Entries open for Digital Cinema Media Awards (United Kingdom)

The categories reflect the diverse impact that the medium can achieve for brands by seamlessly integrating themselves into the entire cinema experience through strategic partnerships and immersive experiences.

The prestigious Digital Cinema Media Awards Ceremony will take place at BAFTA on Wednesday 18 September, and will showcase and celebrate the best strategic use of the cinema medium and work created by the media industry.​

Award Categories 

• Six categories are open for entry. A Grand Prix winner will also be chosen by the judging panel solely from the winners of the five main entry categories (which excludes Cinema champion of the year). Entries to categories 1-4 must have been exhibited in a DCM cinema within the judging period of August 2023 to July 2024.
  • Best Use of Cinema (Small)
    • This category recognises campaigns under £250,000 (DCM ratecard) that demonstrate exceptional strategic utilisation of cinema. In addition to impactful big screen advertising, entries may include campaigns that effectively leverage the high-attention medium to launch a new product, campaign, or message. Strategic use of tools and data such as DCM’s Cinemapper and Cinema Effectiveness Roadmap is encouraged. Entries should provide evidence of the impact cinema had on the overall campaign and its essential role in the AV media mix, highlighting the influence of the cinema medium on overall outcomes.
  • Best Use of Cinema (Large) 
    • This category acknowledges campaigns exceeding £250,000 (DCM ratecard) that showcase exemplary strategic utilisation of cinema. In addition to impactful big screen advertising, cinema should have played a prominent role in the AV mix. This could entail initiating the campaign with cinema to introduce a new product, campaign, or message, as well as incorporating bespoke idents, activations, and partnerships.
    • The campaign should have been strategically informed by research, data, and planning tools, showcasing tangible evidence of how cinema contributed to the campaign’s overall success.
  • Best Creative Use of Cinema
    • This category honours campaigns showcasing innovative thinking and clever utilisation of new ideas within the cinema medium to deliver tangible results for advertisers.
    • Campaigns should strategically leverage the immersive and creative opportunities unique to cinema, which may encompass daring cinema-specific copy, 4DX and Screen X experiences, bespoke idents, and on-site activations.
    • Entries should demonstrate innovative communication planning, highlight cinema’s pivotal role within the broader AV mix, and illustrate its specific contribution to the campaign’s overall success.
  • Best ‘Marketing for Good’ Cinema Campaign 
    • This category acknowledges campaigns that have made a tangible positive impact. They believe in advertising for good, and there’s not a more compelling way to convey an important message than through the big screen experience.
    • Entries should illustrate how cinema contributed to delivering value to a cause or organisation, changed consumer attitudes and behaviours, or provided sustainable benefits to society. This category is not restricted to charitable organisations; they welcome entries from brands that champion environmental, social, educational, or ethical initiatives in their campaigns.
  • Best Long-Term Use of Cinema 
    • This category honours brands that exhibit a sustained commitment to the cinema medium as a core element of their brand strategy.
    • Entries should showcase how insights and strategic planning have been employed to leverage the power of cinema for brand-building purposes over an extended period. This may involve running multiple campaign bursts as part of a long-term advertising strategy or executing multiple campaigns over a minimum period of 12 months.
  • Cinema Champion of the Year
    • This category celebrates individuals or teams that demonstrate excellence in advocating for the power of cinema in the brands they represent. Entries should showcase a proven track record of increasing awareness of cinema’s pivotal role within the AV media mix, achieving exceptional results through cinema advertising, and persuading clients to prioritise cinema in their marketing strategies.
    • This category welcomes entries from any individual or team within a media agency.

Prize Information

• Prizes include: Cinema tickets, exclusive hire of the screening room, a red-carpet experience for four people and a cinema screen time campaign to the value of £100,000.

Deliverables 

• Entries must be no more than 1,000 words in total. Each entry should include an executive summary of no more than 250 words. Please upload two high resolution images to support your entry. A supporting video must also be submitted, as either a .mp4 file, or a YouTube or Vimeo link.

Eligibility Criteria 

• Categories 1-5 Entry Criteria
  • Entries for Best Use of Cinema (Small), Best Use of Cinema (Large), Best Creative Use of Cinema and Best ‘Marketing for Good’ Cinema Campaign must be structured around the headings of: Background, Idea, Plan, Results.
  • Entries for Best Long-Term Use of Cinema must be structured around the headings of: Background, Evolution, Highlight Campaign Example, Results.
• Cinema Champion of The Year Entry Criteria
  • Entries for Cinema Champion of the Year must include an explanation of why the individual or team should win this award, in no more than 500 words. The entry should also include a testimonial from a peer, senior member of staff or client, in no more than 100 words.

For more information, visit DCM.