Today, the DoubleClick Rich Media team announced a call for entries to their annual Digital Movie Advertising Creative Showcase awards program. This is the only awards program dedicated to showcasing the best creative in interactive movie advertising.

Movie marketers and creative agencies are invited to submit their work for consideration. New to the awards this year is a "YouTube Creative Award." Any home entertainment or theatrical movie campaign that included YouTube in its execution is eligible. For the campaigns of theatrical or home video releases, whether they included a YouTube homepage ad, brand channel, or an original video that engaged YouTube users, it's all good: the event rewards creativity and innovation in the entire rich media and video space. The deadline for entries is Thursday, September 17th.

In addition to the YouTube Creative Award, the program supports three more categories: Theatrical Release Rich Media Display Ad(s), Home Entertainment Rich Media Display Ad(s), and Multi-Channel Cross Media Campaign.

The winners of each category will receive recognition by their industry peers, the opportunity to present to a live audience at the Director's Guild of America in Los Angeles, inclusion in the event's video reel, two award trophies (one each for the movie studio and creative agency) and two Flip Mino mini digital camcorders!

To learn more, or to submit an entry, please visit the Digital Movie Advertising Creative Showcase website.

Posted by Sally Cole, Industry Marketing Manager

With Advertising Week less than a month away, we're excited to announce that voting for the YouTube Battle of the Ad Bands is now open. This competition puts the industry's finest -- musically speaking -- in the spotlight for a chance to be known as advertising's rock 'n' roll kingpins.

Last September, McCann Erickson brought down the house and took home the coveted trophy. Who will emerge as this year's champion? Wunderman with their rendition of AC/DC's "Live Wire"? Lowe NY's version of The Kinks's "You Really Got Me"? It's up to you!

RCKBAND, from Digitas, with their own take on a-ha's "Take on Me"

An independent committee from the Association of Music Producers (AMP) has narrowed the field down to 8-10 bands and singers (see official rules and regulations on Advertising Week's site), and your votes will decide which entrants make it to the finals.

So vote for your favorite act on the official Advertising Week YouTube channel until September 7. The bands with the most votes will live out their rock fantasies at YouTube Battle of the Ad Bands at the Highline Ballroom on September 22 in New York.

Posted by Kristin Kovner, Industry Marketing Manager