TBWA\SMP strikes hard at the 2026 Kidlat Awards, emerging as Agency of the Year while “Boysen Color Stories” claimed one of four Grand Kidlat Awards, capping off a commanding performance across KLAS!K and !MPACT categories.
The agency’s haul underscored the power of integrated ideas that can travel across platforms and disciplines, but it wasn’t the only creative force that defined the night. BBDO Guerrero’s “Safetynovela” cemented itself as the year’s craft benchmark, earning a Grand Kidlat for Most Creative Branded Content & Entertainment alongside Golds in Outstanding Film Direction and Most Creative Branded Content & Entertainment, plus a string of Craft and KLAS!K metals. Lennon Group also landed among the evening’s biggest stories as “Some Nights I Feel Like Doing a Grindr Movie Tour” won the Grand Kidlat for Most Creative Marketing Stunt and a Gold in the same category, while Leo Manila’s “McDonald’s GamiFries” proved one of the festival’s most awarded campaigns with a Grand Kidlat for Most Creative Brand Recall Campaign, multiple Golds, and additional KLAS!K and !MPACT wins.
The production community was equally celebrated, with Arcade taking home Kidlat Film Production House of the Year after a dominant showing across the Craft categories through work including “Safetynovela,” “Orocan ‘Let It Go’,” “GrabMart Chicky Series,” and “Grab ‘Asenso’ Series.” The company’s Marius Talampas, named Advertising Film Director of the Year, reinforced Arcade’s outsized influence on the year’s most awarded work. Meanwhile, Hit Productions was recognized as Kidlat Audio Production House of the Year, buoyed by its wins for “Safetynovela” in Outstanding Sound Design and Outstanding Soundtrack or Music.
McDonald’s also emerged as the festival’s most awarded advertiser, with its campaigns appearing across nearly every major competition. “McDonald’s GamiFries” led the charge with a Grand Kidlat for Most Creative Brand Recall Campaign, multiple Golds in KLAS!K and !MPACT, and Bronze wins spanning Best Advertising Campaign, Most Creative Marketing Stunt, and Most Creative Print Work That’s Not a Print Ad or Poster. The brand’s creative momentum extended beyond “McDonald’s GamiFries” through TBWA\SMP’s “McDonald’s Ride-Thru Campaign” and “Kalbo.”
TREYNA Group, meanwhile, made a compelling case as the year’s creative leadership powerhouse. Beyond taking home a Gold for “Right to Care: Expanding Healthcare Proxy Rights Nationwide,” and additional campaign wins, the agency swept many of the individual !NDUSTRY honors, with Abi Aquino named Chief Creative Officer of the Year, Ramon Carlo Olivarez as Executive Creative Director of the Year, Mylo De Borja as Creative Director of the Year, Adrian De Guzman as Art Director of the Year, and Paulo Dela Rosa as Copywriter of the Year.
Check out the complete list of winners below:
KLAS!K
Bronze
Best Digital Film Advertising
- “Safetynovela” by BBDO Guerrero
Best Jingle or Branded Song
- “The Never-Ending Chant” by Ogilvy Manila
- “Peyyyyless Sakto x BINI” by Dentsu Creative Manila
Best Outdoor or Ambient Advertising
- “Champion Detergent Table Clothes” by TBWA\SMP
Best Poster
- “Rum from the Islas” by ACE SAATCHI & SAATCHI ADVERTISING
Best Merch
- “Sari-SAri DYC Trophy” by Tony &
Best On-Ground Activation
- “GCASH ‘SACHET LOANS'” by Publicis JimenezBasic, Inc.
- “Champion Detergent Table Clothes” by TBWA\SMP
- “Whiskas Lucky Cat” by BBDO Guerrero
- “Mcdonalds Ride-Thru Campaign” by TBWA\SMP
- “Lactacyd Museum of Speaking Skin” by Leo Manila
Best Digital/Social Advertising
- “The Little Filmmakers” by Ogilvy Manila
- “MAKE UP AND LIVE SELLING” by Seven A.D.
- “Makeup” by Seven A.D.
- “The Knorr Cube Emoji” by TREYNA Group
Best Advertising Campaign
- “McDonald’s GamiFries” by Leo Manila
Silver
Best Merch
- “Whiskas Lucky Cat” by BBDO Guerrero
Best Digital/Social Advertising
- “URC Small Big Idea” by Leo Manila
Gold
Best Digital/Social Advertising
- “McDonald’s GamiFries” by Leo Manila
- “Boysen Color Stories” by TBWA\SMP
!MPACT
Bronze
Most Creative AI-assisted Advertising
- “Boysen Color Stories” by TBWA\SMP
Most Creative Website & Digital Estate
- “Boysen Color Stories” by TBWA\SMP
- “Spotify BALASA” by SVEN
Most Creative Mobile Marketing
- “Spotify BALASA” by SVEN
Most Creative Media Plan & Tactics
- “Safe Sound Check” by Huddle Room Inc.
- “GCASH ‘SACHET LOANS'” by Publicis JimenezBasic, Inc.
Most Creative Guerilla or Moment Marketing
- “Champion Detergent Table Clothes” by TBWA\SMP
Most Creative Influencer & Endorsement Marketing
- “TNT – Deadstreaming” by ACE SAATCHI & SAATCHI ADVERTISING
- “When Davao Met Vicki” by VML
- “The 7’3″ Perspective” by Leo Manila
Most Creative New Product/Service (Re)Launch
- “URC Small Big Idea” by Leo Manila
- “Right to Care: Expanding Healthcare Proxy Rights Nationwide” by TREYNA Group
- “Lactacyd Museum of Speaking Skin” by Leo Manila
Most Creative Low-Budget Campaign
- “Chippy Tear Here” by Seven A.D.
- “MAKE UP AND LIVE SELLING” by Seven A.D.
- “The Knorr Cube Emoji” by TREYNA Group
Most Creative Tactical or Seasonal Campaign
- “McDonald’s GamiFries” by Leo Manila
Most Creative Marketing Stunt
- “Champion Detergent Table Clothes” by TBWA\SMP
- “Mcdonalds Ride-Thru Campaign” by TBWA\SMP
- “McDonald’s GamiFries” by Leo Manila
Most Creative Promo
- “Some Nights I Feel Like Doing a Grindr Movie Tour” by Lennon Group
Most Creative User-Generated Campaign
- “Pocky Kanta” by Dentsu Creative Philippines
- “Coca-Cola Sound of Home.FM” by WPP Open X Led by Ogilvy Manila / Bates CHI & Partners
Most Creative Sustainability Communication
- “WWF Earth Hour Runner Codes” by Leo Manila
- “Protegeri” by Lennon Group
- “Ark Crop Couture” by Leo Manila
Most Creative Business Solution or Strategy
- “The Little Filmmakers” by Ogilvy Manila
Most Creative Brand Recall Campaign
- “GCASH ‘SACHET LOANS'” by Publicis JimenezBasic, Inc.
Most Creative Email or Direct Marketing
- “Heaven Palette” by TBWA\SMP
- “Champion Detergent Table Clothes” by TBWA\SMP
Most Creative Causes & Social Good Communication
- “Right to Care: Expanding Healthcare Proxy Rights Nationwide” by TREYNA Group
- “Heaven Palette” by TBWA\SMP
- “Babaylanes – Play Through The Hate” by Alab MNL, Inc.
Most Creative Political or Public Service Campaign
- “Last Broadcast Campaign” by TBWA\SMP
Most Creative Game Dev or Gamified Activation
- “GAMEJOY: The First Universal Gamer Money” by Octopus&Whale
Best LGBTQIA+ Campaign
- “QUEERCON” by AD HOC
Most Creative Print Work That’s Not A Print Ad or Poster
- “McDonald’s GamiFries” by Leo Manila
Most Creative Sound Design in Narrative Audio
- “Bakit sa Gabi Lumilipad ang Paniki” by Geraldee Caluag
Silver
Most Creative Game Dev or Gamified Activation
- “Play No Dew” by BBDO Guerrero
Most Creative Campaign with TikTok (Sponsored)
- “Boysen Color Stories” by TBWA\SMP
Most Creative Mandatory Communications
- “Safetynovela” by BBDO Guerrero
Most Creative Trade Marketing Program
- “GCASH ‘SACHET LOANS'” by Publicis JimenezBasic, Inc.
Most Creative Political or Public Service Campaign
- “Right to Care: Expanding Healthcare Proxy Rights Nationwide” by TREYNA Group
Most Creative Causes & Social Good Communication
- “MAKE UP AND LIVE SELLING” by Seven A.D.
- “Break-Up Box” by Dentsu Creative Philippines
- “Makeup” by Seven A.D.
- “Safe Sound Check” by Jayme Headquarters
Most Creative Influencer & Endorsement Marketing
- “Some Nights I Feel Like Doing a Grindr Movie Tour” by Lennon Group
- “Heaven Palette” by TBWA\SMP
Most Creative Low-Budget Campaign
- “Safe Sound Check” by Huddle Room Inc.
- “Break-Up Box” by Dentsu Creative Philippines
Most Creative Sustainability Communication
- “Heaven Palette” by TBWA\SMP
Most Creative Marketing Stunt
- “Whiskas Lucky Cat” by BBDO Guerrero
Gold
Most Creative Marketing Stunt
- “Some Nights I Feel Like Doing a Grindr Movie Tour” by Lennon Group
Most Creative Branded Content & Entertainment
- “Safetynovela” by BBDO Guerrero
- “Boysen Color Stories” by TBWA\SMP
Most Creative Low-Budget Campaign
- “Life of a Burgirl” by Dentsu Creative Philippines
- “McDonald’s GamiFries” by Leo Manila
Most Creative Long Term Campaign
- “Right to Care: Expanding Healthcare Proxy Rights Nationwide” by TREYNA Group
Most Creative Guerilla or Moment Marketing
- “Life of a Burgirl” by Dentsu Creative Philippines
Most Creative User-Generated Campaign
- “Boysen Color Stories” by TBWA\SMP
Most Creative Brand Recall Campaign
- “Play No Dew” by BBDO Guerrero
- “McDonald’s GamiFries” by Leo Manila
CRAFTSMANSH!P
Bronze
Outstanding Copywriting
- “Adidas Built on Belief” by Ogilvy Manila
Outstanding Art Direction
- “Rum from the Islas” by ACE SAATCHI & SAATCHI ADVERTISING
- “ARK Patterns of Abundance” by Leo Manila
Outstanding Animation or VFX
- “Stresstabs ‘Gone Girl'” by Arcade
- “STAR (CHILDHOPE)” by FilmPabrika Inc.
Outstanding Cinematography
- “Orocan ‘Let It Go'” by Arcade
- “Grab ‘Asenso’ Series” by Arcade
- “Stresstabs ‘Gone Girl'” by Arcade
- “BLACK (MAYA)” by FilmPabrika Inc.
Outstanding Color Grading
- “PAL SAFETYNOVELA” by BAREBONES INC.
- “ALI” by BAREBONES INC.
- “UHAW SA LIGAYA” by BAREBONES INC.
Outstanding Production Design
- “Stresstabs ‘Gone Girl'” by Arcade
- “Grab ‘Asenso’ Series” by Arcade
- “Orocan ‘Let It Go'” by Arcade
- “TNT ‘Dead Streaming'” by Arcade
Outstanding Editing
- “GrabMart Chicky Series” by Arcade
- “TNT ‘Dead Streaming'” by Arcade
Outstanding Casting
- “Grab ‘Asenso’ Series” by Arcade
- “TNT ‘Dead Streaming'” by Arcade
- “Samgyupsalamat ‘Unli'” by Arcade
- “IWANT ‘HOME'” by Arcade
Outstanding Film Direction
- “KALBO (MCDONALD’S)” by FilmPabrika Inc.
- “GrabMart Chicky Series” by Arcade
- “Stresstabs ‘Gone Girl'” by Arcade
- “SUPER SAYA SWITCH 15s” by FRAGMENT MANILA INC.
- “2G” by FRAGMENT MANILA INC.
- “Joel & Amy” by Arcade
- “STANDOFF (GCASH)” by FilmPabrika Inc.
Silver
Outstanding Makeup & Styling
- “Philippine Airlines ‘Safetynovela'” by Arcade
Outstanding Cinematography
- “Philippine Airlines ‘Safetynovela'” by Arcade
Outstanding Editing
- “Grab ‘Asenso’ Series” by Arcade
- “Orocan ‘Let It Go'” by Arcade
- “Philippine Airlines ‘Safetynovela'” by Arcade
- “Stresstabs ‘Gone Girl'” by Arcade
Outstanding Production Design
- “Philippine Airlines ‘Safetynovela'” by Arcade
Outstanding Sound Design
- “Philippine Airlines ‘Safetynovela'” by Hit Productions
Outstanding Soundtrack or Music
- “Philippine Airlines ‘Safetynovela'” by Hit Productions
Outstanding Casting
- “Philippine Airlines ‘Safetynovela'” by Arcade
Outstanding Film Direction
- “Grab ‘Asenso’ Series” by Arcade
- “GrabFood ‘5 Stars'” by Arcade
- “Samgyupsalamat ‘Unli'” by Arcade
Gold
Outstanding Art Direction
- “Champion Detergent Table Clothes” by TBWA\SMP
Outstanding Editing
- “BLACK (MAYA)” by FilmPabrika Inc.
Outstanding Casting
- “GrabMart Chicky Series” by Arcade
- “Orocan ‘Let It Go'” by Arcade
Outstanding Film Direction
- “Orocan ‘Let It Go'” by Arcade
- “BLACK (MAYA)” by FilmPabrika Inc.
- “Philippine Airlines ‘Safetynovela'” by Arcade
!NDUSTRY
Bronze
Client of the Year
- “Philippine Airlines” by BBDO Guerrero
Chief Creative Officer of the Year
- “Abi Aquino” by TREYNA Group
Art Director of the Year
- “Jacob Banog” by Propel Manila
Silver
Copywriter of the Year
- “Paulo Dela Rosa” by TREYNA Group
Art Director of the Year
- “Adrian De Guzman” by TREYNA Group
Creative Director of the Year
- “Mylo De Borja” by TREYNA Group
Executive Creative Director of the Year
- “Ramon Carlo Olivarez” by TREYNA Group
Gold
Advertising Film Director of the Year
- “Marius Talampas” by Arcade
adobo Magazine is the official creative media partner of the Unprompted_: Kidlat Creative Festival 2026.
