Categories
Check out the full list of award categories that can be entered. The eligibility period for all entries is 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024.
Early bird entry deadline 26 July 2024
Animation
2D
Animation
3D
Animation
Stop Motion
Casting
Copywriting
Charity
Direction
Up to and including 60-seconds
Direction
From 61-seconds to three-minutes inc
Direction
Above three minutes
Cinematography
Up to and including two minutes
Cinematography
Above two minutes
Concept
Up to and including two minutes
Concept
Above two minutes
Editing
Up to and including 60-seconds
Editing
from 61-seconds to three-minutes inc
Editing
Above three minutes
Production Design
Sound Design
Styling
Use of Music (Licensed)
Use of Music (Original Composition)
VFX
New Director of the Year
Music Video of the Year
Animation
2D
This category looks at 2D animation in all of its forms, from fun flip-books to intricate watercolour passion projects. The work can be entirely animated or use animation to augment filmed footage. The commercial can have aired on TV, cinema or online.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible as, let’s face it, they’re ads too. There just has to be a brand attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Animation
3D
This category looks at 3D animation in all of its forms. The work can be entirely animated or use animation to augment filmed footage. The commercial can have aired on TV, cinema or online.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible as, let’s face it, they’re ads too. There just has to be a brand attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Animation
Stop Motion
This category looks at Stop Motion animation in all of its forms. The work can be entirely animated or use animation to augment filmed footage. The commercial can have aired on TV, cinema or online.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible as, let’s face it, they’re ads too. There just has to be a brand attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Casting
This category recognises the importance of finding the right performer or performers for the job. The actors that can’t be ignored. The cast that completes the picture.
The commercial can have aired on TV, cinema or online.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible as, let’s face it, they’re ads too. There just has to be a brand attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted. When we refer to cast, we mean specifically human actors, not animal performers. We love dogs as much as the next people, but they give appalling acceptance speeches and tend not to retweet us.
In partnership with the Casting Directors Association
Copywriting
This category recognises exceptional writing at the core of a campaign. Funny, empathetic, bold or concise, work entered here should show the power of good copy. The campaign can involve disparate elements (digital, OOH, print, experiential, etc), but there must be a filmic element. The lead commercial can have aired on TV, cinema or online.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible as, let’s face it, they’re ads too. There just has to be a brand attached.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Charity
This category specifically focuses on commercials that demonstrate exceptional craft for the benefit of charitable organizations. The commercial can have aired on TV, cinema or online.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible as, let’s face it, they’re ads too. There just has to be a brand attached.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Direction
Up to and including 60-seconds
This category recognises commercials that demonstrate exceptional direction in commercial production - with each element involved in its construction brought together to create a perfectly formed nugget of advertising gold. The commercial can have aired on TV, cinema or online.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted. Charity/PSA campaigns are not eligible for this category.
Direction
From 61-seconds to three-minutes inc
This category recognises commercials that demonstrate exceptional direction in commercial production - with each element involved in its construction brought together to create a perfectly formed nugget of advertising gold. The commercial can have aired on TV, cinema or online.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted. Charity/PSA campaigns are not eligible for this category.
Direction
Above three minutes
This category recognises commercials that demonstrate exceptional direction in commercial production - with each element involved in its construction brought together to create a perfectly formed nugget of advertising gold. The commercial can have aired on TV, cinema or online - we’re not screen-sizest.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible as, let’s face it, they’re ads too. There just has to be a brand attached.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted. Charity/PSA campaigns are not eligible for this category.
Cinematography
Up to and including two minutes
This category recognises commercials that showcase exceptional cinematography whatever the scene. The commercial can have aired on TV, cinema or online.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Cinematography
Above two minutes
This category recognises commercials that showcase exceptional cinematography whatever the scene. The commercial can have aired on TV, cinema or online (although we bet the DOP wanted cinema).
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible as, let’s face it, they’re ads too. There just has to be a brand attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Concept
Up to and including two minutes
This category recognises commercials and campaigns that have a truly brilliant idea at their core. The campaign can involve disparate elements (digital, OOH, print, experiential, etc), but there must be a filmic element. The lead commercial can have aired on TV, cinema or online.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Concept
Above two minutes
This category recognises commercials and campaigns that have a truly brilliant idea at their core. The campaign can involve disparate elements (digital, OOH, print, experiential, etc), but there must be a filmic element. The lead commercial can have aired on TV, cinema or online.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible as, let’s face it, they’re ads too. There just has to be a brand attached. Case study films can be entered if they are accompanied by the full-length filmic elements.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Editing
Above three minutes
This category recognises commercials that showcase the magic of editing. The commercials can have aired on TV, cinema or online.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible as, let’s face it, they’re ads too. There just has to be a brand attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Production Design
This category celebrates the talented art departments and production designers that ingeniously create the physical world in which the work takes place.
The commercial can have aired on TV, cinema or online.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible as, let’s face it, they’re ads too. There just has to be a brand attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Sound Design
This category celebrates the incredible audio engineers and sound designers that add the extra element to a successful campaign.
The commercial can have aired on TV, cinema or online.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible as, let’s face it, they’re ads too. There just has to be a brand attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Styling
This category celebrates the talented costume designers and stylists whose artistry and skills make productions look amazing.
The commercial can have aired on TV, cinema or online.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible as, let’s face it, they’re ads too. There just has to be a brand attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Use of Music (Licensed)
This category recognises the role of music in bringing together a commercial. The submitted spot must use licensed music as the category focuses on how the music enhances the campaign as a whole.
The commercial must have aired on TV, cinema or online.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible as long as a brand is attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Use of Music (Original Composition)
This category recognises the role of music in bringing together a commercial. The submitted spot must use custom-composed music as the category focuses on how the music enhances the campaign as a whole.
The commercial must have aired on TV, cinema or online.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible as long as a brand is attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
VFX
This category recognises the use of visual effects to bring the creative visions of commercials to life.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible as, let’s face it, they’re ads too. There just has to be a brand attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip. VFX breakdowns would also be useful if you feel some ‘hidden’ artistry might be missed.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
New Director of the Year
This category is to find the best up-and-coming directorial talent from EMEA.
The individual should be based in the EMEA region and cannot have been working professionally as a director (i.e. creating branded work or music videos through a production company) before 1st January 2021. Please don’t fib - we do our research and lies make kittens cry.
Entries can include up to three pieces of relevant work and can include aired commercials, test spots, music videos and short films of no more than 10 minutes. For aired work, all entries must be the final, aired version of the spots [director cut versions are not permitted] and the work must have originated in the EMEA region. Work for this category includes anything aired between the dates of 1 September 2022 to 15 September 2023. Entries to this category can be English or non-English language, but any non-English language entries must include English subtitles for judging purposes.
Music Video of the Year
This category looks at everyone’s favourite adverts - ones for bands. Often regarded as the director’s playground, we’re looking for music videos that break the mould, rewrite the rulebook and/or [insert cliché here].
There is no duration-cap for this category, but if you enter Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker you’ve got it wrong in several ways.
Entry Pricing
| Early bird Entry | Standard Entry | |
| 1 - 4 entries | £325 per entry | £375 per entry |
| 5+ entries | £295 per entry | £320 per entry |
You may enter as many categories as you like, however, each entry must be treated as a separate entry and payment made for each.
New Director Category Only
| Early bird Entry | Standard Entry | |
| Entry | £200 per entry | £240 per entry |
| Film School* | £80 per entry | £120 per entry |
*Film school students should email shotsawards@extremereach.com to receive a dedicated entry code that will offer a discount.