Campaign US has teamed up with sister title PRWeek to produce the first-ever Brand Film Festival, a unique celebration of the marketing industry's finest achievements in cinematic storytelling.
The festival, which will be held in New York City in May 2016, will showcase the year's most artistic, creative and effective branded content films, from Vines to YouTube videos to long-form documentaries.
The submission period will run through Feb. 22, 2016, after which the best films will be selected by an esteemed panel of judges comprising top creatives from the worlds of advertising, digital, production, film, PR and media. Full submission details and an entry kit can be found here.
The jury will review the most creative entries across sectors including CPG, sports, healthcare, and sustainability; branded entertainment such as documentaries, animals, heartstrings and LOL moments; engagement metrics such as viral and user generated; craft criteria including editing, direction, screenplay, foreign language and silent; and Best of the Best.
Campaign US editor-in-chief Douglas Quenqua and PRWeek Global editorial director Steve Barrett will be part of the jury as well. The top films will be screened at a gala event in May.
"For better or worse, the line between advertising and entertainment has long since disappeared," Quenqua said. "The time is right for a festival that takes seriously the idea that branded content can be art, worth watching and appreciating on it own merit."
"This is not another awards show, but rather a true film festival," Quenqua added. Though a handful of awards will be granted to top entrants, the primary honor is being named as a selection.