2009 Kansas City Addy Awards

Believe it or not, Kansas City has annually hosted the largest regional advertising awards show for the last few years: the Addys. However it still amazes me that the KC scene remains one of the ad industry’s best kept secrets. With two of the largest independent shops in the country (Bernstein-Rein and Barkley), one of the largest digital shops as well (VML), a remarkable array of smaller design and marketing firms and world-class print, audio, video, and digital production houses in the country, we have an amazingly strong and diverse scene.

That strength and diversity was definitely represented in this year’s awards. While many agencies had to pull back on the number of entries they submitted due to fees and costs, the overall quality of the work took a huge leap forward due to their selectivity. Props to Barkley for their overall Best In Show recognition for their huge body of Sonic TV, print and interactive work.

And my shop? Bernstein-Rein took home an armful of Addys, primarily for our interactive and digital work. The big wins for us included Gold Addys for our work on sites for Devotchka and Cook’s Ham, our interactive creative reel, our holiday Bernstein-Rein Reindeer Rodeo self-promo effort and our body of McCafe work for McDonalds. The biggest honor was a Best In Show Interactive for our McDonalds McCafe “Snowflakes” work. Woo-hoo!

UPDATE: Here’s a listing of all the Kansas City Addy Winners!

Below are a few shots from the evening, including a few that I cribbed from friends. Enjoy!

Rockin' the martini Amy and Nathaniel Ruth, Nathaniel and Jordan JP and Jules Amy and Heather Straight out of the 60s Bartle Grand Ballroom Creative brief? Why? Liquid 9 Ring-a-ding Krista and Ben Ozzie and Harriet Zach and Kyle Snapshot Ben and Lauren Jonathan and Zach Rat Pack? Ben and Zach Kyle and Rachel The glitz The crew Krista and Jules After party Time to celebrate Let's dance! The mad scene