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James Bland

2017 Broadcast Craft judge

James Bland is Managing Partner and Executive Producer of London-based Blink Productions, Colonel Blimp, Blink Art & BlinkInk.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, James has worked in Production on the international stage for his entire career. He had ambitions to kick a dent in advertising from an early age, when in 1994, he landed in Vancouver, Canada and began working in Production on Films and TV shows. It was there that he finally got to work on his first Commercial. That led to a ten-year stretch working as a 1stAssistant Director for some of the best advertising directors in the world, including Tony Kaye, Johnny Green and Tim Godsall. Against his better judgement, and after relentless cajoling from Tim Godsall, he went on to become an Executive Producer at OPC in Toronto, Canada. Finding that role suited him like no other, he decided to relocate once more, this time to London, where he joined Blink.

Blink has won the Cannes Lions Grand Prix 3 times. First in 2008, for Cadbury’s “Gorilla”, and again in 2015 for John Lewis “Monty’s Christmas”, and once more in 2016 for Harvey Nichols “Shoplifters”. The John Lewis “Monty’s Christmas” ad went on again to win the Cannes Grand Prix for Effectiveness in 2016. Further to that, Blink has also won the D&AD Black Pencil, and has been awarded Production Company of the Year at The British Arrows in 2013 and again in 2015. Finally, at Eurobest 2015, Blink won 3 Grand Prix awards (Film, Craft, Integrated) and the Golden Palm Award. In 2016, Blink won a Double Grand Prix for “We’re the Superhumans” at Eurobest.
James is a seasoned Jury representative, having been on the juries of the D&AD, British Arrows, British Arrows Craft, APA and Ciclope Awards. He is also the President of Craft Jury at the 2017 Dubai Lynx Awards.
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