Entries to the Australian Effie Awards reached an all time high this year, marking a 19 per cent increase on submissions in 2015.

Celebrating creative and strategic ideas that deliver real business results, the Effies set an industry benchmark for excellence in effective communications.

Effies chair Anthony Freedman said: “At a time when the industry is placing increasing focus on measurement and accountability, the Effies have never been more important. The rise in entries is a positive sign that there is confidence among both agencies and their clients in the value that commercial creativity is delivering to today’s businesses.”

This year’s awards attracted entries from 60 agencies on behalf of 93 clients. Submissions were made across 24 categories – four of which were added this year to reflect developments in the industry landscape and the work being produced. They include: On-Line Brands, Use of Data, Environmental Sustainability, and Insight & Strategic Thinking.

Tony Hale, CEO of The Communications Council commented: “It is important that the Effies evolve each year in line with the fast-changing landscape. Our new categories were evidently important additions in light of this year’s response – Insight & Strategic Thinking in particular attracted a high level of entries and will be hotly contested! It was also great to see a good mix of agencies, with all states well-represented”.

Entries will undergo the first round of judging online from Monday 20th June to Thursday 23rd June, with finalists announced on Wednesday 6 July. A second round will take place on Wednesday 3 August  to determine the winners, with results announced at a presentation in Sydney on Thursday 8th September.