Inside the Jury Room: Craft Is King as the First Ever Netherlands Jury Starts 2023’s Immortal Awards

And we’re off.

Judging for this year’s Immortal Awards is now underway and the first four Finalists of the year are now decided, following the conclusion of the first ever Dutch jury day on Monday, October 2nd. You can check out the Finalists here.

As one of five new juries introduced for 2023 – alongside France, Spain, the Nordics and India – it was a chance for the market’s leading creatives to set the benchmark for Dutch creativity at the global advertising award from Little Black Book.

Having already whittled the nation’s entries down to a 16 strong shortlist, the jury debated, deliberated, and discussed which work would be celebrated as the Immortal’s first ever Dutch Finalists and go on to represent the country at the regional European round of judging on Friday, October 20th.

Those who joined for the first every Dutch jury were: Justin Blyth; executive creative director at Ambassadors; Sandra Bold, chief creative officer at Wunderman Thompson Benelux; Liza Enebeis, founder of Studio Dumbar\DEPT; Natalie Gruis, chief strategy officer at TBWA\Neboko; Bern Hunter, creative director at 180 Amsterdam; Stephanie Oakley, head of production at 72andSunny Amsterdam; Josefien Olij, at Royal Philips, and Jouke Vuurmans, chief creative officer at Media.Monks.

Together, they settled upon four projects which receive the honour of the being crowned Dutch Finalists.

Those four will now compete with the Finalists from the remaining European jury days, as well as the best work from the rest of the region, for a place in the final, global round of judging – and a chance at winning a coveted Immortal Award.

On the work, Josefien from Royal Philips said, “In today’s world, where we are seeking meaning through brands, it does not need to come from purpose-led creative and commercial work only anymore. A fresh insight into an old brand or product that has been around for ages, and truly reframing it to become relevant to a new generation, bring equally everyday joy and with that purpose into people’s life. That’s what making brand impact through breakthrough creative is all about and what deserves recognition. It’s this type of work that inspired us all in the jury.”

“The strongest work was the work that went beyond the idea,” added Liza from Studio Dumbar/DEPT. “How the idea was crafted and executed became the make or break on whether it made it to the final round.

“We could discuss for hours if we found an idea strong or not but in the jury group we all were on one line when it came to recognising quality in the smallest detail.”