New York Festivals in Shanghai

New York Festivals kicked off its first ever 2009 World Tour, with the NYF International Advertising Awards in Shanghai China on Saturday July 25th.  The day long series of events, held at Jiading SINO ADO Creative Zone culminated with a gala award presentation and screening of the 2009 New York Festivals Gold Winners in TV and Film.  CumminsNitro, Brisbane received the newly minted Boutique Agency of the Year Award, along with a Grand Trophy; Revolver Films, Sydney took home the just launched Production company of the Year Award; Big Ant International, New York was bestowed the celebrated Grand Trophy;  and legendary ad man Neil French was presented the 2009 New York Festivals Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Creative Directors Nancy Hartley and James Burchill of CumminsNitro, Brisbane were recognized with the newly christened Boutique Agency of the Year Award at last nights ceremony.  The Boutique Agency of the Year is selected from companies that are not affiliated with any agency networks and have less than 75 employees.  CumminsNitro also took home the prestigious Grand Trophy in the Digital + Interactive competition for their groundbreaking campaign for Tourism Queensland, “Best Job in the World.”  This breakthrough campaign garnered three Gold World Medals in Mixed Media, Avante-Garde and Digital + Interactive competitions.  “We’ve tasted success as Agency of the Year in our own market, but to win an award like this on an international stage is incredibly satisfying. We feel like we’ve set a new benchmark for global campaigns,” said Michael Branagh, Managing Director of CumminsNitro, Brisbane.

Revolver Films, Sydney was honored with the Production Company of the Year Award.  Executive Producer Michael Ritchie accepted on their behalf.  Revolver garnered an impressive 2 Gold World Medals, I Silver, 1 Bronze and 3 Finalist Certificates.  Revolver received a Gold Award for “Transformation”, for client Tourism Australia, in the Art & Technique competition.   The MTV Exit Asia/Radiohead “Different Lives” spot took home both a Gold Award and Silver.  

Iconic Ad man Neil French was paid tribute at this year’s 2009 NYF International Advertising Awards in Shanghai where he was honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for his significant contributions to the advertising industry for the last 3 decades.  The accomplished creative legend is founder of The World Press Awards and most recognized in advertising circles for bringing the creative revolution to Asia.  While with The Ball Partnership in Singapore, his work for Chivas Regal, Kaminomoto, and in particular the ‘XO Beer’ campaign for The Straits Times became one of the most famous and successful campaigns around the world. A former WPP Creative Director, Neil French is known around the globe for his award winning ads.  Having won numerous international awards including several NYF awards dating back to the mid eighties, French is undoubtedly considered one of the true pioneers of advertising in Asia.  Attendees were also invited to spend an “Afternoon with Neil French” as he took to the stage for an in-depth discussion with the audience.

Alfred Park, CD/CEO of Big Ant International, was presented with the Grand Trophy in the Outdoor category for “What Goes Around Comes Around” (see left) for the client Global Coalition for Peace. The agency, based in New York, Seoul and Beijing, utilized a creative team of six people to create the winning project, including: ECD Richard Wilde, CD Alfred Park, AD Jeseok Yi & Frank Anselmo, CW William Tran & Francisco Hui.  Mr. Park commented, “WOW! What else can I say to express how excited we are about the award… the award is a proof that our idea can be used for good cause and that it can touch peoples’ hearts.”

NYF Grand Trophies were also awarded to the following agencies: BBDO/Proximity Malaysia, “Two World’s” for client Jeep in the Print category; BBDO NY, USA, “HBO Audio Mural Installations” for client HBO/Big Love in the Mixed Media category; Crispin Porter + Bogusky, USA, “Whopper Sacrifice” for client Burger King, in the Avant-Garde category; and Publicis, France, “Rewind City” for client Orange TV, in the TV/Cinema category.  

JWT Shanghai was awarded 2 Gold World Medals, 1 Silver and 3 Finalist Certificates for client Sha Hui.  Ogilvy & Mather, Shanghai was honored with a Gold World Medal and Silver for client Adidas. Saatchi & Saatchi Guangzhou received 2 Finalist Certificates.  In addition, McCann Worldgroup, Hong Kong took home 2 Bronze World Medals for clients Elements Mall and Nike T90.   

Japan’s Asahi Advertising garnered a Bronze World Medal for client Inden-Ya; Root Communications Tokyo received the Silver World Medal for Nike; 777 Interactive Japan was celebrated with both a Silver World Medal and a Bronze for client Adidas.  Other award winners include Seoul Korea’s Postvisual.com, winning a Gold World Medal, Silver and a Bronze for their work for client Nike; Creativia Seoul was recognized with both a Silver World Medal and a Finalist Certificate for the Korea Heart Foundation; and Chosun Univeristy, Seoul was awarded a Bronze World Medal in the Student competition for Calvin Klein Underwear.

Euro RSCG, Singapore was bestowed a Gold World Medal for Nikon, and both a Bronze Medal and a Finalist Certificate for client Crowbar.  Y & R Singapore received two Bronze World Medals for The Oxford Dictionary and for Colgate Motion; the agency also took home two Finalist Certificates for Sony Alpha SLR and The Oxford Dictionary.  DDB DM9Jayme Syfu, Philippines won 2 Bronze World Medals, one for Drixine Decongestant Spray, and the second for Gabriela Spousal Abuse Hotline.  Bates Taiwan was honored with 5 Finalist Certificates, receiving two for Taiwan Smoker’s Helpline and three for Mao Bao Dish Washing Liquid.  

The 2009 NYF International Advertising Awards presented a special Creative Achievement Award to twenty-eight recipients in honor of their dedication, guidance, and creative contributions these esteemed advertising executives have given to their local communities as well as the international arena. The Asia Pacfic ECD’s that were bestowed awards included: Merlee Cruz-Jayme, ManagingPartner/Chief Creative Officer, DDB DMPJaymeSyfu Philippines; Josy Paul, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer, BBDO India’ Sonal Draba, Regional Executive Creative Director, Bates 141 Asia; KV Sridhar (aka Pops), National Creative Director, Leo Burnett India: David Guerrero, Chairman/Chief Creative Officer, BBDO Guerrero/Proximity Philippines and Tay Guan Hin, Regional Executive Creative Director – Southeast Asia, J Walter Thompson.  

2009 Grand Trophy Award recipients were selected from the top scoring Gold medalists in all categories by the NYF International Grand Jury™.  The 2009 Grand Jury™ was comprised of 255 Senior Creative Directors from 56 countries, representing the largest and most diverse jury of any advertising competition in the world. This year’s GRANDJURY honored the “World’s Best Advertising™” from 71 countries around the world, awarding 6 Grand Trophies, 149 Gold Medals, 173 Silver Medals and 243 Bronze Medals in the following competitions: Art & Technique, Avant-Garde, Collateral, Design, Digital + Interactive, Mixed Media, Outdoor, Print, TV/Cinema, Radio, and Student.

The New York Festivals International Advertising Awards will also host award presentations in Santiago de Chile August 7th, Mumbai September 18th, and Madrid in late September.

All winning entries of the NYF Advertising In All Media Award are featured in the
Showcase section of the website.  Additional award winning work, along with interviews with creatives, can be seen on www.newyorkfestivals.TV.