE OR TEAM OF THE YEAR
Winner: Riana McKenzie, Clemenger BBDO Australia
INDIVIDUAL DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Winner: Steve Rogers, Revolver
2nd: Sam Hubbard, FINCH
3rd: Damien Shatford, The Sweetshop
EMERGING DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Winner: PHC: John Angus Stewart & Max Coles, Good Oil
2nd: Max Barden, The Sweetshop
3rd: Michael Hili, FINCH
INDIGENOUS CREATIVE TALENT
Winner: Nina Fitzgerald and Shaun Edwards, Going North Agency
MEDIA AGENCY OF THE YEAR
Winner: OMD Australia
ACCOUNT TEAM OF THE YEAR
Winner: Uber, Special Australia
MARKETING TEAM OF THE YEAR
Winner: Telstra
BEST B2B CAMPAIGN
Winner: Shift 20 Initiative, Special Australia
AGENCY PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Penny Brown, The Monkeys, part of Accenture Song
2nd: Holly Alexander, Howatson+Company
3rd: Sevda Cemo, Special Australia
