NWDA Culture Film Wins Campaign Media Award

A short film which features a host of talent from the Northwest against the backdrop of the region’s world-famous architecture has triumphed at Campaign Magazine’s annual Media Awards.

The 2½ minute film by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) entitled The Beautiful North highlights the cultural richness of England’s Northwest and aims to inspire people to visit the region in the run-up to Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture.

The Campaign Media Awards are one of the most prestigious events in the media calendar and are designed to recognise excellence in creative media campaigns. The NWDA’s cinema advertisement won in the Travel and Leisure Category at the ceremony in London last night (Wednesday 21st November) seeing off competition from such high profile names as Nike and Ladbrokes.

The film features Cheshire-born actress Sue Johnston, St Helen’s Comedian Johnny Vegas and a whole host of cameos including Ian Broudie and Dave McCabe.

The film is supported with an online presence at www.visitenglandsnorthwest.com and a new culture guide to the region Prime, which is available through the website or by calling 0845 600 6040.

The promotional film is being shown in art-house cinemas across London and the South East, reasserting the region’s position as a hotbed of cultural talent.

Peter Mearns, Executive Director of Marketing at the NWDA, said:

“Campaign’s Media Awards are the awards for the industry, so it was an honour just to be shortlisted. To win in such a highly contested category is fantastic news and demonstrates the Agency’s commitment to improving the image of the region.

“It was a major coup for us to be able to engage so many talented performers in creating this film; it is real evidence of the passion and belief in the creative talent which exists in the region. The Northwest is one of the most artistic and culturally dynamic regions in Europe and I hope that this short film commissioned by the NWDA help position the Northwest as a leading location for arts and culture.”

Manchester-based media agency PHD North were appointed by the NWDA 12 months ago to generate ideas on how best to showcase the Northwest’s outstanding cultural offer and to promote the region as a place to host major events which include the Turner Prize and European Capital of Culture 2008.

Jason Spencer, Managing Director of PHD North, said: “Using film as a medium allowed us to challenge negative perceptions of the Northwest as a cultural destination and promote the region as an engaging and inspirational location. The Campaign Media Awards is a very prestigious event and this was the only entry from an agency outside of London which makes it an even more impressive achievement.”
 
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