IBC2022 Spotlights Leading-Edge Creativity and Decisive Social  Interventions in Awards Shortlist 

  • IBC Innovation Awards shortlist highlights advances in audience engagement 
  • IBC Social Impact Awards demonstrate vital importance of equality and sustainability initiatives Pre-show virtual ceremony to be followed by live celebration at IBC2022 

London, UK, 6 July – IBC has announced the 2022 shortlist for its prestigious Innovation and Social Impact Awards.  The IBC Innovation Awards reward collaborative efforts in developing new solutions for real-world challenges; the  IBC Social Impact Awards recognise new efforts in equality, diversity, environmental concerns and social  engagement. All the winners will be announced in a unique, digital-first online presentation on Monday 5  September at 16.00 BST, with trophies presented at a special networking event, onsite at IBC on Sunday evening, 11  September. 

Dick Hobbs, Executive Producer of IBC Awards and chair of the Innovation Awards Jury, said: “Seeing the best of  what our industry can achieve, the IBC Awards always point to the current high spots, where technology and  creativity meet audience expectations and global concerns. This year’s Innovation Awards see a lot of really  engaging augmented reality production, and the Social Impact Awards show the industry coming together to create  a more equitable, more stable world – and one in which the media industry can continue to play a key role.” 

There are three categories in the Innovation Awards. This year’s shortlist of the most prestigious projects in content  creation are: 

  • Expo Dubai and its beautiful Xplorer cross-reality experience for real and virtual visitors • Green Planet AR, an immersive experience inside the incredible world of plants 
  • Alter Ego, a Fox singing competition in which the contestants all appear live as avatars. In content distribution, the finalists are: 
  • Oracle Red Bull Racing and its fan engagement at the launch of its 2022 Formula 1 car • Imperial War Museums, finding new ways to make the million items in its collection accessible by all 
  • SuperSport in South Africa, bringing school sport to a wider audience, increasing participation and  developing talent. 

The three finalists in apps for content everywhere take us back to augmenting the media experience: • BT Sport, using 5G to add data-driven graphics to live action at the event 

  • PGA TOUR AR, giving fans an immersive and engaging experience through a near real-time augmented  reality app
  • Sky Sports, which has added to the fun and engagement of The Hundred cricket competition with  avatars of the top players. 

IBC introduced awards for social impact in 2019. Chair of the judges is Ade Rawcliffe. “We were overwhelmed by  the depth and quality of this year’s entries – congratulations and thanks to everyone who entered,” she said. 

“The quality of the finalists from around the world is testament to the importance of social impact to many  businesses and creative companies,” Rawcliffe explained. “It is no longer just a ‘nice to have’ but an essential part of  any company strategy. Given the platform we in the media have, it is our responsibility to drive societal change,  create more equitable and inclusive societies, and encourage sustainable behaviours.” 

Again, there are three categories, with two finalists in the first, social impact: 

  • Paramount, for its bold stance in celebrating LGBTQ+ rights while hosting the 2021 MTV EMAs in  Hungary 
  • Ethekwini Filmmakers Association, which encourages new creative talent in KwaZulu- Natal and  across South Africa. 

For advances in diversity and inclusion, the shortlist is: 

  • Learning to Sign Together, the EQ4ALL project to help deaf children born into hearing families 
  • Break the Codes, a Belgian initiative focusing on the challenges women have in making an impact in  the technology sector 
  • Rise Up Academy, aiming to inspire, educate and inform young people about the opportunities  available in media technology. 
  • RAMPD, the coalition for Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities. The finalists for environment and sustainability projects are: 
  • Sky Sports for Game Zero, a Premier League football match with full television coverage and net zero  carbon impact 
  • WaterBear, supported by Nikon, an interactive streaming platform dedicated to the future of the  planet 
  • SmartFM, advances in transmitter technology to reduce power consumption and CO2 output by 40%. 

“The IBC Awards are very much an integral part of the whole IBC experience, reflecting and celebrating the  opportunities for creative, business and technical teams to get together and look to how they can deliver  excellence,” said Hobbs. “This year we have stunning finalists in all these categories, and I am excited to be able to  congratulate them all in person in Amsterdam this September.” 

The IBC Awards programme also includes recognition of the best technical paper in the conference, prizes for best  stand design in the exhibition, and other awards. The most prestigious prize is the IBC International Honour for  Excellence, which goes to an individual or organisation which has made an outstanding impact over an extended  period of time. Previous winners of the International Honour for Excellence include Sir David Attenborough, movie  directors Ang Lee and Peter Jackson, and the creator of Sesame Street Joan Ganz Cooney.

Learn more about the IBC2022 Awards shortlist here

About IBC 

As the world’s most inspiring content and technology event, IBC’s mission is to Empower Content Everywhere by  driving thought leadership and innovation across the 250,000 strong global IBC community. 

As a live event in Amsterdam, IBC2022 will re-unite exhibitors, speakers, visitors and the whole community, so they  can engage with each other, unlock business opportunities, discover the latest innovations and explore the exciting  world of content together. At IBC, we are on a journey to deliver the new normal in an engaging way this year. WE  ARE moving forward, WE ARE here for our industry and together, WE ARE a community. 

In addition to the world-class exhibition and conference, IBC also encompasses the IBC Daily, and IBC365. For further  information, please visit: https://show.ibc.org/  

Media relations: 

Platform Communications for IBC 

Nick Field 

[email protected] 

+44 (0) 20 3832 3690