Deadline looms for Loeries Young Creatives Awards

The Loeries, in partnership with SABC Commercial Enterprises, is looking for the best new talent emerging from the region. Two winners will be announced at the Loeries Festival Weekend on 26 and 27 July in Margate, where each will be awarded a Gold Loerie.

All expenses paid

Each winner will also receive an all-expenses-paid trip to any one of the following award shows: The One Show in New York City, the Clio Awards also in Miami, the Cannes Advertising Festival in France or the D&AD in London. Additionally, each winner receives an A5 Intuos Special Edition tablet supplied by Wacom.

“We launched the award last year to recognise outstanding achievement by talented individuals at the beginning of their careers. At the Loeries, we are very passionate about developing and nurturing young creative talent as this is where the future of the industry lies,” says Loeries MD Andrew Human.

One of last year's winners, Este du Plessis, a copywriter at Net#work BBDO, recently returned from the One Show Festival in New York. Du Plessis says the opportunity to be exposed to creativity on an international level was fantastic: “It was great to realise that South Africa is well-positioned to compete globally in all aspects of brand communication. I would encourage other young creatives to enter as winning the award only helps your career and the prize is fantastic.”

Reggie Makhetha, an art director at Net#work BBDO and second winner of the Young Creative Award, attended the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.

Entry for this award is free. Young creatives, 27 or under, must submit a portfolio of their professional work from the last three years. For full details, go to www.theloerieawards.co.za/education/youngcreatives/.

New jury chairman

In other Loeries news, multiple award-winning Brett Morris, chief creative officer of the newly formed agency, The Scoville Unit, former executive creative director of FCB and Nando's global chief creative officer, is the new jury chairman of the advertising judging panel. Erik Vervroegen, president and executive creative director at TBWA\Paris, had to stand down as jury chairman of the panel after the death of his father. The Loerie Awards extend their heartfelt condolences to Vervroegen and his family.

The Loeries judging week kicked off on beginning of this week, Monday 30 June, with the Judges Seminar at Hackle Brook Estate, where local and international judges showcased award-winning international work and gave their views on what makes a successful, award-winning piece of work.