Account director Mie Schaffalitzky says, "It feels amazing that a truly local film can travel beyond borders and get this kind of international recognition."

"We're really proud that it has managed to raise a few smiles while getting an important message across. The whole team is really excited and honoured to get this Grand Prix from a jury of journalists who follow the business closely and judge with an outside perspective of the work," adds Schaffalitzky. 

The jury says that it decided to award two Film Grand Prix [in 2021]. The first went to &Co. / NoA Denmark for its The Danish Road Safety Council's 'Helmet Has Always Been A Good Idea'. 

The Network of the Year Award was received by McCann Worldgroup and Agency of the Year went to &Co./NoA from Denmark.

The winners of the Grand Prix Awards include: 
  • Responsibility: VMLY&R Istanbul for 'The Rainbow Hack' for Change.org
  • PR: BBDO Belgium for 'The Breakaway' for Decathlon
  • Alternative: Wunderman Thompson United Kingdom for 'The Homeless Bank Account for HSBC
  • Design: Wunderman Thompson Colombia for Waterlight for Edina Energy
  • Digital: Wunderman Thompson Belgium for '.comdom' for Telenet
  • Print: Leo Burnett United Kingdom for 'Lights On' for McDonald's
  • Film: Riff Raff Films United Kingdom for Festive for Burberry, and
  • Film: &Co. / NoA, Denmark for 'Helmet Has Always Been A Good Idea' for Danish Road Safety Council.
The production company Riff Raff Films was also awarded a Film Grand Prix for its film Festive for the British fashion company Burberry. The Print Grand Prix went to Leo Burnett United Kingdom for 'Lights On', which is its campaign for McDonald's.

Chaka Sobhani, global chief creative officer at Leo Burnett Worldwide, says, "We're over the moon to receive the Grand Prix from Epica for 'Lights On'."

"It means so much to receive the recognition, especially from such an esteemed jury of the industry’s most informed and brilliant journalists. A big thank you also to our incredible clients McDonald's for their wonderful and continued partnership and trust," adds Sobhani.

BBDO Belgium won the PR Grand Prix for a project for Decathlon, which gave prison inmates the chance to form an 'e-cycling' team and race with people outside the walls via a virtual cycling platform.

The event attracted wide media coverage and the minister of justice decided to expand the project to all prisons as a boost to prisoners' mental health.

The Alternative Grand Prix went to Wunderman Thompson United Kingdom for 'The Homeless Bank Account' for HSBC. The campaign enabled homeless people to open bank accounts. This made it easier for them to receive benefits, find a home and reintegrate into society by using the address of the charity shelter.

Mike Watson, creative director at Wunderman Thompson, says, "We're proud to have played our part alongside our friends at HSBC United Kingdom in helping to break the cycle of financial exclusion for those who are homeless."

"To have leading journalists from over 50 countries recognise the campaign for its impact verifies our belief that creativity can do anything — even overcoming some of the biggest barriers in society," adds Watson.

The Responsibility Grand Prix went to VMLY&R Istanbul for 'The Rainbow Hack'. Brand team director Dilâra Ergün says, "It's an honor to receive this Grand Prix from a jury of great journalists."

Wunderman Thompson Colombia won the Design Grand Prix with 'Waterlight'. The collaboration with Edina Energy aims to bring light to deprived coastal communities using a recyclable lamp powered by saltwater.

Commenting on all the winners, jury president Claire Beale, founder of The Creative Salon, says, "The work we've seen here is evidence of the amazing resilience of creative departments around the world. I can't even imagine how people managed to produce work of such quality in times when remote working has been the norm, when entire countries have been shut down."

The NETWORK OF THE YEAR was McCann Worldgroup. Bill Kolb, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, McCann Worldgroup, said: “As we pursue our mission to help brands earn a meaningful role in people’s lives by being the leader in the business of creativity, being recognized as Network of the Year by the very journalists who we work with every day is one of the most important forms of recognition we can receive. This recognition would not have been possible without the hard work from our teams around the world and the trust our clients invest in us to build their brands and businesses.”

Thomas Hoffman, owner and creative director at &Co. / NoA Denmark, says, "Winning Agency of the Year and the Film Grand Prix is of course absolutely amazing for everyone at &Co. / NoA. Right now, it is probably too much to fully comprehend. We are truly grateful to all of them for this recognition."

The Epica Awards received 3 184 entries from 64 countries, which is an increase on the year before. The highest number of entries came from the United States (206), followed by Germany (200).

France was top in the country rankings with 40 awarded projects including 11 Golds, followed by Canada with 39 awarded projects including seven Golds.

Completing the top five were the United Kingdom with 36 prizes, the United States and Russia (with 28 wins each). 

For more information, visit www.epica-awards.com or contact [email protected]. You can also follow the Epica Awards on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.