Cavan director’s work recognised by peers

A multi-award winning Cavan director has had his work recognised by a prestigious body of his peers.

With no award ceremonies taking place this year, the Advertising Producers Association (APA), trade body for production companies involved in making commercials, has chosen an ambitious advert created by Finn Keenan for Nike in China as one of their Top 20 of 2020.

Finn, who works with the London-based Riff Raff Films, was earlier this year nominated for the same work as ‘Best Newcomer’ at British Arrows 2020, a ceremony which for over 40 years has championed and celebrated innovation, bravery and artistry in moving image advertising.

Finn’s advert, titled ‘Qiang Diao’, was made for athletic clothing firm Nike through the internationally recognised promotions agency, Wieden+Kennedy.

‘Qiang Diao’ [Ch’yang d’yow] is Mandarin for confidence. It also can mean swagger or flair. It’s considered an attitude and spirit seen as commonplace among residents in multicultural Shanghai. As the adverts tag-line states: ‘Many people want it, but only few have it’.