New York, USA –Creativity has the power to educate, inspire, and drive meaningful change. In a groundbreaking collaboration, the New York Festivals Advertising Awards and the African Cristal Festival introduce the NYF Cristal Village Award—a prestigious new category recognizing creative work that fosters cultural understanding and champions positive social impact.
Entry fees for this award will directly fund Pan-African young creatives, providing them with a life-changing opportunity to attend the African Cristal Festival in Morocco.
Justin Thomas-Copeland, Chair African Cristal Festival says “Creativity broadens horizons, excites, and educates, this collaboration with New York Festivals embodies that. I can’t wait to see the work. By submitting entries, agencies and brands will directly fund young African talent from across the continent to attend the African Cristal Festival in Morocco. It could be the spark to change their lives!”
“New York Festivals is thrilled to join forces with the African Cristal Festival on this exciting new initiative, one that celebrates purpose-driven creativity while empowering the next generation of talent.” remarked Scott Rose, President, New York Festivals.
2025 NYF Cristal Village Award Jury
- African Cristal Festival Chair – Justin Thomas-Copeland – CEO & Founder, KINDRD Global, United Kingdom & Belgium
- Kwame Taylor Hayford, Creative Executive | Co-Founder, Kin, USA
- Andrea Diquez, Global CEO, Gut, USA
- Kofi Amoo-Gottfried, Chief Marketing Officer, DoorDash, USA
- Shobha Sairam, Global Chief Strategy Officer, USA
The Cristal Village Award honors creative brand and experiential work that educates, inspires, and fosters cultural connection. It recognizes campaigns that deliver meaningful messages, challenge perceptions, and drive social good across any platform.
To qualify, entries must showcase a strong purpose, spark new ideas, and encourage deeper understanding—changing attitudes and behaviors for the better. The award seeks work that bridges cultures and makes a lasting, positive impact.
Examples of eligible work include, but are not limited to, campaigns delivering human & community-driven brand activation, new product and service launches and activation – with a strong social focus, climate and sustainability change, mental, physical health & wellness impact, disease awareness, animal welfare, and human rights.
Entry fees for submissions in this category will go towards sponsoring Pan-African young creatives to attend the African Cristal Festival, planned to take place in Casablanca, Morocco in September 2025. Both NY Festivals and the African Cristal Festival hope that such an experience for young talent will change and inspire lives.
For more information please visit: New York Festivals Advertising Awards and the African Cristal Festival.
