Hollywood publicity and marketing executives, producers, studio and network executives, celebrities and press gathered for the International Cinematographers Guild (IATSE Local 600) 49th Annual Publicists Awards Friday (2/24) at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The awards presentation included several moving moments.
Julie Andrews and Jodie Foster dedicated the 2012 ICG Publicist Directory to Arlene Ludwig, West Coast Director of Publicity, Motion Pictures, in celebration of her 50th anniversary at The Walt Disney Studios. The dedication struck an emotional chord since Ludwig is recovering from a serious fall that left her partially paralyzed.
In another touching moment, ICG President Steven Poster presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Carol Burnett. “It is my pleasure to present this award to someone I dearly admire and who continues to make me laugh to this day,” he said.
Oscar nominee Gary Oldman presented the Motion Picture Showmanship Award to David Heyman, producer of the Warner Bros. Harry Potter franchise. “This year, we honor the producer of the most successful film franchise of all time,” he said. “We’re delighted to recognize the person responsible for a collection of films that represents the best example of what can be accomplished with creative and smart publicity and promotion.”
David Stapf, President of CBS Television Studios, received the Television Showmanship Award. Josh Charles, of “The Good Wife,” who presented the award, said, “David, who is a former publicist, now heads a studio that broadcasts six of the top 10 drama series on television, including the CSI franchise and “The Good Wife.”
Missi Pyle, one of the stars of “The Artist,” presented the Press Award to Susan King of the Los Angeles Times. “The award this year goes to a reporter who captures the magic of Hollywood in her reporting while demonstrating her understanding and appreciation of its history.”
Oscar nominee Max Von Sydow presented the International Media Award to Elaine Lipworth of the United Kingdom. “The international media, particularly those based in Los Angeles, play an increasingly important role in creating awareness for American-made movies,” Sydow said. “It’s appropriate that we honor them here.”
Tony Angellotti, of the Angellotti Company, received the Les Mason Award, the highest honor paid a union publicist. “The recipient this year plans and executes publicity campaigns for films, filmmakers, production companies, industry events, including the Golden Globes and the Oscars,” said presenter Wendi McLendon-Covey, one of the stars of “Bridesmaids.”
Kali Hawk, of “Bridesmaids,” presented The Bob Yeager Award, which honors a publicist for community service, to Warner Bros. publicist Sharon Black in recognition of her extraordinary work on behalf of animals.
Maria Canals-Barrera, of Disney Channel’s “Wizards of Waverly Place,” presented the Excellence in Unit Still Photography Awards for movies and television. Frank Masi was recognized in the Motion Pictures category and Hopper Stone for television.
Awards ceremony emcee Rove McManus, Australia’s top talk show host and a “Tonight Show” regular, presented the Maxwell Weinberg Publicists Showmanship Awards for the year’s best publicity campaigns. Disney Studios union publicists who worked on “The Help,” received the award in the motion picture category; and the union publicists who worked on Fox Television’s “Modern Family” won the television.
Nike’s “So Win” Wins Super Clio
Last night (2/10) in New Orleans, the Kansas City Chiefs faced off against the Philadelphia Eagles in a repeat match up of 2023’s top teams, but this time, the Eagles came out on top. As the Eagles dominated the game from start to finish, it was the commercials that kept the audience entertained, and Nike scored points with the ad industry to win the 2025 Super Clio Award, a special honor given out by the Clio Awards for the most creative commercial to air during the Super Bowl. On advertising’s biggest night, many brands leaned into familiar tropes like humor, talking animals, and famous faces to win over consumers, but Nike’s “So Win,” by Wieden+Kennedy Portland, stood out for its pitch perfect pacing, script and message of strength. The brand returned to the Super Bowl stage after 27 years and made a bold statement that won over the Super Clio jury.
As the yellow Gatorade was poured in Caesars Superdome, the Clio Awards’ jury of industry chiefs--brand leaders and creators of celebrated Super Bowl spots from the past and present--huddled to decide which ad scored the most points with consumers. Representatives from Verizon, PepsiCo Foods US, PRETTYBIRD, Highdive Advertising, Mischief, BBDO, VML and more voted and decided that the most creative spot of Super Bowl LIX was from Wieden+Kennedy Portland and would be awarded the coveted Lombardi-Trophy-sized Clio statue.
The Super Clio was introduced in 2015 in collaboration with WPP’s global chief creative officer, Rob Reilly. He and Clio Awards CEO Nicole Purcell recognized a need to highlight the revolutionary work that’s introduced during the Super Bowl with an honor selected by the people who make ads and understand the nuances of producing a groundbreaking commercial for the big... Read More