Posted 6 March 2014.

​At a sell-out event at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland last night, emceed by Newstalk ZB’s Andrew Dicks, 800 advertising types came together to celebrate the industry’s best creative work of the past year.

The highly coveted Grand Axis was awarded to Clemenger BBDO for their New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) film Blazed. The trophy will sit alongside the Grand Prix the film was awarded in Screen Content and a further 4 Gold Axis awards Clemenger BBDO received; 3 in Screen Content and 1 in Craft for copywriting.

Blazed also won a Grand Prix in Craft Direction for Curious Film who added another Gold in Direction and two Silver Axis Awards.

The NZTA wanted to persuade Maori dads to reassess their currently held belief that driving stoned is safe. ‘Blazed’ resonated with these men because it referenced a short film that was already dear to their hearts: ‘Two cars, One Night’ (2004) made by famous New Zealand Maori Director Taika Waititi.

“Taika was the logical director, as we knew his insights into the culture would lend the project a much deeper level of authenticity with our target audience” said Phillip Andrew struggling to hold on to his armful of Axis Awards.

The Executive Judges agreed this film had so much integrity, the performances were so real and the writing so sharp.

Other big winners included the NZI Devil’s Chair which was awarded a Grand Prix in the Craft of Animation/ Design/ Visual Effects to Assembly. The Devil’s Chair also saw Assembly awarded two further Gold Axis awards and one to DraftFCB New Zealand in the TV Single Commercial Above 30 seconds category.

The Executive Judging panel felt both Blazed and Devil’s Chair were faultless examples of their respective crafts, which made it impossible for them to elevate one and therefore agreed to award both a Craft Grand Prix in recognition of this. (…)