New York Festivals Advertising Awards to Joe Sedelmaier and Neil French

Joe Sedelmaier

New York, NY – June 18, 2009: The 2009 New York Festivals Advertising Awards, honoring “The World’s Best Advertising” will present iconic commercial director Joe Sedelmaier and legendary advertising creative Neil French with NYF Lifetime Achievement Awards. The NYF Lifetime Achievement Award recipients will be honored in separate ceremonies during the inaugural New York Festivals International Advertising World Tour.

Joe Sedelmaier, the brilliant award winning commercial director known for his quirky humor and off beat casting for client’s such as FedEx, Wendy’s and Alaska Air, will be presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Chicago launch of the seven city 2009 World Tour. Sedelmaier’s hysterical, instantly recognizable commercials include Fed Ex’s “Fast Talking Man” and Wendy’s “Where’s the Beef.” His quintessential comedic point of view hit a nerve with audiences while lambasting the workaholic corporate culture of the 70s and 80s. The comic genius has garnered countless international awards, was inducted into the New York Art Directors Hall of Fame, and most recently was an official selection in the Sundance Film Festival for his film “OpenMinds.”

“In the old days they just used to say “This is an honor,” and you know, I think the old way is still the best: This is an honor,” said Lifetime Achievement Award winner and celebrated commercial director, Joe Sedelmaier.

Neil French

Along with Sedelmaier, British advertising executive, Neil French will be presented with the NYF Lifetime Achievement Award in Shanghai, China on July 25th. The irrepressible French is founder of The World Press Awards and most recognized in advertising circles for bringing the creative revolution to Asia. As former WPP Creative Director, Neil French is known around the globe for his award winning ads featuring signature lengthy copy peppered with his unmistakably dry wit and unique outspoken point of view. Having won dozens of international awards including NYF dating back to the mid 80s, French is undoubtedly considered one of the true pioneers of advertising in Asia.

“We’re honored to be able to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to people who are as accomplished and as deserving as they are. At such a tumultuous time when people are constantly talking about how much the industry is struggling to find itself, it’s incredibly fitting to honor two professionals who have clearly mastered the fundamental of any great ad, the idea,” said NYF President Michael O’Rourke.

To commemorate this year’s winners, the 2009 New York Festivals (NYF) Advertising Awards will host a series of award ceremonies and speaker series around the world enabling many people the opportunity to see the World’s Best Advertising™ closer to their home. Awards presentations along with a THINKBIG™ Speaker Series about Digital, Interactive, Avant-garde and Social Media will be held in seven cities around the world, premiering in Chicago on Tuesday, July 21 at the Chicago Cultural Center, followed by additional shows in Shanghai, Manila, Mumbai, Santiago de Chile, Madrid, and New York. The decision to honor the award winners at multiple global ceremonies was based on monitoring feedback from entrants and NYF’s international representatives in 84 countries.

This year’s NYF Advertising competition received entries from 71 countries in the following eleven competitions: Art & Technique, Avant-Garde, Collateral, Design, Digital + Interactive, Mixed Media, Outdoor, Print, TV/Cinema, Radio and Student. Winners are selected by the 2009 NYF International Grand Jury™ comprised of 255 Senior Creative Directors from 56 countries, representing the largest and most diverse jury of any advertising competition in the world. Medalists for this year’s competition will be announced the third week in June.