Berlin Commercial 2023
A Showcase of Creative Excellence
By Curation Hour
Berlin Commercial, l’enfant terrible of the commercial awards circuit, has once again shone light onto the global creative landscape with its 2023 edition. The event has grown over the years from strength to strength, but this year truly felt special: over 3,000 international industry professionals attended the event, with leading production companies in Berlin inviting creatives through their doors to attend panels, talks, screenings and, of course, parties.
We were obviously keen to get involved; Berlin Commercial is a Curation Hour network member and we are very much aligned with the event’s mission to provide access to new opportunities, inspire, and encourage talents to connect and grow in a friendly and non-threatening environment.
Let’s get to the core of it: who were the big winners at Berlin Commercial? The event prides itself in working with an A-list jury, which includes creative realities such as RadicalMedia, Anomaly, Bonaparte, Grey, Partizan, CANADA, Phantasm, Landia, MassiveMusic and RSA Films. This year these talented tastemakers awarded 40 outstanding winners across three distinct areas: commercial work, music videos, and personal projects.
Advertising campaigns saw no shortage of brilliance. Google Pixel - Your Life with Pixel directed by Stefanie Soho and produced by BWGTBLD GmbH took home Best Commercial and Branded Content - Long, Casting, Idea. A wonderful campaign whose strength lies in how all participating creative players, that is production, agency, client and director, adopted a fresh, open and transparent approach in how they collaborated. Another standout winner was Cupra x Rosalía - Abcdefg, directed by MANSON and produced by CANADA. The work, awarded with Best Editing, captivated viewers through its innovative storytelling and artistic prowess. Another favourite of ours was GUCCI - EXQUISITE, winner of Best Colour Grading. The campaign, directed by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott and produced by January Productions, exemplified the brand's signature opulence and style.
Within the world of music video, Berlin Commercial celebrated the talented Little Simz and her stunning visual piece Gorilla, directed by Dave Meyers. The production won across across four categories: Best Music Video, Direction, Idea, Cultural Impact. Another standout piece was Lil Yachty - sAy sOMETHINg - featuring the wonderful Anokyai. The music video is simple and yet hilarious, focusing on the agonising moment after telling our loved one how we feel about them.The production, winner of Best Colour Grading, was brought to life by Crowns & Owls and produced by Happy Place.
Berlin Commercial 2023 also shone a spotlight on personal projects, which is generally our favourite category. We were particularly fond of Edi, winner of Best Unscripted and Best Cinematography. The short film is directed by Jan Vrhovnik and produced by Bright, and is a lovely and heartfelt tribute to the touching and familiar relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren. This isn’t the first big win for Edi; initially premiered on NOWNESS, it went onto winning at the Young Directors Awards.
This year's Berlin Commercial was more than just an awards ceremony; it also marked a turning point in the festival's journey. From August 21 to 25, Berlin was alive with the creative spirit, solidifying Berlin Commercial as a must-attend event for industry insiders and creatives alike.
For the full list of winners, visit: berlincommercial.awardsengine.com/winners/2023