NYF Torch Awards for young creative talent announces finalists teams

The teams, comprising 18-25-year-olds, will convene 30 April 30 and polish their pitches guided by mentors recruited from NYF's Executive Jury. Teams will compete in a pitch challenge, presenting their campaign before a panel of prominent judges and representatives from Road Recovery Foundation. The Grand Winning team will be announced live at the New York Show gala on 1 May.

Torch Awards Finalist Teams:

• Jardin & Tessa
Tessa Midgley, Copywriter and Jardin Anderson, Art Director - Rapp Melbourne, Australia

• Witty Committee
Melanie Leonard, Art Direction Student and Edward Miller, Copywriting Student - Miami Ad School, USA

• Hot Nuggets
Jessie Wilks, Copywriter and Gerardo Agbuya, Art Director - Juniper Park Toronto, Canada

• DDB Beijing
Xing Yu Qiu, Copywriter - Tribal Worldwide Beijing DDB China; Shi Chuan Tang, Account Executive - DDB Guaon DDB China Group; and Run Dong Liu, Designer - DDB Guaon DDB China Group

• Team Ketchum
Jordan Drake, Senior Media Specialist, Samantha Emrich, Account Executive, and Macaela Mackenzie, Creative Assistant - Ketchum New York, USA

The Torch Awards was launched this year to champion young creative talent and invite them to compete in a creative challenge, the art of the pitch. Young creatives, age 18-25, were encouraged to enter and review a brief outlining a marketing opportunity to assist Road Recovery and a chance to see their campaign selected to go live.

New York Festivals has partnered with Road Recovery, a non-profit organisation "dedicated to helping young people battle addiction and other adversities by harnessing the influence of entertainment industry professionals who have confronted similar crises and now wish to share their experience, knowledge,
and resources."

To view the Torch Award Mentors and Judges click here.