# 2023 Finalists Announced
## 2023 AdFocus Awards finalists announced
After a thorough judging process, the finalists for the 2023 Financial Mail AdFocus Awards have been announced. AdFocus Awards chairperson Luca Gallarelli, group CEO of TBWA\SA says the make-up of this year’s jury promised much and went on to deliver beyond expectations.
“An incredibly rigorous pre-judging process was followed by a full day of varied and robust debate in what proved to be an incredibly competitive year,” he reveals. “I am confident that the shortlisted finalists genuinely represent the very best our industry has to offer.”
This year’s leading agencies, he adds, are not content with delivering only against the expectations of today but push, year on year, to meet the demands of the future.
Gallarelli reveals that there are several categories that are too close to call.
#### The finalists for the 2023 AdFocus Awards are:
#### Small Agency of the Year
* Happy Friday
* Matte BLK
* Retroviral
#### Medium Agency of the Year
* Grid Worldwide Branding & Design
* Rapt Creative
* Two Tone Global
#### Large Agency of the Year
* Joe Public United
* Ogilvy SA
* TBWA\Hunt Lascaris JHB
#### Public Relations Agency of the Year
* Magna Carta
* Razor PR
* Weber Shandwick
#### Specialised Agency of the Year
* Levergy
* MakeReign
* Mscsports
* PlusNarrative
#### Media Agency of the Year
* The MediaShop
* PHD
#### Partnership of the Year (Sponsored by IAS)
* Grey & Savannah
* Joe Public & Nedbank
* Ogilvy & Carling Black Label
* TBWA\Hunt Lascaris Durban & BuildIt
#### African Impact Award
* TBWA\SA
* Weber Shandwick
#### Adaptability
* Two Tone Global
* Weber Shandwick
#### Transformation Award
* No finalists are announced for this category as there was a clear winner significantly ahead that will be announced on the night.
#### Group of the Year
* M&C Saatchi Abel
* Ogilvy SA
* TBWA\SA
#### Student of the Year - (sponsored by Park Advertising)
* Jané Louw – Cape Town Creative School
* Philipa Scholtz - Red & Yellow School
* Natalie Ray - Red & Yellow School
* Xolisa Thamarnan - Red & Yellow School
#### The following awards will be announced on the evening of the awards:
* The Agency of the Year Award, Lifetime Achiever, Industry Leader and Shapeshifter.
“Congratulations to all the finalists,” says Gallarelli.
The winners of the 2023 AdFocus Awards will be announced on November 22 2023. For more information on the awards visit www.adfocus.co.za
For advertising and sponsorship opportunities in the 2022 FM AdFocus publication, contact Kay Naidoo (NaidooKA@arena.africa) or Debbie Montanari (MontanariD@arena.africa)
The big take-out: “The 2023 AdFocus Awards shortlisted finalists represent the very best our industry has to offer.” - Luca Gallarelli, group CEO of TBWA\SA and AdFocus Awards chairperson.
Read more:
[2023 FM Creative Challenge](http://https://www.businesslive.co.za/redzone/news-insights/2023-08-03-enter-the-2023-fm-creative-challenge/)
[Lessons in Marketing Chemistry](https://www.businesslive.co.za/redzone/news-insights/2023-06-29-lessons-in-marketing-chemistry/)
