The 2016 Lovie Awards Finalists Have Been Revealed

The International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences (IADAS), the organisation founded to drive the creative, technical and professional progress of the Internet and evolving forms of interactive media, is today announcing the Finalists in The 6th Annual Lovie Awards. 

The prestigious and unique pan-European Lovie Awards is the sister of the international Webby Awards, and honours online excellence across Websites, Online Advertising, Internet Video, Mobile & Apps and Social.

With a record number of entries this year from 36 countries, Finalists represent Europe’s most innovative websites and apps, such asDeliveroo, The BBC and Soundcloud, and some of the region’s smartest digital brands and celebrities like One Direction, Vice News, Game of Thrones, GQ Spain, IKEA, UEFA, Carlsberg and BMW. 

As Virtual Reality (VR) content increasingly changes how people experience interactive media, two new Lovie categories were added to recognise both branded and non-branded VR work. Finalists include The Guardian, BBC, Visualise, El País and Google Creative Lab. 

Following the selection process by IADAS, public voting is now open for all 6th Annual Lovie Awards Finalists through 22nd Septemberat.

Judges of The Lovie Awards, who are members of the European arm of IADAS, represent some of the region’s top innovators and thinkers. Members include Stephen Fry, “Father of Wi-Fi” Vic Hayes, musician Imogen Heap, Chester Chipperfield (Global Creative Director, Tesla), Corinne Vigreux (Co-founder, Tom Tom), Dan Howell (danisnotonfire), Eric Wahlforss (Founder, Soundcloud), Robin Chase (Founder, Buzzcar) and Elke Klinkhammer (Chief Creative Officer, McCann Worldgroup Germany), amongst others. 

The 2016 Lovie Award Winners will be announced on Tuesday 27th September and celebrated with a spectacular awards show at The British Film Institute, Southbank, London, on Thursday 27th October 2016.

“This year’s Finalists show the continued promise of Europe as a connected society where our interactions help shape and enable so much of our daily life,” said Nicolas Roope, IADAS Jury Chairman of The Lovie Awards. “We are thrilled to celebrate these outstanding works from across the region, and to see which ones the public will choose as People’s Lovie Winners.”

This year’s Website Finalists continue to showcase the critical role the Internet plays in everything from commerce to arts and culture. Finalists include Refinery29 UK, Monabanq, Mixcloud, TATE Time Machine, RT Channel, Zopa, Google’s Refugee Info Hub, Maritime Museum of Denmark, Madonna.com, BMW 100 and De Speld.

In Mobile & Applications, Finalists exemplifying best practices include Toca Boca, Laundrapp, The Times and Sunday Times Appand ProtonMail. Increasingly popular, Connected Products & Wearables Finalists include The Kano Complete - Kano Kit & Screen Kit and SKARV.

Internet Video Finalists elegantly illustrate Europe’s creative prowess in digital storytelling. Finalists include Jeremy Corbyn: The Outsider by VICE Media and  Budget Maid by Glasnost in the Public Service & Activism category; as well as VR Fukushima by El País and 6x9: A Virtual Experience of Solitary Confinement by The Guardian, both competing in Virtual Reality (Non-Branded). In Documentary, Finalists include The Salon - London: Natural with a Twist by BBC World Service and For Sofia (UNICEF Sweden) in Best Animation.

The Finalists in Online Advertising demonstrate that Europe’s top agencies continue to deliver outstanding creative work. They include Legacy BLN - #PaintBack (Heimat, Berlin), Welcome to Earth 2045 (M&C Saatchi, Stockholm), Ballantine's Space Glass(Havas, London), Beats by Dr. Dre 'The Game Starts Here' (R/GA, London), Citroën E-Méhari - Facebook Immersive Canvas (Les Gaulois), Game Of Thrones Territory (Publicis, London) and Letters to Gallipoli (Turkcell). For the first time, a Lovie Agency of the Year will be honoured, celebrating excellence across all categories. Contenders include Forsman & Bodenfors, FCINQ, Cheil Germany, DigitasLBi London and 72andSunny Amsterdam.

The ever-growing Social category features brands and content creators innovating across various platforms, including Diadora Delivery, KLM FlightFunding, Audi Be my ValenTTine, #Uncute (Swedish Association of Professional Veterinary Clinics), Winter warfare training in Norway (NATO) and Haribo Dragibus. 

Gianfranco Chicco, European Marketing Director of The Lovie Awards, adds: “The Internet has become such an essential force in our lives, and the public is more hands-on with their digital lifestyles than ever before. It’s exciting to see who they will choose to win a Lovie.”

Notable highlights among 6th Annual Lovie Awards Finalists:

Best Virtual Reality (Non-Branded) - NEW 

Best Virtual Reality (Branded) - NEW

Best Writing – Editorial (Websites) 

Best Design (Websites) 

Best HTML5 (Websites) 

Best Practices (Websites) 

Best User Experience (Mobile & Apps) 

Best Documentary (Internet Video) 

Best Integrated Campaign (Online Advertising) 

Best Visual Design (Mobile & Apps) 

Best Music & Entertainment (Internet Video) 

Best Social Media Marketing (Online Advertising) 

Best Overall Social Presence (Social) 

Best Internet Personality / Performance

The Lovie Awards is supported by Google for the third year running as premiere sponsor, joining the Lovie commitment to shining a spotlight on the European Internet’s best and brightest.