Successes in marketing and communications were celebrated last month at the British Video Association's 2015 BVA Awards, at the Tobacco Dock, London. The past year has seen significant change within marketing and publicity teams at many distributors with budgets having to work harder than ever. As a result, "marketeers must employ incremental skills and innovative approaches to cut through in a highly competitive retail environment, something that was highly celebrated last night," says the BVA.

Warner Home entertainment Group won 'Distributor of the Year' and picked up a further award for its smart and sophisticated marketing initiative: 'Marketing Campaign of the Year Film - £1 million to £5 million Box Office for Jersey Boys. Warner titles account for an impressive 14.1% market share of the retail disc market by value.

The best-selling video of 2014, Walt Disney's Frozen, won 'Title of The Year.' The film had been the number one selling title on nine separate weeks in 2014 and didn't once leave the top 3 throughout the whole year. Tesco UK also took home a second award for 'Retail In-Store Theatre Initiative of the Year' for the Frozen Winter Wonderland - Frozen Sing-Along, with judges calling the campaign "ground breaking."

Universal Pictures (UK) took home an impressive four awards this year, including 'Marketing Campaign of the Year for Film - Over £15 million Box Office' against strong competition for The Wolf of Wall Street. Universal Pictures (UK) also took home awards for 'PR/Publicity Initiative of the Year' for Northern Soul, 'Marketing Campaign of the Year for Children' for Monster High: Frights, Camera, Action! and 'Marketing Campaign of the Year for Special Interest' for Lee Evans - Monsters!

Lionsgate UK and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment both celebrated a double win. Lionsgate UK took home 'Marketing Campaign of the Year - Catalogue: Single Product' for Pulp Fiction and 'Digital/Social Marketing Initiative of the Year' for Filth. While Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment took home 'Marketing Campaign of the Year - Catalogue: Multiple Product' for their X-Men: Days of Future Past theatrical drafting campaign and 'Marketing Campaign of the Year Film - £5 million to £15 million Box Office' for The Fault in Our Stars.

HBO Home Entertainment took home 'Marketing Campaign of the Year for Television' for Game of Thrones Season 3; 'Best British Authored Disc of the Year' went to STUDIOCANAL for The Two Faces of January and Signature Entertainment took home 'Marketing Campaign of the Year Film - Up to £1 million Box Office' and 'Non-Theatrical' for Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return.

In an ever-changing connected environment, Sky, amazon.co.uk and iTunes were all successful, winning 'Retailer Initiative of the Year,' 'Home Delivery Retailer of the Year' and 'Digital Retailer of the Year,' respectively. Obviously Creative took home 'Supplier of the Year' and HMV celebrated winning 'Retail Store of the Year' for the third year in a row at the annual BVA Awards.

"The category is constantly evolving in response to the ever-changing consumer behaviour," said Liz Bales, Chief Executive of the BVA. "It's great to see year on year the creativity and strength of campaigns continuing to reach audiences in new exciting ways, through different mediums. It's great to be able to acknowledge all those who continue to make the video industry great and celebrate their campaigns on a fantastic evening!"



To download the Winners Programme please click here.

To see the photos from the night, click here.

Story filed 20.07.15