Lens Awards 2026 winners revealed

Winners of this year’s Lens Awards favoured substance over spectacle, with many films touching on the deeply human and emotive. 

Employee-led storytelling was a common focus of many of this year’s entries,  featuring enlightening interviews and proving that the most effective, and authentic, corporate communications can feel cinematic.

The awards span education, healthcare, technology and finance, but a common thread ran through the work: clarity of purpose. CVS Health and Taylor Made Media were recognised for a thoughtful film designed to deepen engagement with a 300,000-strong workforce. HSBC and Mediazoo earned Gold awards for a campaign shining a light on the opaque issue of human trafficking. Embraer Commercial Aviation and Gravity Global received recognition for a playful approach to distinguishing itself in the competitive and narrow jet market. 

Social impact featured prominently. UK Power Networks and The Edge won Gold for an animation designed to elevate safety awareness, while Diageo and Quite Frankly Productions also won gold for a campaign promoting the sustainability of its products. 

“It is through video that the creativity of some of the strongest corporate campaigns is most apparent,” said Rebecca Pardon, editor at Communicate. The awards, now in their sixth year, serve as both celebration and temperature check for a fast-evolving sector.

Mediazoo was named ‘Video Production Company of the Year’. Gendered Intelligence and Nowadays with Auspicious Group claimed ‘Video of the Year’ for a film exploring the experience of a young, trans woman navigating the excruciating delays of gender-affirming care. 

The full list of the Lens Awards 2026 winners is available below.

 

BUSINESS OBJECTIVE OR AUDIENCE

Best Video Targeted to a General Audience

Gold – Gendered Intelligence and Nowadays with Auspicious Group

Silver – HSBC and Casual

Silver – HSBC (History of Technology) and Plastic Pictures

Bronze – Draper Tools and NRG Studios

 

Best Video Targeted to the Internal Audience

Gold – HSBC (History of Technology) and Plastic Pictures

Gold – Lloyds Banking Group and Limehouse Films Ltd

Silver – Nationwide Building Society and DRPG

Silver – Well Pharmacy and Studio Giggle

Bronze – Network Rail and The Edge

 

Best Video Targeted to the Investor Audience

Gold – Coller Capital and Bladonmore

Silver – Bicester Motion and Plastic Pictures

Silver – EQT and Taylor Made Media

Bronze – Almanak and McGill Productions

Bronze – Bonhams Motorcycle Auction and Humanoid Productions LTD

 

Best Employer Brand Video

Gold – CVS Health and Taylor Made Media

Gold – Tiffany & Co. and Mediazoo

Silver – HSBC and Casual

Silver – Unilever Food Solutions and Plastic Pictures

Bronze – Amazon and Gorilla Gorilla!

Bronze – BAE Systems Digital Intelligence and Kaptcha

 

Best Use of Video to Assist Reputation Management

Gold – Anglo American and Brunswick Group

Gold – Tiffany & Co. and Mediazoo

Silver – Nationwide Building Society and DRPG

Bronze – DS Smith and SampsonMay

 

Best Use of Video to Aid CSR or ESG

Gold – HSBC and Mediazoo

Gold – Tesco and DRPG

Silver – Sow The Seed and Plastic Pictures

Silver – Wild Spaces and Plastic Pictures

Bronze – Diageo and Quite Frankly Productions

Bronze – Infusion 100 with HSBC and NRG Studios

 

Best Use of Video to Support DEI

Gold – Project Nemo and Changemaker Studios

Silver – Gendered Intelligence and Nowadays with Auspicious Group

Silver – Tesco and DRPG

Bronze – HSBC and Casual 

Bronze – Lumo and CWA

 

STYLE AND CREATIVITY

Best Use of Video on Social Media

Gold – Draper Tools and NRG Studios

Gold – Embraer Commercial Aviation and Gravity Global

Silver – Hull Trains and CWA

Bronze – Tiffany & Co. and Mediazoo

 

Best Data Visualisation

Silver – Lumo and Hull Trains

Bronze – BAE Systems Digital Intelligence and Kaptcha

 

Best Documentary Style Video

Gold – HSBC and Mediazoo

Gold – Xbox with The Boo Agency and Nicely Done Productions

Silver – Team PAU and Reels in Motion

Silver – Shell’s Creative Solutions Film Team

Bronze – Company of Cooks and BearJam

Bronze – Serial Box Studio

Bronze – ViiV and Radley Yeldar Ltd

 

Best Live or Experiential Video

Gold – Public Power Corporation (PPC) and DRPG

Gold – GSK and Radley Yeldar Ltd

Silver – PepsiCo and CH Video

Bronze – BEYOND Studio and Kinura

 

Best Animation

Gold – Embraer Commercial Aviation and Gravity Global

Gold – UK Power Networks and The Edge

Silver – Public Power Corporation (PPC) and DRPG

Bronze – Postman and Big Button

Bronze – Quintet with BlackRock and ITCH

 

Best Interactive Video

Gold – Scottish Water and Home

Bronze – Reed in Partnership and Pirsonal

 

Best Creative Execution

Gold – HSBC and Casual 

Gold – Lloyds Banking Group and Limehouse Films Ltd

Silver – Embraer Commercial Aviation and Gravity Global

Silver – Johnson & Johnson and Edelman

Bronze – CHANEL and Taylor Made Media

Bronze – Worcestershire County Cricket Club and DRPG

Highly commended – Diageo and Quite Frankly Productions

 

Best Use of Artificial Intelligence

Gold – Grant Thornton and Kaptcha

Gold – Shell’s Creative Solutions Film Team

Silver – Calor and The Edge

Silver – SD Worx and BearJam

Bronze – Morning Star AI and Serial Box Studios

 

STRATEGY

Best Copy Style or Tone of Voice

Gold – CHANEL and Taylor Made Media

Gold – HSBC and Mediazoo

Silver – Unilever (Culture That Converts) and Plastic Pictures

Silver – Unilever (Play On) and Plastic Pictures

Bronze – Nationwide Building Society and DRPG

 

Best Innovation

Gold – HSBC and Casual

Silver – Hull Trains and CWA

Bronze – Endress+Hauser and Emperor

 

Best Use of Video as Part of an Integrated Campaign

Gold – Unilever (Culture That Converts) and Plastic Pictures

Silver – Embraer Commercial Aviation and Gravity Global

Bronze – Bupa and Plastic Pictures

Bronze – Sanofi and Plastic Pictures

Highly commended – Project Nemo and Changemaker Studios

 

Best One-off Video Campaign

Gold – Gendered Intelligence and Nowadays with Auspicious Group

Silver – Hull Trains and CWA

Bronze – Essity and CH Video

Bronze – HSBC (History of Technology) and Plastic Pictures

Bronze – Tesco and DRPG

 

Best Long-Term Video Strategy

Gold – Embraer Commercial Aviation and Gravity Global

Silver – BAE Systems Digital Intelligence and Kaptcha

Silver – Postman and Big Button

Bronze – Wavelength and Kinura

 

Best Creative Strategy

Gold – Gendered Intelligence and Nowadays with Auspicious Group

Gold – Nationwide Building Society and DRPG

Silver – Embraer Commercial Aviation and Gravity Global

Silver – Unilever (Culture That Converts) and Plastic Pictures

Bronze – P&O Cruises and Stepping Stone Media

 

SECTOR

Best Use of Video from the Automotive Sector

Gold – Lamborghini and Taylor Made Media

Silver – Bonhams Motorcycle Auction and Humanoid Productions LTD

Bronze – Bicester Motion and Plastic Pictures

 

Best Use of Video by a Charity, NGO or Not-for-Profit

Gold – Gendered Intelligence and Nowadays with Auspicious Group

Silver – Neighborhood Feminists and Casual 

Silver – Taylor Bennett Foundation, HSBC and Serial Box Studios

Bronze – HospiceCare North Northumberland and Chris Jackson Media

Bronze – Infusion 100 with HSBC and NRG Studios

 

Best Use of Video from the Energy and Utilities Sector

Gold – Brickwall and National Grid

Silver – ENGIE and Casual 

Bronze – Acorn Bioenergy Powered by Qualitas Energy and DvG Creative

 

Best Use of Video from the Engineering, Manufacturing and Basic Materials Sector

Gold – Loginns and Monte Nero Productions

Silver – Heidelberg Materials and Brunswick Group

Bronze – Embraer Commercial Aviation and Gravity Global

 

Best Use of Video from the Farming and Agricultural Sector

Gold – Waitrose & Partners and Taylor Made Media

Silver – Sow The Seed and Plastic Pictures

Bronze – Olam Agri and Emperor

 

Best Use of Video from the Financial Services Sector

Gold – HSBC and Mediazoo

Gold – Quintet with BlackRock and ITCH

Silver – HSBC and Casual

Silver – HSBC (History of Technology) and Plastic Pictures

Bronze – Coller Capital and Bladonmore

Bronze – Standard Chartered and Brunswick Group

 

Best Use of Video from the FMCG Sector

Gold – Unilever (Culture That Converts) and Plastic Pictures

Silver – Unilever (Play On) and Plastic Pictures

Bronze – Imperial Brands PLC

 

Best Use of Video from the Food and Beverage Sector

Gold – Diageo and Quite Frankly Productions

Silver – Company of Cooks and BearJam

Bronze – FrieslandCampina and Casual 

Bronze – Unilever Food Solutions and Plastic Pictures

 

Best Use of Video from the Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Sector

Gold – Johnson & Johnson and Edelman

Gold – Well Pharmacy and Studio Giggle

Silver – CVS Health and Taylor Made Media

Silver – GSK and Radley Yeldar Ltd

Bronze – AAVantgarde Bio and SampsonMay

 

Best Use of Video from the Lifestyle and Wellbeing Sector

Gold – Essity and CH Video

Silver – dsm-firmenich and Brunswick Group

Bronze – Neighborhood Feminists and Casual

 

Best Use of Video from the Oil, Gas, Mining and Extractives Sector

Gold – Shell’s Creative Solutions Film Team

Silver – Anglo American and Brunswick Group

Bronze – Anglo American and Gorilla Gorilla!

 

Best Use of Video from the Professional Services Sector

Gold – Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and Redactive

Silver – Grant Thornton and Kaptcha

Silver – PwC and The Edge

Bronze – PwC and Plastic Pictures

 

Best Use of Video from the Property, Construction and Facilities Management Sector

Gold – Landsec and BearJam

Silver – Barratt Redrow and Brunswick Group

 

Best Use of Video from the Retail Sector

Gold – Tiffany & Co. and Mediazoo

Silver – Waitrose & Partners and Taylor Made Media

 

Best Use of Video from the Sport, Travel, Leisure and Tourism Sector

Gold – Team PAU and Reels in Motion

Silver – Lumo and Hull Trains

Bronze – P&O Cruises and Stepping Stone Media

 

Best Use of Video from the Technology, Media and Telecommunications Sector

Gold – Xbox with The Boo Agency and Nicely Done Productions

Silver – Postman and Big Button

Bronze – Bauer Media Group and Plastic Pictures

 

Best Use of Video from the Transport and Logistics Sector

Gold – Embraer Commercial Aviation and Gravity Global

Silver – Lumo and Hull Trains

Bronze – Amazon and Gorilla Gorilla!

Bronze – EQT and Taylor Made Media

 

Video Production Company of the Year

Mediazoo

 

Video of the Year

Gendered Intelligence and Nowadays with Auspicious Group