Check out the full list of award categories that can be entered. All work entered should have aired/first appeared between 6 July 2025 to 4 July 2026.
First entry deadline 8 May 2026
This category looks at 2D animation in all its forms. The work can be entirely animated or use animation to augment filmed footage.
The commercial must have aired on TV, cinema or online.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible as long as a brand is attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip.
Non-English language entries must include English subtitles for judging purposes.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
PLEASE NOTE: Animated Music Videos are not eligible for this category and should be submitted into the Music Video category.
This category looks at 3D animation in all its forms. The work can be entirely animated or use animation to augment filmed footage.
The commercial must have aired on TV, cinema or online.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible as long as a brand is attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted
Non-English language entries must include English subtitles for judging purposes.
PLEASE NOTE: Animated Music Videos are not eligible for this category and should be submitted into the Music Video category.
This category looks at motion design in all its forms. ( Includes typographic animation, animated illustration, and motion graphics that use photoreal textures, lighting, and rendering.) The work can be entirely animated or use animation to augment filmed footage.
The commercial must have aired on TV, cinema or online.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible as long as a brand is attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Non-English language entries must include English subtitles for judging purposes.
PLEASE NOTE: Animated Music Videos are not eligible for this category and should be submitted into the Music Video category.
This category looks at stop-motion animation in all its forms. The work can be entirely animated or use animation to augment filmed footage.
The commercial must have aired on TV, cinema or online.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible as long as a brand is attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Non-English language entries must include English subtitles for judging purposes.
PLEASE NOTE: Animated Music Videos are not eligible for this category and should be submitted into the Music Video category.
This category recognises the importance of finding the right performer or performers for the job. The actors that can’t be ignored. The cast that completes the picture.
The commercial must have aired on TV, cinema or online.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible. There just must be a brand attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Non-English language entries must include English subtitles for judging purposes.
This category focuses on commercials that demonstrate exceptional craft for the benefit of charitable organizations or Public Service Announcements (PSA) .
The commercial must have aired on TV, cinema or online.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible only if a Charity or PSA is attached. is attached.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Non-English language entries must include English subtitles for judging purposes.
This category recognises commercials that showcase exceptional cinematography in commercials up to and including two minutes.
The commercial must have aired on TV, cinema or online.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Non-English language entries must include English subtitles for judging purposes.
This category recognises commercials that showcase exceptional cinematography in commercials above two minutes.
The commercial must have aired on TV, cinema or online.
Long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible as long as a brand is attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Non-English language entries must include English subtitles for judging purposes.
This category recognises commercials and campaigns that have a truly brilliant idea at their core. The campaign can involve disparate elements (digital, OOH, print, experiential, etc), but there must be a filmic element up to and including two minutes long.
This element must have aired on TV, cinema or online.
Case study films can be entered if they are accompanied by the full-length films.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Non-English language entries must include English subtitles for judging purposes.
PLEASE NOTE: Charity/PSA campaigns are not eligible for this category
This category recognises commercials and campaigns that have a truly brilliant idea at their core. The campaign can involve disparate elements (digital, OOH, print, experiential, etc), but there must be a filmic element above two minutes long.
This element must have aired on TV, cinema or online.
Case study films can be entered if they are accompanied by the full-length films.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Non-English language entries must include English subtitles for judging purposes.
PLEASE NOTE: Charity/PSA campaigns are not eligible for this category
This category recognises exceptional writing at the core of a commercial.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible as long as a brand is attached.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Non-English language entries must include English subtitles for judging purposes.
This category recognises commercials up to and including 60-seconds, that demonstrate exceptional direction in commercial production. - with each element involved in its construction brought together to create a perfectly formed nugget of advertising gold.
The commercial must have aired on TV, cinema or online.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Non-English language entries must include English subtitles for judging purposes
This category recognises commercials from 61-seconds to three minutes, that demonstrate exceptional direction in commercial production, with each element involved in its construction brought together to create a perfectly formed nugget of advertising gold.
The commercial must have aired on TV, cinema or online.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Non-English language entries must include English subtitles for judging purposes
This category recognises commercials above three minutes, that demonstrate exceptional direction in commercial production.
The commercial must have aired on TV, cinema or online.
Long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible as long as a brand is attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Non-English language entries must include English subtitles for judging purposes
This category recognises commercials up to and including 60-seconds that showcase the very best of editing.
The commercials must have aired on TV, cinema or online.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Non-English language entries must include English subtitles for judging purposes
This category recognises commercials from 61-seconds to three minutes, that showcase the magic of editing.
The commercials must have aired on TV, cinema or online.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Non-English language entries must include English subtitles for judging purposes
This category recognises commercials, above three minutes that showcase the magic of editing.
The commercials must have aired on TV, cinema or online.
Long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible as long as a brand is attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Non-English language entries must include English subtitles for judging purposes
This category celebrates creativity, technical skill, and effectiveness of the production design in the commercial.
The commercials must have aired on TV, cinema or online.
Entries into this category qualify for automatic free entry into the Styling category.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible only if a brand is attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Non-English language entries must include English subtitles for judging purposes.
This category celebrates the styling that create looks that align with a brand's message and the commercial's concept. It includes costume design and styling whose artistry and skills make productions look amazing.
The commercial must have aired on TV, cinema or online.
Entries into this category qualify for automatic free entry into the Production Design category.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible only if a brand is attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Non-English language entries must include English subtitles for judging purposes.
This category celebrates the audio engineering and sound design that is integral to every successful campaign.
The commercials must have aired on TV, cinema or online.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible only if a brand is attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Non-English language entries must include English subtitles for judging purposes.
This category recognises the role of music in bringing together a commercial. Only entries featuring licensed music are allowed in this subcategory.
Reworkings or re-recordings of an original composition can be entered in this category.
The commercials must have aired on TV, cinema or online.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible only if a brand is attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Non-English language entries must include English subtitles for judging purposes.
This category recognises the role of music in bringing together a commercial. Only entries featuring original compositions are allowed in this subcategory. For licensed music, please submit them in the other category within Use of Music.
The commercials must have aired on TV, cinema or online.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible only if a brand is attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Non-English language entries must include English subtitles for judging purposes.
This category recognises the use of visual effects to bring commercials to life.
The commercials must have aired on TV, cinema or online.
There is no duration-cap for this category and long-form ‘branded entertainment’ pieces are eligible only if a brand is attached. For longer-form pieces, if there are certain sections you feel the judges should pay closer attention to, these can be included as an additional clip. VFX breakdowns can also be useful if you feel some artistry might be missed.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted.
Non-English language entries must include English subtitles for judging purposes.
This category looks at everyone’s favourite music videos. We are looking for music videos that break the mould and do something that’s not been done before.
The music video must have aired on TV, cinema or online.
There is no duration-cap for this category.
All entries must be the final, aired/brand-hosted version of the music video; director cut versions are not permitted.
This category focuses on finding the best up-and-coming directorial talent from The Americas. The individual should be based in The Americas and MUST NOT have been working professionally within the industry (i.e. creating branded work or music videos through a production company) before 1 January 2024.
Entries can include up to three pieces of relevant work and can include aired commercials, test spots, music videos, spec ads and short films of no more than 10 minutes.
For aired work, all entries must be the final, aired version of the spots; director cut versions are not permitted and the work must have originated in The Americas region.
Work for this category includes anything produced /aired between 1 January 2024 to 13 February 2026.
Non-English language entries must include English subtitles for judging purposes.
If submitting a spec ad, this must be highlighted.
| Entry Deadline 1 | Entry Deadline 2 | Final Entry Deadline | |
| 8 May 2026 | 5 June 2026 | 10 July 2026 | |
| 1 - 4 entries | $249 per entry | $319 per entry | $369 per entry |
| 5+ entries | $224 per entry | $289 per entry | $332 per entry |
You may enter as many categories as you like, however each entry must be treated as a separate entry and payment made for each.
| Entry Deadline 1 | Entry Deadline 2 | Final Entry Deadline | |
| 8 May 2026 | 5 June 2026 | 10 July 2026 | |
| Per entry | $190 per entry | $220 per entry | $250 per entry |
| Entry Deadline 1 | Entry Deadline 2 | Final Entry Deadline | |
| 8 May 2026 | 5 June 2026 | 10 July 2026 | |
| Per entry | $90 per entry | $120 per entry | $150 per entry |
*Film school students should email shotsawards@extremereach.com to receive a dedicated entry code that will offer a discount.
Payment must be received for all entries before they will be approved for judging.
Payment can be made securely online by credit card at time of submission.