Burnett wins almost half of CIFF Television Awards

LEO BURNETT trumped the Chicago International Film Festival TV awards by scoring 18 – or almost half — of the 40 television commercial awards presented last Wednesday at a ceremony at the Hyatt Magnificent Mile Hotel.

Leo Burnett and Whitehouse Post topped the list by winning the WTTW Audience Choice Award for a Firestone commercial and Burnett took home an armful of Gold and Silver plaques.

Another total of 18 prizes went to six local companies:  mcgarrybowen with six; Whitehouse Post, four; Beast Editorial, three, Cutters, two, Onion Labs two and Dictionary Films one.

The TV Awards were attended by some 200 guests and the presentation of trophies was made by WGN’s Dan Ponce and Ki Suk Yi of ABC’s “Windy City Live.”

Click here for the complete winners’ list.  

The other part of the awards night was presenting special honors to advertising legend Tom Burrell, Whitehouse Post, the Onion, and to WGN/11 meteorologist Tom Skilling and CBS/2 investigative reporter Jay Levine.

TREMENDOUS MEDIA ATTENTION is focused on the NFL Draft’s return to Chicago after 51 years. The NFL’s presentation of the 2015 draft, rounds 1-3, takes place at what will be a packed  Auditorium Theatre April 30-May 1. 

The NFL is creating Draft Town in Grant Park, across the street from the Auditorium to allow more fans “to experience the excitement of the draft.” Camera crews from all over will be working through May 2 to capture the monstrous sports event in Chicago.

REBRANDED: Tribeca Flashpoint College is the new name for what had been Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy. The change to college “reflects the institutions expanding reputation as a leader in media arts education,” notes college CEO Todd Steele

The school started out as a two year academy and is now a four-year creative college offering film, design, marketing, animation and audio engineering courses.

Also: “Saturday Night Live” alum Julia Sweeney will be the commencement speaker at the college’s 2015 graduation ceremonies May 9 at Navy Pier.

“CHICAGO PD” wraps production next Monday and “Chicago Fire” shortly thereafter, although the cast and crews of both NBC shows held their combined wrap party last week at John Barleycorn tavern.

The shows will return to Cinespace the third week of July to film their fall season series. 

LOCAL ACTRESS Ellie Weingardt will appear this weekend with Penny Marshall, who directed, and other cast members of the 1992 movie “A League of their Own” at the HollywoodChicago show at the Rosemont Hilton May 2-3 for autographs and photo ops. 

Many of the “League” stars will also appear at special screening at the Naperville Hollywood Palms Cinema at 8 p.m.  “League” has a special connection to the Chicago area, having filmed at Wrigley Field, in Wheaton and Union, Illinois and Indiana.

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