NYF Advertising Awards Challenge Creatives to Show New Yorkers Something They Haven’t Seen

By Kyle O'Brien 

New York Festivals Advertising Awards and agency BCW is asking the creative world to show New Yorkers something they haven’t seen before, and if you’ve ever been to the city you know that’s a hefty task.

The awards organization and agency have partnered on a call for entry campaign that challenges entrants to “Show Us Something We Haven’t Seen”—work that would make even the most jaded ad exec or New Yorker stop and take notice.

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BCW’s creative team, led by global chief creative officer Fede Garcia, with evp, ecd NA, Diego Bertagni, and group creative director NA David Holman, created a print and film campaign that embraces New York’s anything goes attitude with some memorable images and characters.

The creative showcases the brazen and genuinely absurd daily happenings in the city. In making the campaign, BCW partnered with street photographers and videographers who have long and enduring relationships with the city.

In the video call to entry, directed and edited by Henry DaCosta, a very New York woman describes the weirdness of the city and the fact that most New Yorkers walk on by what others would consider bizarre. She then challenges creatives to try and impress the people of the city because, “if you can impress us, well that will be pretty impressive.”

In one still image execution, a naked woman is seen exiting a taxi.

In another, a suited executive answers emails while hanging upside down on a crowded subway. In another, a heavily armed police officer stands on the street to a pink-tinted chicken that is wearing a necklace.

“Since 1957 NYF has celebrated work from around the globe that embodies the breakthrough, avant-garde attitude of the city that New York Festivals calls home,” said Scott Rose, president, New York Festivals Advertising Competitions in a statement. “BCW’s bold campaign tapped New York City photographers whose images embraced NYC’s urban vibe and shined a revealing light on the hustle and the no bullshit attitude that fosters creative excellence in NYC.”

The campaign will run on social and the festival website, which is where hopeful entrants can find out more about the categories, rules and regulations. The early bird deadline to enter the 2023 New York Festivals Advertising Awards is March 10.

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