35 APAC campaigns make Gerety Awards shortlist

The Gerety Awards, the only creative prize to reward advertising campaigns that resonate most with a female audience, has unveiled its global shortlist along with its agency and production company of the year by country titles.

A total of 314 entries were shortlisted from 37 different countries. This year 35 campaigns from Asia-Pacific made the cut, with India leading the way with nine shortlisted entries, while Australia, Japan and Philippines all received six, while Singapore and Thailand each had three. Among these, the most shortlisted APAC campaigns were: 

• Unfiltered History Tour by Dentsu Webchutney for Vice Media (5)
• One House to Save Many by Leo Burnett Australia for Suncorp Insurance (3)
• Ecolate by Peak Tokyo for Lifull (3)
• City Hall of Love by MullenLowe Singapore for Closeup (3)

In-person judging sessions were held around the world in Brazil, UK, USA, Mexico, Denmark, Belgium, Austria, Philippines and Japan. Each of these juries also selected an agency of the year in their respective markets and in Asia-Pacific, Dentsu won both. 

Japan's Dentsu Inc were awarded for their portfolio cut entry that included: 'Camouflage Against the Machines', '13865 black dots and 2 red dots' and 'The Toxic Dictionary". Chief creative officer Yasuharu Sasaki said it was "a great confidence boost for our creative team that our ideas that transcend advertising have been well received from the all-female jury's point of view." 

In the Philippines, Dentsu Jayme Syfu were similarly awarded for their work that included the campaigns: 'The Unlimited Love Language', 'Women From Home' and 'SoundMind'. Jerry Hizon, chief creative officer for Dentsu Jayme Syfu and Dentsu One Manila said the accolade "underscores the passion and hard work of our whole team at Dentsu Jayme Syfu to create not only work that wins but work that empowers.”

Insights from the Japan jury

This week you can watch the jury insight panels from all global locations on YouTube, including the Japan jury insight panel hosted by Campaign Asia-Pacific on Thursday, June 16 at 5pm local Japan time. 

The Gerety Awards Japan jury

Aika Sawai, marketing and communications director at Loewe Japan said "the most heated discussion among us was why [many of] these bold and courageous campaigns and initiatives seem so impossible to happen in Japan. It was a repeated conversation topic throughout."

The Grand jury that includes some of the ad industry's most renowned, respected and awarded leaders will now choose the final winners which will be announced Tuesday, September 6. It will include Gold, Silver, Bronze, Grand Prix, and overall Network and Agency of the year awards.

The Gerety Awards are named after female copywriter Frances Gerety who penned the tagline 'Diamonds are Forever.'

See the full shortlist at www.geretyawards.com.