The spotlight will be on the best of Chicago advertising March 11 when the Chicago Advertising Federation hosts its annual awards gala at the Museum of Broadcast Communications.
“It will be a night to remember,” promises CAF’s general manager Kelly Antonou, with the expectation of up to 300 guests to honor the coveted Best of Show, the Agency of the Year and Client of the Year and the Best of… in 13 categories.
Competing for Agency of the Year are finalists Cavalry, known for its Coors work; Energy BBDO, for Bud Light; Leo Burnett, too many to list; Lapiz, Burnett’s Hispanic division and Trisect, for Mike’s Hard Lemonade.
Chances are Publicis’ Leo Burnett will keep the Client of the Year Award in the family, as four of the six finalists are clients of Burnett in its divisions: Allstate and the Art Institute of Chicago, Leo Burnett; Miller High Life, Digitas; Procter & Gamble/Always, Arc Worldwide and the Chicago Latino Film Festival, Lapiz.
The sixth contender is Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Trisect.
Presenting the awards will be CAF board president David Cleary, RVP/sales at Yahoo, and board VP and AAF committee member Matthew Gingrich, senior account manager at Getty Images, one of the evening sponsors.
Candidates for the top award, Best of Show, are under tight security right now.
Chicago entries were judged by 11 non-local advertising professionals, from a field of around 320 entries.
Formerly known as the Addy Awards, the awards won at the Chicago event are part of the larger national Addy Awards. Local winners are automatically entered into district competitions that lead up to national Gold, Silver and Bronze awards.
At 360 N. State, 6-10 p.m. Purchase tickets here. CAF members, $150; non-members, $225; full bar and food and three huge TV screens throughout to watch the awards.
