Winners of the very first award dedicated to digital licensing have been announced during the first edition of the Digital Licensing Excellence Awards, the Licensing International and Licensing Italia initiative to highlight the latest developments in the digital spaces.
Awards go to: CoComelon (Best Digital Property), Mash&Co (Best App & Game), Zaira (Best Digital Influencer), CoComelon & Smyths Exclusive Content Initiative (Best Digital Retail Experience) and Corto Maltese (Best Metaverse Brand Extension).
Special mentions go to: Meta Khaby and Metagiro – Il metaverso del Giro d’Italia.
Numerous thematics at the center of the second day of the Apulia Digital Experience international conference, organized by Apulia Film Commission and Rai Com, funded by the Puglia Region and promoted by Rai. Panels include those dedicated to metaverse, the revolutionary tool for immersive and multidimensional brand storytelling, and the digital renaissance of Italian art through augmented and virtual reality, for an innovative and surprising artistic experience.
On the stage in Bari, tax incentives and funding opportunities in the animation world between Puglia and the UK also discussed.
Anna Maria Tosto, President of the Apulia Film Commission, and Roberto Genovesi, artistic director of ADE, commented:
Anna Maria Rosta: “We are pleased to host Apulia Digital Experience as we expect a lot from a moment of comparison and connection between research, digital work and production industry. A very important opportunity for reflexion. By planning for the future, this initiative inevitably addresses the younger generations. It is important that the conference takes place here. The South must lay foundations with its resourses and capabilities. With ADE, we planted something that will grow over time”.
Roberto Genovesi: “We believe that digital can be a great asset that, through this three-day event, we will try to transform from invisible to visible for the territory and the perspectives of all sectors involved in multimedia, transmedia, and cross-media scenario”.
On the concluding day, November 12th, a panel on the role of artificial voices in dubbing is scheduled, a consideration on ethic and potential impacts on the industry. There will also be discussions on the evolution of content in the digital era and the application of cybertechnologies to communication.
The first edition of ADE will conclude with the announcement of the winners of the Telling Apulia with Artificial Intelligence contest, promoting the development of projects to enhance and disseminate the artistic, cultural, and touristic heritage of the Puglia Region.
DIGITAL LICENSING EXCELLENCE AWARDS
JURY MOTIVATIONS
BEST DIGITAL PROPERTY – COCOMELON
For the path taken from digital to streaming and broadcasting, for innovative collaborations, and for the development of the many licensing programs.
BEST DIGITAL RETAIL EXPERIENCE – COCOMELON & SMYTHS
For creating a communication campaign that fully integrates CoComelon’s animation with real products inside Smyths chain stores.
BEST DIGITAL INFLUENCER – ZAIRA
A digital character that fully interacts with the new generation in a realistic and creative way by experiencing everyday life.
BEST METAVERSE BRAND EXTENSION – CORTO MALTESE
For transforming an iconic comic book character into an engaging testimonial for a clothing product line by creatively and originally using the metaverse to reach and attract a new audience.
BEST APP&GAME – MASH&CO
For creating an innovative and creatively impactful app for young children while not neglecting the duty of parental protection.
JURY SPECIAL MENTIONS
META KHABY
For using the world’s No.1 influencer to show the evolution of Avatars in the near future.
METAGIRO – GIRO D’ITALIA METAVERSE
For innovatively using the metaverse to promote one of the most iconic and popular sporting events by virtually tracing the beauty of Italy.