Reporters Without Borders’ ‘The First Speech’ Wins Immortal Awards Commendation

Innocean Berlin and Stink Films Berlin have been awarded a Commendation at the 2024 Immortal Awards for the widely-celebrated 'The First Speech' campaign for Reporters Without Borders Germany (RSF). 

It is only the third piece of creative work from a German company to receive such an honour, following 2018’s Commendation for Dot Mini ‘The First Smart Media Device for the Visually Impaired’ created by Serviceplan Germany and WhatsApp ‘One’, created by BBDO Germany.

Directed by Giordano Maestrelli, the films highlight the worrying challenges to press freedom and human rights by exposing governments which were democratically elected but remain in power with significantly reduced liberties – among them press freedom – many years on. 

Each film reminds viewers of leaders’ very first speeches, complete with hopeful promises about safeguarding freedom and democracy. This is then juxtaposed with the campaign's message: ‘The loss of freedom is never obvious at first.’