Y&R New Zealand’s McWhopper integrated campaign – a #1 hit at D&AD (held the same night on the other side of the world) – was centre stage again last night, earning one of the two Best of Show awards at the New York Festivals International Advertising Awards. Y&R shared the stage with Colenso BBDO/Proximity, whose celebrated DB Breweries Brewtroleum campaign scored a Grand Prize in the Activation & Engagement category.
Y&’s McWhopper campaign also won a Grand Prize in the Avant Garde category.
“Aside from boasting the sexiest trophy on the awards circuit, a win at New York Festivals is also amongst the industry’s most coveted,” said Y&R CD Tom Paine.
“So to land the big one and rub shoulders with the likes of Inglorious Fruits [2015 Best of Show] and Epic Split [2014 Best of Show] is an incredible feeling and the agency couldn’t be prouder.
“If it wasn’t 5am here in New Zealand, we’d all be celebrating in true antipodean style – recklessly!”
This is the first time in the six year history of New York Festivals executive jury that two outstanding entries were selected unanimously to receive the coveted Best of Show award.
“I think it speaks volumes about the calibre, quality and sincerity of this year’s executive jury,” said said NYF president Michael O’Rourke.
“It’s was a defining moment that not only helps further clarify the mission of New York Festivals, but the industry at large, underlining the fact that both pieces of work were so adamantly admired and supported, leaving us no other choice than to award both campaigns as Best of Show.
“Each of these campaigns equally exemplify the very best this industry has to offer. The notion that award shows are all about stroking egos is something we’ve all heard before. But if you had the opportunity to witness what I just did over the last five days, you’d immediately realize that the sole intention of this year’s executive jury was to recognise and celebrate the ideas that truly stood for something.
“The NYF trophy isn’t a pat on the back. It’s an affirmation, and a symbol of genuine respect from over 400 professionals around the world, who day in and day out face the same challenges you do. That has to mean something.”
BBDO won Network of the Year for the fourth year running. Production Company of the Year was Moonwalk Films, Paris.
This year’s Regional Agency of the Year award winners were:
Europe: Fred & Farid, France
North America: BBDO New York
South America: AlmapBBDO, Sao Paulo
Asia Pacific:Y&R New Zealand, Auckland
Middle East: Impact BBDO, Dubai.
- See all the winning work here (not yet up by M+AD’s deadline – they’re still running the 2015 result).
Share this Post
