AOP Production Award 2025

Recognising outstanding achievement in the craft, execution, and impact of production for creative work made in the UK.

New for 2025, this Award is for the Best in Production

WINNER ANNOUNCED

CONGRATULATIONS TO

GOLD WINNER – At Traylor / Sophie Harris-Taylor

Best in Production Award 2025

Congratulations to winners of this inaugural award: At Trayler and Sophie Harris-Taylor
for: Yoto – For Ears with a Mind of Their Own

Production: Vicki Pettifer / At Trayler
Photographer: Sophie Harris-Taylor

Yoto’s summer 2024 campaign, ‘For Ears with a Mind of Their Own,’ was commissioned
to position Yoto as the go-to audio player for fostering children’s independence.
Commissioned by Insiders Studio for Yoto and produced by At Trayler, the campaign was
shot by photographer Sophie Harris-Taylor. Her signature documentary style and sensitive
approach with children were central to the creative execution. Producer Vicki Pettifer
worked wonders with the very limited budget of £55,000 to create an OOH campaign
showing real children listening independently to Yoto, with the creative device of
prosthetic animal ears visualising the immersive world of audio. The surreal, yet grounded
effect was to be achieved without CGI, prioritising in-camera authenticity and emotional
resonance. The result is a body of work that blends technical ingenuity, craft, and genuine
human connection — and it resonated across UK, US, French, and Canadian markets.

Judged by: Steve Davies, CEO of the Advertising Producers Association (APA)

AOP Best in Production Award 2025

This is a NEW Award for 2025! Aimed at Producers, Photographers running their own production, Agents, indeed anyone who’s responsible for the finished campaign or piece of commissioned work.

You do not have to be a member of the AOP to enter.

You can enter a document containing all the info (for example, a PDF portfolio), or a still/series of stills/moving image file and any supporting evidence as PDFs.

Entry Criteria

1. Production Excellence

Show a high quality of execution across all production elements: direction, cinematography/stills, editing, sound, set-design/styling, and post-production.
Demonstrate a seamless integration of creative vision and technical delivery.
Show any innovation in production techniques or the use of new technologies.

2. Creative Impact

Demonstrate originality and uniqueness of the production approach.

3. Contribution to Brand Objectives

Show an alignment of the overall production with any brand goals and any campaign strategy.

4. Inclusivity and Diversity

Ensure, and evidence, a representation of diverse talent both ‘on-screen’ and behind-the-scenes and inclusive practices in production planning and execution.

5. Feasibility and Compliance

Ensure adherence to legal, ethical, and publishing/broadcast standards for UK.

Judging Process

Entries should include the finished creative work and a brief summary of the production approach, and the challenges overcome.
Written submissions should focus on production craft and creativity, not just campaign results.

2025 Entry Fees

Entry Fees per Single Project
(All prices include VAT @20%)

Individual Stills or Moving– £50.00
Teams Stills or Moving – £100.00

2025 Entry Details

Entries Open: 5 June 2025

Entries Close: 14 July 2025

For this Award, we will be requesting Producers, Photographers/Agents running their own show and Production Houses to submit their work to this year’s new Award.
Entries can be made by either an Individual or a Team. (See above for pricing).
Each entry can be a still, a series of stills or moving image piece and needs to be submitted via the existing Submissions Portal. All entries must have been completed, or published as new, in the period from 1 January 2024 to date.
Entries will be judged by a dedicated judge.
Finalists will be announced in early July and the Winner announced live at the 40th AOP Photography Awards Showcase in October 2025.
There will be up to three finalists and one Winner and they can be either an Individual or a Team.
Finalist’s and Winner’s work will be featured in the 40th AOP Awards Book, and the winner may be interviewed about their production to be promoted to AOP members.

Judged by

Steve Davies, CEO of the Advertising Producers Association (APA)

Find out more

As an attorney, Steve advises APA members on contracts, copyright and production issues. Under his leadership, the APA has built on its core functions to provide members with new services, including marketing advice and opportunities to connect with new markets locally and internally through the APA Show and The Future of Advertising.

He also founded the Masterclass; a course that trains 110 producers per year. In addition, he has developed business initiatives and ensured the APA is a respected and effective advocate for its members’ interests.

Steve is a member of the APA Council, of the board of the Advertising Association and Vice President of the CFPE, as well as one of the founders of the World Producers Summit.

Not a member? If you would like to become an AOP member, please click here.