The film, by Imagine Entertainment and directed by Mike Diva, ran online and was shown at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival from Oct. 16 to 25, where the brand debuted theater-style Gushers boxes. — Alison Weissbrot
8. Heineken | “Pub Succession” by LePub and Publicis Dublin
Irish pubs are a beloved cultural institution worldwide, but many homegrown establishments are under threat. Heineken ran an unconventional recruitment campaign to find a successor for a family-run pub on Ireland’s rugged west coast. The search was global, with one stipulation: your last name must also be McLoughlin, like the pub’s retiring owner, who’d worked behind the bar for 43 years. The campaign was shortlisted for a Cannes Titanium Lion. – Brittaney Kiefer
7. Astronomer | “Thank You For Your Interest in Astronomer” by Maximum Effort
Tech company Astronomer got some unwelcome attention after its former CEO and chief people officer were caught in an embrace on camera at a Coldplay concert. As the kiss cam scandal dominated headlines, Gwyneth Paltrow (ex-wife of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin) appeared in a video pretending to be an Astronomer spokesperson. Paltrow avoided the topic on everyone’s lips and instead drily answered questions about Astronomer’s business. The brand’s humorous response, created by Ryan Reynolds’ agency Maximum Effort, was a masterclass in crisis communications. – Brittaney Kiefer
6. AXA | “Three Words” by Publicis Conseil
In insurer AXA’s headquarters of France, home insurance already provided emergency relocation when a home becomes uninhabitable in the event of fire or flood. AXA disrupted the entire sector by adding three words, “and domestic violence,” to its clause in all of AXA’s 2.5 million home insurance contracts. The policy offers women in abusive situations relocation and legal, financial, and psychological support. AXA’s campaign won a Cannes Lions Titanium Grand Prix, the festival’s most prestigious prize. – Brittaney Kiefer
