kwp! wins Best of Festival – Corporate at 2014 US International Film & Video comp for Barossa film

A film on the Barossa wine country of South Australia has won Best of Festival-Corporate in the 2014 US International Film & Video Festival competition.

“Barossa. Be Consumed,” entered by kwp! Advertising, Adelaide, reflects the luxurious accommodations, award-winning wines and applauded cuisine of Australia’s wine capital about two hours from Adelaide. The work was done for the South Australia Tourism Commission and produced by Moth Projects. It was directed by Jeffrey Darling and edited by Adam Wills.

The kwp! Entry also received a Gold Camera Award.

Kaufmann Productions Pty Ltd., Paddington, NSW, took a Silver Screen Award in Television: Documentary for “Shark Girl,” and  Good Eye Deer, Newcastle, NSW, earned a Certificate for Creative Excellence for “ARTC Concrete Re-Sleepering Project” in Communication: Employee/Internal.

The US International Film & Video Festival has been in operation since 1967 and recognizes outstanding Corporate, Educational, Documentary and Student productions. Full details on winners are posted at www.filmfestawards.com. Entrants from 19 countries received 120 awards in the 2014 US International Film & Video Festival. This included 16 First Place Gold Camera Awards, 39 Silver Screen Awards, 64 Certificates for Creative Excellence and a Student Certificate were awarded. In addition, 12 productions were nominated for Best of Festival (Grand Prix).

The Barossa campaign has continued its winning streak in Europe too, with the ‘Barossa. Be Consumed’ picking up major trophies and awards in France, Germany, Poland, Bulgaria, Latvia, Croatia and Azerbaijan, with more festivals in Europe and the US to come over the coming months.

The most recent awards at the Zagreb International Tourfilm Festival are Grand Prix for Best in Show, Gold for Best Tourism Film under 3 minutes and Gold for Best Director in addition to the Grand Prix, Gold for Best Tourism Film and Best Director at the Baku International Tourism Film Festival.

Award jurors and peers have embraced the film and lauded it as one of the finest tourism films they have ever seen.

Says one juror at Cannes: “You could almost smell and taste the region through this extraordinary film.”

Says Alexander von Kammel, director of the International Committee of Tourism Film Festivals (CIFFT): “It received the Jury’s vote by the powerful way the film brings to life the rawness and authenticity of the Barossa region.”

View the video of the juror’s comments about Barossa. Be Consumed here.

The combination of the exquisite, earthy imagery filmed and directed by Jeffrey Darling of Moth Projects and the haunting soundtrack by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, has captured imaginations and hearts across Europe.

The film’s writer and KWP creative director, James Rickard is naturally delighted with the accolades and results.

Says Rickard: “Much like the recent Adelaide ad for the South Australian Tourism Commission, the Barossa ad caused quite a stir at the time of its release. There were many, very vocal detractors and at the time, while defending the work, I said the proof of its true worthiness will only be measured by its results, not by opinion. And now not only is it at the van of an incredibly successful campaign that is writing record tourism business for the region and the state, it is being lauded and applauded by film and tourism bodies the world over.”

David O’Loughlin, strategic director of KWP said the ongoing wins pay testament to the bold vision of the client that has set a new benchmark in Australian tourism advertising.

Says O’Loughlin: “The Kangaroo Island, Barossa and Adelaide projects have set the national standard in the category and although they are specifically targeting east coast Australians, the work is turning heads internationally too.”

Emma Nicholls, director, marketing & communications at SATC stressed the importance of collaboration in the campaign’s success.

Says Nicholls: “Mutual respect and the complete understanding of your and everyone else’s role and needs cannot be underestimated. Work this good, from a strategic, creative and results perspective doesn’t happen by chance and is only possible through the entire team’s cohesion across every touch point. These awards are a wonderful testament to that.”