Drawing inspiration from 19th-century ornithology, the scientific study of birds, the 2026 campaign introduces bespoke calls for each award category in a series of films directed by Revolver’s Leilani Croucher.
Every call is composed from the chirps, peeps and trills of various species; from the Channel-Billed Cuckoo to the Warbling Grass Parakeet, with audio and illustrations informed by the work of renowned Australian ornithologists John and Elizabeth Gould.
AWARD Chair Mandie van der Merwe said: “This year, creativity is calling, literally. But the call isn’t a shout; it’s a whistle to the industry: a gentle, insistent note that cuts through the clutter and reminds us why we do what we do, to make ideas that sing.
“A huge thanks to the Bear Meets Eagle on Fire team for bringing this idea to life. We look forward to celebrating all the incredible creative work from across APAC that answers the call.”
Micah Walker, Founder of Bear Meets Eagle on Fire, said: “We wanted to give each category its own clear call, something simple and bespoke that reflects the diversity of work AWARD celebrates, from cinematography to design, radio, animation and more.
“It’s been a fun project to bring to life in support of a program that continues to champion the best creative thinking in the region. A massive thank you to Revolver and Leilani Croucher, the Editors, Rumble, The Pool Collective and Cream studios for helping us make it all happen.”
New categories and awards
To reflect the evolving creative landscape, AWARD has introduced four new categories:
- Social and Creator: Mobile-first creative ideas designed for social platforms
- Brand Experience & Entertainment: Experiences and entertainment-led work that create genuine moments of connection
- Business-to-Business: B2B ideas brought to life through creative use of design and communication
- Creative Effectiveness: Work grounded in sound strategy and proven to deliver meaningful business impact.
The Creativity for Good Award has been elevated to a dedicated track, spotlighting work that drives positive social or environmental change, while new sub-categories such as Achievement in Production within Craft recognise the essential contribution of production excellence to creative campaigns. A new special award, In-house Agency of the Year, also debuts in 2026.
Entry dates Work completed between 1 January 2025 and 25 April 2026 is eligible for entry. The early-bird discount period (10% off entry fees) closes 5:00pm AEDT, Friday 16 January. On-time entries close 5:00pm AEDT, Friday 13 March 2026.
AWARD Awards is proudly supported by Meta, LinkedIn, Outdoor Media Association, Leonardo.AI and TalentPay.
Campaign credits
AWARD and Bear Meets Eagle on Fire extend their thanks to the partners who helped bring ‘Creativity is Calling’ to life:
- Creative Agency: Bear Meets Eagle On Fire
- Production Company – Revolver
- Director – Leilani Croucher
- Managing Director/Co-Owner – Michael Ritchie
- Executive Producer/ Partner – Pip Smart
- Director of Production: Derek Henderson
- Producer – Max Horn
- Casting Director – Natalie Jane Harvie at Citizen Jane
- Edit House – The Editors
- Editor – Rose Byrne
- Producer – Izzy Vitelli
- Sound – Rumble Studios
- Sound Engineer – Dan Williams
- Sound EP – Michael Gie
- Stills Photography Production Company – The Pool Collective
- Photographer – Danny Eastwood * Managing Director – Cameron Gray
- Executive Producer – Courtney Wellsmore
- Retouching – Cream
- DOP – Derek Henderson
- Elizabeth and John Gould (special thanks), whose 19th-century illustrations remain among the most influential works in ornithological art