This year, the Awards encompassed a record-breaking 76 categories, with over 750 entries. The Bookmarks’ 68 judges assessed the entries based on stringent, results-based criteria.
The King James Group dominated, winning a total of 32 awards, most notably Best Agency and Best Brand for client Sanlam.
Leon Mwandiringa of Clockwork Media walked away with the award for Best Digital Youngster, while Raphael Janan Kuppasamy and Jenny Groenewald from the Vega School were honoured as the best digital students.
Transformation was high on the agenda at the Awards, with Digify Africa being celebrated for the Best Contribution to Transformation in the Digital Industry. Digital education was also emphasised in the award for Best Individual Contribution to Digital being awarded to Carmen Murray, founder of Boo-Yah.
Creativity with a social conscience was a strong theme with Mortimer Harvey and the Road Accident Fund awarded the Pixel for Purpose Award for its #AlwaysRemember campaign and Pauli van Wyk from the Daily Maverick winning the award for Best Online Journalist.
"South Africa’s fresh talent and most memorable campaigns were recognised, illustrating how far the digital industry has come and continues to set the benchmark and light the path for future innovation. This is why we celebrate digital excellence,” explains Paula Hulley, IAB SA CEO.
| CAMPAIGN CATEGORY |
| Category | Entry Agency | Brand | Title | Product | Prize |
| Content Strategy | King James Group & 42 Digital | Sanlam | Conversations with Yourself | Sanlam Financial Products | Gold |
| Content Strategy | VML South Africa (Pty) Ltd | American Swiss Jewellers | Drop the Hint | Engagement Rings | Gold |
| Content Strategy | Ogilvy | KFC | Make a Meal of it. | Streetwise 2 | Gold |
| Content Strategy | Ogilvy | Philips & The Nelson Mandela Foundation | #ShaveToRemember | Philips | Gold |
| Content Strategy | King James Group | Sanlam | 2 Minute Shower Songs | 2 Minute Shower Songs | Silver |
| Content Strategy | King James Group | Sanlam | The 200 Year Old | Sanlam Financial Services | Silver |
| Content Strategy | Hellocomputer, FCB Africa | Western Cape Government | Raise your voice. Not your phone. | Department of Education | Silver |
| Content Strategy | ENGAGE et al, a member of the et al GROUP | AVBOB | The AVBOB Poetry Competition | | Silver |
| Content Strategy | King James Group | Sanlam | Lives of Grace | Sanlam My Choice Funeral Plan | Silver |
| Digital Strategy | VML South Africa (Pty) Ltd | American Swiss Jewellers | Drop the Hint | Engagement Rings | Silver |
| Digital Strategy | King James Group | Sanlam | The 200 Year Old | Sanlam Financial Services | Silver |
| Digital Strategy | TBWA Hunt Lascaris Johannesburg | Joburg Ballet | Breaking Ballet | Joburg Ballet | Bronze |
| Digital Strategy | King James Group & 42 Digital | Sanlam | Conversations with Yourself | Sanlam Financial Products | Bronze |
| Digital Integrated Campaign | King James Group | Sanlam | 2 Minute Shower Songs | 2 Minute Shower Songs | Silver |
| Digital Integrated Campaign | VML South Africa (Pty) Ltd | American Swiss Jewellers | Drop the Hint | Engagement Rings | Silver |
| Digital Integrated Campaign | TBWA Hunt Lascaris Johannesburg | MTN | Mic Drop | MTN Brand | Bronze |
| Mobile Campaign | Ogilvy | Vodacom | Shake Every Day | Brand | Silver |
| Mobile Campaign | Ogilvy | Vodacom | Super Proposal Facebook Canvas | Network: Super 4G Coverage | Bronze |
| Integrated Mixed Media Campaign | Ogilvy | ABInBev | #NoExcuse | Carling Black Label | Silver |
| Integrated Mixed Media Campaign | King James Group | Sanlam | Conversations with Yourself | Sanlam Financial Products | Silver |
| Integrated Mixed Media Campaign | VML South Africa (Pty) Ltd | Absolut Vodka, Pernod Ricard South Africa | Absolut One Source Live | Absolut Vodka | Silver |
| Integrated Mixed Media Campaign | King James Group | Sanlam | 2 Minute Shower Songs | 2 Minute Shower Songs | Bronze |
| Integrated Mixed Media Campaign | Retroviral | M-NET | Outwit. Outplay. Outdoor | M-NET Survivor | Bronze |
| Integrated Mixed Media Campaign | King James Group | Sanlam | Sanlam 100 Years | Integrated Campaign | Financial Services | Bronze |
| CHANNEL CATEGORY |
| Online Video Series | TBWA Hunt Lascaris Johannesburg | Joburg Ballet | Breaking Ballet | Joburg Ballet | Gold |
| Online Video | Showmax & Sketchbook Studios | Showmax | Tali's Wedding Diary | Tali's Wedding Diary | Silver |
| Online Video | Publicis | Mercedes-Benz | Hey Mercedes | A-Class | Silver |
| Online Video | Net#work BBDO | Mercedes-Benz | Return to Chapman's Peak | S-Class | Silver |
| Online Video | Ogilvy | KFC | Make a Meal of it. | Streetwise 2 | Silver |
| Online Video | Eclipse PR & King James Group | NETFLIX | MAN IN A VAN | NETFLIX | Silver |
| Online Video | King James Group | Sanlam | On Life and Planning | Sanlam Financial Savings products | Bronze |
| Online Video | King James Group | Sanlam | On Life and Surprises | Sanlam Disability products | Bronze |
| Online Video | Hellocomputer/FCB Africa | South African Tourism | Bheki The Mbhaco Maker | South African Tourism | Bronze |
| Online Video | TBWA Hunt Lascaris Johannesburg (Pty) Ltd | Nissan | Nissan Intelligent Mobility 6 second ads | Nissan Intelligent Mobility | Bronze |
| Online Video | Ogilvy | ABInBev | Raising Champions - Mother's Day | Carling Black Label | Bronze |
| Online Video | Ogilvy | ABInBev | Raising Champions - Father's Day | Carling Black Label | Bronze |
| Online Video | VML South Africa (Pty) Ltd | Absolut vodka | Africa on Fire | Vodka | Bronze |
| Online Video | King James Group | Sanlam | Sanlam 100 Year | Online Video Campaign | | Bronze |
| Social Paid Advertising | King James Group | AB InBev | Not that Newlands | Newlands Spring Brewery | Gold |
| Social Paid Advertising | Hellocomputer, FCB Africa | Netflorist | #LoveEveryone | Netflorist Online Delivery | Silver |
| Use of CRM, Loyalty Programs & Gamification | Ogilvy | Vodacom | Shake Every Day | Brand | Gold |
| Use of CRM, Loyalty Programs & Gamification | Ogilvy | Volkswagen | #Marco #Polo | Polo | Gold |
| Use of CRM, Loyalty Programs & Gamification | Mobitainment, ARC South Africa, Asakhane | MARS Africa | Royco Rewards | Royco | Silver |
| Organic Search Marketing | Rogerwilco | WesBank | Dialling Down the Call Centre | | Silver |
| Branded Content | TBWA Hunt Lascaris Johannesburg | Joburg Ballet | Breaking Ballet | Joburg Ballet | Silver |
| Branded Content | Net#work BBDO | Mercedes-Benz | Return to Chapman's Peak | S-Class | Silver |
| Branded Content | King James Group | Sanlam | Lives of Grace | Sanlam My Choice Funeral Plan | Silver |
| Branded Content | King James Group | Sanlam | On Life and Bucket lists | Sanlam Investments | Bronze |
| Branded Content | King James Group | Sanlam | On Life and Longevity | Sanlam Investments | Bronze |
| Branded Content | King James Group | Sanlam | On Life and Planning | Sanlam Investments | Bronze |
| Branded Content | King James Group | Sanlam | On Life and Surprises | Sanlam Investments | Bronze |
| Branded Content | King James Group | Sanlam | Kwesta - Boomshakalaka | 2 Minute Shower Songs | Bronze |
| Branded Content | King James Group | Sanlam | The 200 Year Old | Sanlam Financial Services | Bronze |
| Innovative use of Media | VML South Africa (Pty) Ltd | American Swiss Jewellers | Drop the Hint | Engagement Rings | Silver |
| Innovative use of Media | TBWA Hunt Lascaris Johannesburg | Tiger Brands | The Most Annoying Banner | Doom | Silver |
| Innovative use of Media | BrandTruth & Sprout & Ad Dynamo (SnapChat) | First National Bank, South Africa | FNB App 6.0 Snap Lens | FNB | Silver |
| Innovative use of Media | Joe Public Connect | South African Breweries | Your Business In Lights Billboard | SAB Entrepreneurship | Bronze |
| Paid Search Marketing | The MediaShop | Fishaways | Food for thought... | Fishaways | Bronze |
| Paid Search Marketing | VML South Africa (Pty) Ltd | Nando’s | Nando’s Ecommerce Shopping Ads | Full Chicken, Burgers, Chicken Platters | Bronze |
| Native Advertising | King James Group | Sanlam | The 200 Year Old | Sanlam Financial Services | Bronze |
| Email, Direct & Inbound Marketing | Gorilla | SA Natural Products | Survivor Tree- Email | Bio-Strath | Bronze |
| Use of Programmatic Media | VML South Africa (Pty) Ltd | American Swiss Jewellers | Drop the Hint | Engagement Rings | Bronze |
| Channel Innovation | VML South Africa (Pty) Ltd | American Swiss Jewellers | Drop the Hint | Engagement Rings | Bronze |
| COMMUNITY CATEGORY |
| Use of User-Generated Content | VML South Africa (Pty) Ltd | Nando’s | #GetItTogether | Full chicken and 4 sides | Silver |
| Social Media Campaigns | TBWA Hunt Lascaris Johannesburg | Joburg Ballet | Breaking Ballet | Joburg Ballet | Silver |
| Social Media Campaigns | VML South Africa (Pty) Ltd | Nando’s | #GetItTogether | Full chicken and 4 sides | Silver |
| Social Media Campaigns | Ogilvy | KFC | KFC Black Fried-Day | KFC | Silver |
| Social Media Campaigns | Showmax & Sketchbook Studios | Showmax | Tali's Wedding Diary | Tali's Wedding Diary | Bronze |
| Social Media Campaigns | Showmax | Showmax | The Comedy Central Roast Of Somizi | The Comedy Central Roast Of Somizi | Bronze |
| Social Media Campaigns | Publicis | Mercedes-Benz | Hey, Mercedes | A-Class | Bronze |
| Social Media Campaigns | Ogilvy | Volkswagen | #Marco #Polo | Polo | Bronze |
| Social Media Campaigns | Ogilvy | Castle Lite | #HoldMyBeer | Castle Lite | Bronze |
| Influencer Marketing | Ogilvy | MultiChoice | Watch It Your Way | DStv Premium | Silver |
| Influencer Marketing | VML South Africa (Pty) Ltd | Absolut Vodka, Pernod Ricard South Africa | Absolut One Source Live | Absolut Vodka | Silver |
| Influencer Marketing | Ogilvy | Nimue | #NoMakeUpBride | Nimue | Bronze |
| Influencer Marketing | Publicis Machine | Martell Cognac | Martell VSSD Influencer Packs | Influencer Packs | Bronze |
| Social Communities | Publicis | Mercedes-Benz | Mercedes-Benz | Social Platforms | Bronze |
| Social Communities | Retroviral | RocoMamas | Smashing Social | | Bronze |
| Use of User-Generated Content | Publicis | Mercedes-Benz | Hey Mercedes | A-Class | Bronze |
| CRAFT CATEGORY |
| Craft - Software, Coding & Tech. Innovation | VML South Africa (Pty) Ltd | Nando’s | Nando’s App | iOS and Android App | Craft Gold |
| Craft - Software, Coding & Tech. Innovation | Publicis Machine | Stones | Stones BOT | Bottle Operated Table | Craft Silver |
| Craft - Online Video Production | King James Group | Sanlam | Conversations with Yourself | Sanlam | Craft Gold |
| Craft - Online Video Production | VML South Africa (Pty) Ltd | Absolut vodka | Africa on Fire | Vodka | Craft Gold |
| Craft - Online Video Production | TBWA Hunt Lascaris Johannesburg | Joburg Ballet | Breaking Ballet | Joburg Ballet | Craft Silver |
| Craft - Online Video Production | King James Group | Siemens | Fabric | | Craft Bronze |
| Craft - Online Video Production | Net#work BBDO | Mercedes-Benz | Return to Chapman's Peak | S-Class | Craft Bronze |
| Craft - News or Feature Writing | 24.com a Division of Media24 | News24 | News24 Land of Thirst | Land of Thirst: a 360 degree video experience by News24 | Craft Silver |
| Craft - News or Feature Writing | 24.com a Division of Media24 | Netwerk24 | The Steinhoff scandal | Netwerk24 | Craft Silver |
| Craft - Interface Design | Hellocomputer, FCB Africa | Absa - L'Atelier | L'Atelier 2018 | L'Atelier art competition | Craft Silver |
| Craft - Strategy | TBWA Hunt Lascaris Johannesburg | Joburg Ballet | Breaking Ballet | Joburg Ballet | Craft Silver |
| Craft - Strategy | King James Group | Sanlam | Conversations with Yourself | Sanlam Financial Products | Craft Silver |
| Craft - Strategy | VML South Africa (Pty) Ltd | Cipla South Africa | Bronki Boosters | Asthma Inhaler Casings, Comic Book, Animated Series, Instructional Videos. | Craft Silver |
| Craft - Strategy | Hellocomputer/FCB Africa | Unilever | Sunlight Since Since | Sunlight Laundry Bar | Craft Bronze |
| Craft - UX | Hellocomputer, FCB Africa | Absa - L'Atelier | L'Atelier 2018 | L'Atelier art competition | Craft Silver |
| Craft - Social Media Community Management | VML South Africa (Pty) Ltd | Nando’s | Bazothi “Azishe” | | Craft Silver |
| Craft - Social Media Community Management | Retroviral | RocoMamas | Smashing Social | | Craft Bronze |
| craft - Interactive Design | Publicis Machine | Stones | Stones BOT | Bottle Operated Table | Craft Silver |
| Craft - Marketing Copywriting | Showmax | Showmax | Tali's Wedding Diary | Tali's Wedding Diary | Craft Bronze |
| Craft - Marketing Copywriting | Hellocomputer/FCB Africa | South African Tourism | Bheki The Mbhaco Maker | South African Tourism | Craft Bronze |
| Craft - Digital Media | VML South Africa (Pty) Ltd | American Swiss Jewellers | Drop the Hint | Engagement Rings | Craft Bronze |
| EMERGING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES CATEGORY |
| Customer Experience Design | Accenture | Nedbank | Nedbank Smart Geyser | | Gold |
| Customer Experience Design | Hellocomputer, FCB Africa | Absa - L'Atelier | L'Atelier 2018 | L'Atelier art competition | Bronze |
| Internet of Things | Accenture | Nedbank | Nedbank Smart Geyser | | Gold |
| Bots, Messaging & Dark Social | King James Group | Sanlam | Lives of Grace | Sanlam My Choice Funeral Plan | Bronze |
| Interactive Mixed Media | King James Group | Sanlam | 2 Minute Shower Songs Press Springbok Nude Girls | 2 Minute Shower Songs | Bronze |
| Interactive Mixed Media | King James Group | Sanlam | 2 Minute Shower Songs Press Mi Casa | 2 Minute Shower Songs | Bronze |
| Interactive Mixed Media | King James Group | Sanlam | 2 Minute Shower Songs Press Kwesta | 2 Minute Shower Songs | Bronze |
| Interactive Mixed Media | Retroviral | M-NET | Outwit. Outplay. Outdoor | M-NET Survivor | Bronze |
| Interactive Mixed Media | Associated Media Publishing | Ready To Shop | Ready To Shop | Ready To Shop | Bronze |
| PLATFORMS CATEGORY |
| Brand, Commercial & Retail Websites | King James Group | Sanlam | Conversations with Yourself | Sanlam Financial Products | Gold |
| Brand, Commercial & Retail Websites | Arc Interactive | Cell C Girl | Cell C Girl Website | | Silver |
| Brand, Commercial & Retail Websites | Hellocomputer, FCB Africa | Absa - L'Atelier | L'Atelier 2018 | L'Atelier art competition | Silver |
| Microsites | Hellocomputer, FCB Africa | Absa - L'Atelier | L'Atelier 2018 | L'Atelier art competition | Silver |
| Microsites | King James Group | Sanlam | Shop for Good | Blue Ladder Schools | Bronze |
| Microsites | King James Group | Sanlam | Sanlam 100 Year | Microsite | Financial services | Bronze |
| Public Service & NPO platforms | Arc Interactive | HIVSA | Choma Website | | Silver |
| Mobile Apps | Arc Interactive | Dis-Chem | Dis-Chem Mobile App | | Silver |
| Mobile Sites | Mobi Media | Vodacom Soccer | SA's Best Football Platform | | Silver |
| Brand, Commercial & Retail Websites | TBWA Hunt Lascaris Johannesburg | Tiger Brands | Make Them Stop | Doom | Bronze |
| Public Service & NPO platforms | Hellocomputer, FCB Africa | Western Cape Government | Raise your voice. Not your phone. | Department of Education | Bronze |
| Platform Innovation | Mobi Media | Vodacom Soccer | SA's Best Football Platform | | Bronze |
| Platform Innovation | Mobitainment, ARC South Africa, Asakhane | MARS Africa | Royco Rewards | Royco | Bronze |
| PUBLISHING CATEGORY |
| Online News Video | Tiso Blackstar Group (Pty) Ltd | TimesLIVE | Mapping the murder of Hannah Cornelius | MultimediaLIVE | Gold |
| Podcasts & Audio Streaming | Primedia Broadcasting | Eyewitness News | Poisonous Bullets | News | Gold |
| Online News Video | 24.com a Division of Media24 | News24 | News24 video: Breaking news. First – and in video | News24 video | Silver |
| Online News Video | Primedia Broadcasting | Eyewitness News | The Zimbabwe Elections | News | Silver |
| Online News Video | SABC | SABC News | SABC News YouTube channel | Online news videos | Silver |
| Live Event Coverage | 24.com a Division of Media24 | News24 | #ANCVotes | Live Event Coverage | Silver |
| News Innovation | 24.com a Division of Media24 | News24 | News24 Land of Thirst | Land of Thirst: a 360 degree video experience by News24 | Silver |
| Publisher Sites | 24.com a Division of Media24 | Business Insider South Africa | Business Insider South Africa | Business Insider South Africa | Bronze |
| Electronic Newsletters | 24.com a Division of Media24 | Business Insider South Africa | Business Insider South Africa | Business Insider South Africa | Bronze |
| SPECIAL HONOURS CATEGORY |
| Best Digital Student | Raphael Janan Kuppasamy and Jenny Groenewald | VEGA | | | Black Pixel |
| Best Digital Youngster | Leon Mwandiringa | Clockwork | | | Black Pixel |
| Best Marketer | Holly Meadows | Editor in Chief, Cosmopolitan | | | Black Pixel |
| Best CTO | Clinton Bosch | Afrozaar | | | Black Pixel |
| Best Contribution to Transformation in the Digital Industry | Digify Africa | Digify Africa | | | Black Pixel |
| Pixel for Purpose | Road Accident Fund #Always Remember | Mortimer Harvey | | | Black Pixel |
| Best Online Journalist | Pauli van Wyk | The Daily Maverick | | | Black Pixel |
| Best Individual Contribution to Digital | Carmen Murray | Boo-Yah! | | | Black Pixel |
| Best Agency | King James Group | | | | Black Pixel |
| Best Publisher | 24 a Division of Media24 | | | | Black Pixel |
| Best Brand | Sanlam | | | | Black Pixel |
For more, look out for our coverage of the event over the course of the day and follow #Bookmarks2019 on Twitter to see what you missed.
