A Source Of Inspiration

Yesterday i was at the 2007 edition of the main online advertising awards ceremony in Portugal, Premios Sapo, presented by an inspired Manuel João Vieira at the legendary Cabaret Maxim.

For a change, web agency Fullsix had some serious competition, perhaps a sign that the online industry is picking up speed, with promising growth rates next year.

Among the entries — let me know if you don’t understand Portuguese, and i’ll try to explain them — the 2007 winners are:

• “Opel Corsa C’mon” by View
• “TMN Sudoeste” by FullSix
  
• “MTV Card” by Excentric
• “Morangos com Açucar” by SixAndCo

• “Fruit Day” by Djomba
  

• “The Secret” by WayNext

• “Sapo Mega” by WayNext
  

Among the remaining categories, there was a laughable one for “Best sponsored blog”, with entries that Portuguese blogosphere has never heard of. Or as i use to say: “Brands looking at their own bellies”. The best digital agency award was given to WayNext, that created some solid works this year.

The space was really crowded, but with the lovely company of Silvia and free drinks i’ve even managed to stay until the end. As usual we didn’t submit any work (a company policy regarding national awards), but i’m sure if the Sporting campaign was submitted it would be a clear winner.

Oh, and i finally had the chance to congratulate Celso for their event, SapoCodebits. That’s something definitely more interesting than these Awards.

Update:
On the web awards subject, Zeldman has just nailed it:

The winning sites look fabulous as screen shots in glossy design annuals. When the winners become judges, they reward work like their own. Thus sites that behave like TV and look good between covers continue to be created, and a generation of clients and art directors thinks that stuff is the cream of web design.

Big thanks to Ricardo from ptFolio, pointing me out to the Brazilian Interactive winners at El Ojo, announced yesterday.

Among other winners, here are my personal favorites:

• “Driving”, by AlmapBBDO for Volkswagen Brasil

  
  A wonderful superstitial powered by Papervision

• “Test life”, by McCann Erickson for GM

  
  Advergaming

• “Atchim Games”, by Giovanni DraftFCB Brasil for Bristol-Myers Pharmaceuticals

  
  Advergaming

• “Dengue Fever”, by Escala Brasil for Secretaria Da Saude do Rio Grande do Sul.

  
  
  Viral (remember the Daniela Cicarelli video?)

• “Montana”, for Chevrolet by Salles Chemistri

  
  Expandable rich media

Almap takes their big share of awards, and even they don’t win them all, you can check the whole list of their interactive work.

Here they are, 3 ex aequo winners at Cannes Cyber Lions 2007:

First, from the wacky Swedish folks Far Far, the Diesel voyeuristic experience: 2 girls kidnapping a sales guy and reporting the whole thing live, with several cameras 24×5, showcasing the new Diesel Intimate collection.

(check the demo site here)

Second, the work by R/GA for Nike+. It’s one of the most astonishing examples of integrated marketing you’ll see this year.

Last, the pre-announced and most obvious choice, the Evolution video for Dove by Ogilvy Toronto.
While the viral video is the tour-de-force for convincing clients of the power of online marketing, the Nike initiative is pointing the right direction, with their efforts of bringing closer consumers and brands.

I’m saving the other awards to waste time research this weekend.

We just won the first Lion for Portugal at Cannes Advertising Festival. The Direct Marketing entry was posted here before, but the celebration deserves a repost:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aA-RD-UFL4&v3

Concept board

Bring it home, Luis !

Congratulations to friends/co-workers André Breda and Filipe Graça for being selected to represent Portugal at this year edition of Young Creatives competion at Cannes Lions.

So, without further delay, here are their entries:

Press (Honorable Mention, Awarded):

“Economy”

Click to view larger image
“Fighting climate changes helps to protect your business”
“Invest in your environment”

Cyber (Honorable Mention):

“Coin”

“If you don’t invest enough on environment”
“You’ll have a different cost later.”

After giving a hand at previous Cyber winners such as Leonardo and Claudio, or Tiago and Carlos, this year i was quite proud for these brillliant folks having earned 2 honorable mentions, and being selected to compete at Cannes. Oh, did i mention that we won Cannes Young Creatives award in 2004?