Playwright to chair DMA Awards

The DMA is aiming to put story-telling at the heart of this year’s Awards, after appointing acclaimed British playwright, director and screenwriter Stephen Poliakoff as chair of judges.
Best known for his TV work, penning the likes of Dancing on the Edge, Perfect Strangers and Gideon’s Daughter, Poliakoff will oversee the judging process, including the final grand prix judging.
He takes over from Red or Dead co-founder Wayne Hemingway – the man who has made “vintage” common parlance – who presided over last year’s event.
Poliakoff said: “Winning campaigns combine the elements of creativity, strategy and results. As important as these elements are, they must also tell a good story. I will be looking out for brands that use storytelling to grab attention, inspire or move their customers. The DMAs not only celebrate creativity, strategy and results but also the ability for a brand to tell a story.”
To promote the awards, the industry body is launching what it calls “The DMA Award Parcel”. Designed to highlight successful campaigns, the “parcel” will be passed around the agency community in the coming weeks.
DMA Awards committee chair Mark Runacus said: “Stephen brings a wealth of experience and in particular a unique perspective on the role of great writing in connecting with consumers. Like Stephen, all of the judges will be looking for entries that made a real difference, told as a truly engaging story.”
The DMA Awards are supported by headline sponsors TNT Post and data experts Call Credit. The call for entries opens this week and closes on September 6. Entries will be judged in October.
The winners will be revealed at the awards presentation ball to be held at Old Billingsgate in the City of London on December 3. For more information, visit the DMA Awards website.