Johnnie Walker Blue Label

Diageo’s whisky range – which includes Johnnie Walker, Bushmills Irish Whiskey, J&B and Talisker – has been running a competition for up-and-coming independent film makers to help inspire people to ‘raise a glass’ to their dads this Father’s Day.

As part of their ‘Raise a glass to your dad’ campaign, the whisky makers partnered with MOFILM, a global network of some 45,000 film makers, to seek short films that pay tribute to fathers. 20 previous contest winners were challenged to create a short piece that told the story of their relationship with their father and how whisky plays a part in that.

The winner, New Yorker Jody Lauren Miller, picked up a $5,000 cash prize as well as a personally engraved bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label at the Coachella Music Festival in Palm Springs. Her film, entitled ‘Victor’ – which featured her father and his fondness for Johnnie Walker – was described by the judging panel as “quite simply superb”.

In a close second place was the Swedish team of Daniel, Fredrik & Henrik Lundh. Their entry – ‘The Man with the Nose’ – told the story of their dad’s character and his amazing sense of smell that leads him to Talisker whisky. Third place went to Will Shipley of the US with ‘Like Father Like Daughter’ which celebrated Bushmills Irish Whiskey.

Andrew Fell, Global Customer Marketing Director, Diageo Global Whiskies Category said in a media release: “Working with MOFILM we were able to showcase new talent and truly creative ideas. The winning entries were all touching, amusing, provocative and innovative and perfectly illustrated the love and respect due to fathers.”