Bear Meets Eagle on Fire Leads Bird Call For 47th AWARD Awards

Entries are now open for the 47th AWARD Awards, APAC’s benchmark for creative excellence, supported this year by a new campaign from Bear Meets Eagle on Fire, AWARD’s 2025 agency of the year.

Drawing inspiration from 19th-century ornithology, the scientific study of birds, the 2026 campaign introduces bespoke calls for each award category in a series of films directed by Revolver’s Leilani Croucher.

Every call is composed from the chirps, peeps, and trills of various species; from the channel-billed cuckoo to the warbling grass parakeet, with audio and illustrations informed by the work of renowned Australian ornithologists John and Elizabeth Gould.

AWARD chair Mandie van der Merwe, said, “This year, creativity is calling, literally. But the call isn’t a shout; it’s a whistle to the industry: a gentle, insistent note that cuts through the clutter and reminds us why we do what we do, to make ideas that sing.

“A huge thanks to the Bear Meets Eagle on Fire team for bringing this idea to life. We look forward to celebrating all the incredible creative work from across APAC that answers the call.”

Micah Walker, founder of Bear Meets Eagle on Fire, said, “We wanted to give each category its own clear call, something simple and bespoke that reflects the diversity of work AWARD celebrates, from cinematography to design, radio, animation, and more.

“It’s been a fun project to bring to life in support of a program that continues to champion the best creative thinking in the region. A massive thank you to Revolver and Leilani Croucher, the Editors, Rumble, The Pool Collective and Cream studios for helping us make it all happen.”

To reflect the evolving creative landscape, AWARD has introduced four new categories:

• Social and creator: mobile-first creative ideas designed for social platforms.
  
• Brand experience and entertainment: experiences and entertainment-led work that create genuine moments of connection.
  
• Business-to-business: B2B ideas brought to life through creative use of design and communication.
  
• Creative effectiveness: work grounded in sound strategy and proven to deliver meaningful business impact.
  

The 'Creativity for Good' award has been elevated to a dedicated track, spotlighting work that drives positive social or environmental change, while new sub-categories such as 'Achievement in Production' within craft recognise the essential contribution of production excellence to creative campaigns. A new special award, 'In-house Agency of the Year', also debuts in 2026.

Work completed between January 1st 2025 and April 25th 2026 is eligible for entry. The early-bird discount period (10% off entry fees) closes 5:00pm AEDT, Friday January 16th. Final entries close 5:00pm AEDT, Friday, March 13th 2026.