Axis-21 to be the world’s first advertising awards show in 2021 ~ event to be broadcast globally
With Covid-19 preventing mass gatherings, iconic advertising award shows all over the world have been forced to shift their ceremonies online. But not in New Zealand. Having eliminated transmission of the virus, the country is set to host the world’s first advertising award show in real life (hopefully, fingers crossed), on Thursday 18th March 2021 at Shed 10. Axis has also released its call for entries film which was developed by Colenso BBDO.
Axis-21 will see around 700 Kiwi ad people gather in a venue to celebrate the creative work that defied the challenges of 2020. Covid-allowing, everyone will come together under the one roof, shoulder to shoulder. They will mix (maybe), mingle and attempt to steal each other’s clients, just like the good old days of 2019.
As well as hosting the local industry in person, Axis-21 will be such a global milestone that the event will be broadcast to the rest of the world. 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.
Says Maria Devereux, ECD at Colenso BBDO and Convenor of Judges for Axis-21: “An IRL advertising award show is a luxury our colleagues overseas can’t enjoy. We wanted to invite them. 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 (creative director, DDB), Shane Bradnick (chief creative officer, TBWA), Steve Cochran (chief creative officer, Saatchi & Saatchi), Nina East (creative director, Wunderman Thompson) and Heath Lowe (executive design director and founding partner, Special Group).
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 COVID-19 pandemic through corporate social responsibility initiatives, contributed to positive economic growth. This work would not exist if it had not been for Covid.
Full entry details, categories and information for Axis 2021 are now available in the Call for Entries document on the Comms Council website.
Creative Agency: Colenso BBDO
Photographer/DOP/Director/Retouching: Charles Howells
Sound Design: Franklin Road
Sound Engineer: Sidney Kennedy
Axis Awards 2020 – Key Dates
Entries close: Tuesday 19 January 2021 at 4pm
Late entry deadline closes: Thursday 21 January 2021 at 4pm
Tickets on sale: Friday 19 February 2021
Finalists announced: Tuesday 23 February 2021
Awards Show: Thursday 18th March 2021
3 Comments
I do not like your agency but I must admit, I really like your Axis theme, Colenso. Credit where credit is due. Nice work creatives.
Brilliant
Award show themes are getting harder and harder. Covid threw them a lifeline. Still, they nailed the execution. Sounds and looks loved.