Leo Burnett Melbourne + Clemenger Sydney lead the pack at finalist round of 2015 AC&E Awards

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WHISKAS CATSTACAM - the device-thumb-400x266-178314.jpgFollowing weeks of intense online judging by 70 of the country’s top marketing, media and advertising gurus, ADMA has announced the finalists in 30 categories for the 2015 Australian Creativity and Effectiveness Awards led by Leo Burnett Melbourne with 19 shortlists, followed by Clemenger BBDO Sydney with 17.

The winners will be announced at the annual AC&E Awards Gala Dinner at the Star in Pyrmont, Sydney on Thursday, 29 October 2015.

Now in its second year, the AC&E Awards replaced the 35-year-old ADMA Awards in 2014, when ADMA decided to move in step with the industry and only reward those campaigns that demonstrated creativity and effectiveness in equal proportion.

ADMA CEO Jodie Sangster said agencies and clients once again supported the new awards regime with nearly 550 entries submitted this year. She noted the judges, specialising in areas such as marketing, media, data, content, technology, social and PR, were impressed with the quality and number of campaigns that met the joint creativity and effectiveness criteria.

Says Sangster: “Creativity and effectiveness together is the right balance in today’s marketing world. Creativity is more than good copywriting and art direction. It’s about clever ways to engage with the customer while effectiveness is the solid business results and outcomes the client requires. Now, more than ever, they belong together in the judging criteria.

“It is a brilliant achievement to be a finalist in the AC&E Awards. Judging is rigorous and not every category will always receive an award. As a result, we are pleased that so many agencies and clients supported our philosophy and we look forward to building a greater culture of effectiveness and creativity.”

Leigh Terry, chairman of the judges, said the judging for this year’s AC&E Awards was intense, but rewarding.

Says Terry: “I’m delighted with the quality and diversity of the finalists’ entries. There were several brilliant case studies and clever ideas this year that displayed great creative thinking alongside effectiveness of not just engagement, but true business results. I look forward to congratulating the winners and finalists at the gala dinner on 29 October.”

Says Louise Baxter, CEO, Starlight Children’s Foundation, who chaired several panels this year, including the broadcast category: The AC&E Awards allow us to recognise the amazing people and talent that are currently reshaping Australia’s marketing, media, PR and advertising industry. The entries this year just blew me away. The creativity, personalisation and the interactivity was just remarkable and is clearly the future for effective campaigns in a digital world.” 

There is still time for young marketers and creatives to enter the ADMA Young Marketer and Young Creative of the Year. So if your junior staff were instrumental in some of your campaign successes, encourage them to enter the competition as it’s great for their career! It’s free to enter and the winners get a trip to New York City to meet the leading lights of adland.

The deadline for Young Marketer/Young Creative has been extended to 11 September 2015. Enter at: http://www.30below.com.au/awards/.

Established in 2014, by ADMA, Australia’s peak marketing body, the AC&E Awards  recognise and celebrate the best marketing, advertising and media campaigns of the year that demonstrate both creativity and effectiveness in equal measure.

For more information, visit http://acandeawards.com/.