Pair of DraftFCB spots top the 43rd Hugo Awards; Leo Burnett wins Gold Hugo for Altoids campaign

Two DraftFCB commercials led the 43rd Hugo Awards last week, where Chicago ad agencies dominated the awards, marking a nice change from Chicago’s near invisibility in other competitons, with notable exceptions, of course.

The Hugo Awards, the television component of the Chicago International Film Festival, were presented before a sell-out audience at the Cultural Center.

DraftFCB’s corporate identity spot, “Babysitter,” won the Audience Choice Award as voted by 100,000 viewers of Ch. 11’s “Image Union,” which screened all spot finalists.

DraftFCB’s Dow Chemical spot, “Human Element,” copped the Gold Hugo for Best Commercial. Leo Burnett’s “Altoids Sours Challenge” won the Gold Hugo for Best Commercial Campaign.

DDB swept up a total of eight awards to the biggest winner of the night: one Silver Hugo for a Special Achievement Concept, four gold and three silver plaques.

Leo Burnett’s take was four plaques, one gold and three silvers.