Australia and New Zealand pick up a third of all finalists at John Caples International Awards

Australian and New Zealand agencies have picked up about a third of all finalists at the 33rd John Caples International Awards.

Theshortisted agencies included BMF, Clemenger BBDO Melbourne, WundermanSydney, AIM Proximity Auckland, DDB Group Melbourne, Mark/M&CSaatchi, Australia and New Zealand and Cubed Communications.

Draft/FCBNew Zealand, Mercer Bell, RAPP Sydney, RAPP/Tribal New Zealand, RhodesShapter, BMF, Lowe Sydney, Host and The Brand Agency were alsofinalists.

Winners will be announced at a gala presentation dinner in New York on 24 March 2011. Click here to view the full shortlist.

For two days in November, nearly 70 judges from around the worldconvened in New York’s Times Square. More than 800 entries in 29categories underwent two days of scrutiny from the world’s top creativedirectors.

M&C Saatchi/Mark had 17 finalists with ‘Mr Knowitall’, an integrated campaign for SamsungMobile a finalist in five categories – Microsite, Viral videomarketing, Online, Social media and Interactive campaign. Qantas, EMI,Optus, Ford, ANZ, ACON, Betfair were other clients shortlisted forM&C Saatchi.

Gavin McLeod, M&C Saatchi Group’s executivecreative director of Direct & Digital, said to be in the runningfor so many awards was testament to all the talent and commitment ofthe agency’s creative, account service and production teams.

“Ofcourse we still need to turn finalists into gongs, but I’m reallypleased all that hard work has been recognised on a global stage,”McLeod said.