Ster-Kinekor And Vision Mission #OpenEyes Campaign Secures A Campaign Gold At #Loeries2017

Adding to its list of accolades, the much-awarded Ster-Kinekor and Vision Mission #OpenEyes campaign has received yet another global honour. This time it is in the form of a Campaign Gold Award in the Effective Creativity Category, announced at the prestigious 39th Loeries Creative Week in Durban (14 to 21 August 2017).

Ster-Kinekor and its creative agency FoxP2 Cape Town, were awarded for the heart-warming CSI campaign that saw a young man, Philani Twala, from Katlehong on the East Rand, receive a double corneal transplant – and a second chance to live his best life.

“Being recognised yet again for our heart-warming #OpenEyes campaign is a huge honour for the marketing team at Ster-Kinekor Theatres, and our creative agency, FoxP2, together with Ogilvy Public Relations JHB and Juice Content, whose integrated collaboration on this project resulted in this award-winning work,” says Motheo Matsau, Chief of Marketing and Sales at Ster-Kinekor Theatres.

The 2016 #OpenEyes campaign told Philani’s story – for the past 10 years, he has been suffering from an eye condition that had made him almost completely blind. However, he could not afford the treatment to restore his vision – a costly double corneal transplant.

The #OpenEyes campaign followed Philani’s emotional and uplifting journey to regain his sight, following the sponsored operations. It then called on all South Africans to share in his journey by nominating the film he should watch as his first ever, big screen cinema experience. The film that was chosen was Avatar.

The #OpenEyes campaign forms part of Ster-Kinekor’s CSI programme Vision Mission, a dedicated programme focused on healthy eye care in children. Moviegoers can opt in and donate to the programme when booking tickets online or at the cinemas’ self-service terminals.

“CSI is not just a good to have activity for corporates, it’s a necessity because of the good impact it has on ordinary community members. We need to consistently do good for the good of others while being mindful of our deeds as an organisation,” motivates Matsau.

Matsau adds: “The #OpenEyes campaign placed another side of the movie industry in the spotlight. A side that focuses on the importance of healthy eyesight and vision as essential senses to appreciate the magic of the big screen. The campaign certainly got South Africans talking and voting for their favourite film for Philani to watch, while creating awareness for a plight that affects thousands of other ‘Philani’s’ across our country.”

The campaign recorded 50 million online impressions with an earned media figure of more than R14 million, more than twenty times the campaign budget. Twala was featured on the front page of The Star newspaper, among numerous print and online articles, and appeared on SABC News, Talk Radio 702 and Cape Talk, to mention a few broadcast platforms. During the campaign period, donations to Vision Mission increased by a staggering 60%.

Hear all about Philani’s journey

Philani will be at the Ster-Kinekor offices on Tuesday, 29 August 2017, to share more about life through his new set of eyes. For interview opportunities with Philane, please contact [Ogilvy Public Relations, Lineo Thakisi on 081 363 6872] no later than 25 August 2017.

Other awards the #OpenEyes campaign received:

  • Loerie Grand prix
  • Loerie 3 x Gold winner
  • Bookmarks Gold 3 x Silver winner
  • One Show Bronze Pencil, Merit (The One Show NY awards 2017)
  • Creative Circle 2 x Ad of the Month

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb