Celebrating the craft of visual storytelling, Communicate magazine has unveiled the shortlist for the Lens Awards 2026, a line-up that reflects the industry’s brightest ideas and sharpest execution. This year’s contenders promise an evening of creative excellence, innovation and thoughtful communication.

Communicate's Lens Awards programme honours organisations that use film and video to bring their stories to life. From intricate animation to sleek infographics and documentary-style productions, the shortlist this year showcases a variety of approaches to film that inform, inspire and connect. In an era where moving image is vital to engagement, our shortlist demonstrates how visual craft can cut through the noise.

The 2026 programme spans the full breadth of corporate film, from business purpose and audience engagement to creative style, strategic innovation and sector-specific achievement. Categories such as 'Best Use of Video as Part of an Integrated Campaign' and 'Best Live or Experiential Video' highlight the expansive influence of video across modern communications.

Each shortlisted project has been carefully assessed by a distinguished judging panel, including experts from TalkTalk and International Airlines Group (IAG). After tireless judging sessions, they have filtered through a field of exceptional submissions to select those setting new benchmarks in narrative, production and impact.

The winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony on 12 February 2026 at The Brewery, London. It promises to be an evening of celebration, conversation and cinematic inspiration. To join us, contact Katie at katie.edwards@cravenhillpublishing.com.

Here is the full shortlist of this year’s exceptional nominees:

Business objective or audience

Best Video Targeted to a General Audience

Draper Tools and NRG Studios

Gendered Intelligence and Nowadays with Auspicious Group

HSBC (History of Technology) and Plastic Pictures

HSBC and Casual

 

Best Video Targeted to the Internal Audience

HSBC (History of Technology) and Plastic Pictures

Lloyds Banking Group and Limehouse Films Ltd

Nationwide Building Society and DRPG

Network Rail and The Edge

Well Pharmacy and Studio Giggle

 

Best Video Targeted to the Investor Audience

Almanak and McGill Productions

Bicester Motion and Plastic Pictures

Bonhams Motorcycle Auction and Humanoid Productions LTD

Coller Capital and Bladonmore

EQT and Taylor Made Media

 

Best Employer Brand Video

Amazon and Gorilla Gorilla!

BAE Systems Digital Intelligence and Kaptcha

CVS Health and Taylor Made Media

HSBC and Casual

Tiffany & Co. and Mediazoo

Unilever Food Solutions and Plastic Pictures

 

Best Use of Video to Assist Reputation Management

Anglo American and Brunswick 

DS Smith and SampsonMay

Nationwide Building Society and DRPG

Tiffany & Co. and Mediazoo

 

Best Use of Video to Aid CSR or ESG

Diageo and Quite Frankly Productions

HSBC and Mediazoo

Infusion 100 with HSBC and NRG Studios

Sow The Seed and Plastic Pictures

Tesco and DRPG

Wild Spaces and Plastic Pictures

 

Best Use of Video to Support DEI

Gendered Intelligence and Nowadays with Auspicious Group

HSBC and Casual 

Lumo and CWA

Project Nemo and Changemaker Studios

Tesco and DRPG

 

Style and creativity

Best Use of Video on Social Media

Draper Tools and NRG Studios

Embraer Commercial Aviation and Gravity Global

Hull Trains and CWA

Tiffany & Co. and Mediazoo

 

Best Data Visualisation

BAE Systems Digital Intelligence and Kaptcha

Lumo and Hull Trains

 

Best Documentary Style Video

Company of Cooks and BearJam

HSBC and Mediazoo

Serial Box Studio

Shell and Creative Solutions Film Team

Team PAU and Reels in Motion

ViiV and Radley Yeldar Ltd

XBOX & The Boo Agency and Nicely Done Productions

 

Best Live or Experiential Video

Beyond Studio and Kinura

GSK and Radley Yeldar Ltd

PepsiCo and CH Video

Public Power Corporation (PPC) and DRPG

 

Best Animation

Embraer Commercial Aviation and Gravity Global

Postman and Big Button

Public Power Corporation (PPC) and DRPG

Quintet x BlackRock and ITCH

UK Power Networks and The Edge

 

Best Interactive Video

Reed in Partnership and Pirsonal

Scottish Water and Home

 

Best Creative Execution

CHANEL and Taylor Made Media

Diageo and Quite Frankly Productions

Embraer Commercial Aviation and Gravity Global

HSBC and Casual

Johnson & Johnson and Edelman

Lloyds Banking Group and Limehouse Films Ltd

Worcestershire County Cricket Club and DRPG

 

Best Use of Artificial Intelligence

Calor and The Edge

Grant Thornton and Kaptcha

Morning Star AI and Serial Box Studios

SD Worx and BearJam

Shell

 

Strategy

Best Copy Style or Tone of Voice

CHANEL and Taylor Made Media

HSBC and Mediazoo

Nationwide Building Society and DRPG

Unilever (Culture That Converts) and Plastic Pictures

Unilever (Play On) and Plastic Pictures

 

Best Innovation

Endress+Hauser and Emperor

HSBC and Casual

Hull Trains and CWA

 

Best Use of Video as Part of an Integrated Campaign

Bupa and Plastic Pictures

Embraer Commercial Aviation and Gravity Global

Project Nemo and Changemaker Studios

Sanofi and Plastic Pictures

Unilever (Culture That Converts) and Plastic Pictures

 

Best One-off Video Campaign

Essity and CH Video

Gendered Intelligence and Nowadays with Auspicious Group

HSBC (History of Technology) and Plastic Pictures

Hull Trains and CWA

Tesco and DRPG

 

Best Long-Term Video Strategy

BAE Systems Digital Intelligence and Kaptcha

Embraer Commercial Aviation and Gravity Global

Postman and Big Button

Wavelength and Kinura

 

Best Creative Strategy

Embraer Commercial Aviation and Gravity Global

Gendered Intelligence and Nowadays with Auspicious Group

Nationwide Building Society and DRPG

P&O Cruises and Stepping Stone Media

Unilever (Culture That Converts) and Plastic Pictures

 

Best use of video by sector

Best Use of Video from the Automotive Sector

Bicester Motion and Plastic Pictures

Bonhams Motorcycle Auction and Humanoid Productions LTD

Lamborghini and Taylor Made Media

 

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

Gendered Intelligence and Nowadays with Auspicious Group

HospiceCare North Northumberland and Chris Jackson Media

Infusion 100 with HSBC and NRG Studios

Neighborhood Feminists and Casual 

Taylor Bennett Foundation, HSBC and Serial Box Studios

 

Best Use of Video from the Energy and Utilities Sector

Acorn Bioenergy Powered by Qualitas Energy and DvG Creative

ENGIE and Casual 

National Grid

 

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

Embraer Commercial Aviation and Gravity Global

Heidelberg Materials and Brunswick 

Loginns and Monte Nero Productions

 

Best Use of Video from the Farming and Agricultural Sector

Olam Agri and Emperor

Sow The Seed and Plastic Pictures

Waitrose & Partners and Taylor Made Media

 

Best Use of Video from the Financial Services Sector

Coller Capital and Bladonmore

HSBC (History of Technology) and Plastic Pictures

HSBC and Casual 

HSBC and Mediazoo

Quintet x BlackRock and ITCH

Standard Chartered and Brunswick

 

Best Use of Video from the FMCG Sector

Imperial Brands PLC

Unilever (Culture That Converts) and Plastic Pictures

Unilever (Play On) and Plastic Pictures

 

Best Use of Video from the Food and Beverage Sector

Company of Cooks and BearJam

Diageo and Quite Frankly Productions

FrieslandCampina and Casual

Unilever Food Solutions and Plastic Pictures

 

Best Use of Video from the Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Sector

AAVantgarde Bio and SampsonMay

AstraZeneca and The Edge

CVS Health and Taylor Made Media

GSK and Radley Yeldar Ltd

Johnson & Johnson and Edelman

Well Pharmacy and Studio Giggle

 

Best Use of Video from the Lifestyle and Wellbeing Sector

dsm-firmenich and Brunswick 

Essity and CH Video

Neighborhood Feminists and Casual Films

 

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

Anglo American and Brunswick 

Anglo American and Gorilla Gorilla!

Shell

 

Best Use of Video from the Professional Services Sector

Grant Thornton and Kaptcha

Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and Redactive

PwC and Plastic Pictures

PwC and The Edge

 

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

Barratt Redrow and Brunswick

Landsec and BearJam

 

Best Use of Video from the Retail Sector

Tiffany & Co. and Mediazoo

Waitrose & Partners and Taylor Made Media

 

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

Lumo and Hull Trains

P&O Cruises and Stepping Stone Media

Team PAU and Reels in Motion

 

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

Bauer Media Group and Plastic Pictures

Postman and Big Button

XBOX & The Boo Agency and Nicely Done Productions

 

Best Use of Video from the Transport and Logistics Sector

Amazon and Gorilla Gorilla!

Embraer Commercial Aviation and Gravity Global

EQT and Taylor Made Media

Lumo and Hull Trains