The 12th annual Women’s Image Network (WIN) Awards, which honor feature films and TV programs that dispel female stereotypes, is putting commercials into the competition mix for the second consecutive year.
The now annual spot component of the WIN competition recognizes outstanding TV and/or interactive advertising written, directed, produced or art directed by a woman. Also eligible to earn WIN Awards distinction are commercials created for women that promote a positive, progressive message.
The nonprofit WIN organization unveiled 21 finalists for its ad awards. Wieden+Kennedy (W+K) led the way with seven nominations out of its New York office and four from its Portland shop. W+K, New York scored with ESPN’s “Running Away,” “Cinderella” and “Keepsake,” Brand Jordan’s “Brother,” “Evolution” and “They Said,” and Sharp Aquos Liquid Crystal Television’s “More To See.”
W+K, Portland’s four finalists are Nike’s “Barefoot Run,” “Chamber of Fear,” “Natural Selection” and “Team.”
Much of the W+K work was nominated on the basis of it being produced or copywritten by a woman. The ESPN fare and the Sharp spot from W+K, New York, was agency produced by Temma Shoaf. W+K New York’s Brand Jordan work was written by Lisa Topol.
For W+K, Portland, Nike’s “Natural Selection” and “Team” were produced by Jennifer Smieja. Agency producer on Nike’s “Barefoot Run” was Jennifer Fiske. And Tieneke Pavesic of W+K, Portland, produced “Chamber of Fear” for Nike.
ESPN’s “Running Away,” “Keepsake” and “Cinderella” were directed by W+K, New York, associate creative director Paul Renner. Robert Rasmussen directed Brand Jordan’s “Brother,” “Evolution” and “They Said” via 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, Brooklyn. And Sharp Aquos’ “More To See” was helmed by Philippe Andre of bicoastal Villains.
Noam Murro of Biscuit Filmworks, Los Angeles, directed Nike’s “Barefoot.” Dave Meyers of bicoastal/international @radical.media helmed Nike’s Chamber of Fear.” Max Malkin directed Nike’s “Natural Selection” and “Team” via bicoastal/international HSI.
Also making its mark in the field of finalists was Ogilvy & Mather, New York’s work for Dove, which features women of all sizes–except fashion model petite–in a positive fashion/beauty light. The two nominated Dove spots are “Songs” and “Power of Skin.” The former was directed by Leslie Dektor of Dektor Film, Hollywood. “Power of Skin” was directed by Gregor Nicholas of @radical.media. Donna Charlton-Pernin and Courtney Weinberg were copywriter and art director, respectively, on “Power of Skin.” The writer/art director team on “Songs” consisted of Teresa Surratt and Holly Thompson.
Three other ad shops also managed to each cop a pair of finalists: Ground Zero, Marina del Rey, Calif., DDB Chicago, and Venables, Bell & Partners, San Francisco. Ground Zero scored for Miller Lite and ESPN’s “The Squeeze,” and ESPN’s “Butter,” which were agency produced by Heidi Hawkings. “Butter” was directed by Gerard de Thame of HSI. “The Squeeze” was helmed by Laurence Thrush who was with bicoastal Headquarters at the time but has since joined Fools and Horses, Los Angeles.
DDB Chicago’s two finalists are Bud Light’s “Sky Diver” and Budweiser’s “Snowball Fight.” Marianne Newton was agency exec producer on both spots, which were both produced by harvest, Santa Monica. Harvest’s Baker Smith directed “Snowball Fight” and Michael Downing helmed “Sky Diver.”
And Venables, Bell & Partners registered with two Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) spots, “Wind,” and “Predictive Technology,” both art directed by Tavia Holmes. Director was the aforementioned Andre from production house Villains.
Rounding out the roster of WIN ad nominees are MasterCard’s “Cashier,” produced by Sally Hotchkiss of McCann-Erickson, New York, and directed by Bryan Buckley of bicoastal/international Hungry Man; and Cell C’s “Cell C-City” from Network BBDO, Johannesburg. The latter was directed by Leigh Ogilvy of Frieze Films, Johannesburg and Cape Town, with Network BBDO’s Mariana Kelly serving as art director.
The WIN Award winners will be announced and honored during a gala ceremony on Sept. 26 at the Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. Also slated to receive a special award at the event is Lu Chekowsly, who is slated in spring 2006 to launch Heart, a New York ad agency devoted to promoting positive images of women in advertising (see spot.com.mentary).
