The World is Watching

AUCKLAND, Today: The Comms Council has issued the entry call for Axis 2021 – NZ will host the world’s first advertising award show in real life next year – Covid permitting. The big show will be held on Thursday 18 March 2021 at Shed 10. 

Axis-21 will see around 700 Kiwi ad people gather to celebrate the creative work that defied the challenges of 2020.

Axis-21 is expected to attract global attention – it’ll be the first national creative awards show of the year.

Comms Council marketing director Natasha Galloway said: “International agencies are being invited to book their place at the world’s table.

“The empty table will be fitted with a camera in the middle, live streaming the party to all those who are unable to enjoy the same freedoms.

Axis-21 convenor of judges Maria Devereux (ECD at Colenso BBDO) said: “An IRL advertising award show is a luxury our colleagues overseas can’t enjoy. We wanted to invite them.

“Axis-21 will attract global attention – and international agencies are being invited to book a place at the world’s table.”

“Hosting the first IRL ceremony is testament to New Zealand’s resolve in tackling Covid-19, and the local industry’s resolve to continue making great work in what has been an incredibly hard year.”

Devereux is joined by executive judges Christie Cooper (DDB CD), Shane Bradnick (TBWA CCO), Saatchi & Saatchi CCO Steve Cochran, Wunderman Thompson CD Nina East, and Special Group design director/founding partner Heath Lowe.

Devereux: “Read the entry categories and call-for-entries document for 2021 online, including the introduction of the new Pivot category, perhaps the most creative category of all.

“This special category is for brand campaigns and business innovations created in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“They will be creative solutions that genuinely helped to solve unexpected business problems by any of the following – pivoting to amplify or reposition a brand, creating a new revenue stream, contributing to overcoming the pandemic through corporate social responsibility initiatives, or contributed to positive economic growth.

“This work would not exist if it had not been for Covid.”

• Full entry & category details on the Comms Council website: commscouncil.nz
• View the video below

CREDITS

Creative Agency: Colenso BBDO
Photographer/DOP/Director/Retouching: Charles Howells
Sound Design: Franklin Road
Sound Engineer: Sidney Kennedy

KEY DATES

Entries close: Tuesday 19 January at 4pm
Late entry deadline closes: Thursday 21 January at 4pm
Tickets on sale: Friday 19 February
Finalists announced: Tuesday 23 February
Awards Show: Thursday 18 March