Patrick Milling-Smith, co-founder and CEO of SMUGGLER, and James Razzall, U.S. president, integrated advertising, of Framestore, have been named chairpersons of the 2025 AICP Show: The Art & Technique of the Commercial, and the 2025 AICP Post Awards, respectively.
“I feel honored and excited,” noted Milling-Smith, of being asked to chair the AICP Show. “I’m touched by the generosity of previous chairs, who nominated me and immediately reached out to offer any help and perspective. My goal is just to be a worthy custodian and champion of the 34th year of the show. We plan to do our industry proud as we continue to remind our peers of this competition’s unique place in the advertising, creative, and production landscape.”
“For me, it’s a huge honor,” echoed Razzall. “I am very excited, if a tiny bit daunted by the task at hand. What makes it more gratifying is that, in the fall of 2025, I’ll have been part of Framestore for 25 years, so it’s a nice landmark to be recognized by my peers.”
Razzall said being the first executive or artist from the visual effects sector reflects the discipline’s impact on the overall advertising content creation process. “It’s a testament to the way the visual effects industry has grown and matured over the years,” he adds. “I think it’s great that we’re now being viewed as such an integral part of the creative production process.”
“SMUGGLER has consistently been at the forefront of our industry, producing creative, engaging and effective content for brands,” said Matt Miller, AICP president and CEO. “The AICP Show Board of Governors tasked Patrick with Chairing the 2025 installment of the AICP Show because of his longstanding commitment to excellence in craft, creativity, and innovation – all hallmarks of the AICP Show.”
“Similarly, James is an outstanding leader in visual effects, and his selection reflects the scope of the AICP Post Awards,” Miller noted. “Framestore has set so many standards in creative and executional excellence under his leadership, while pushing the needle forward in terms of visual effects achievements, so having someone with his insight and experience as the Post Awards Chairperson is a true privilege.”
Commenting on the role that the AICP Show plays in the constellation of industry honors and recognition, Milling-Smith believes the competition is truly unique: “The Museum of Modern Art archiving partnership gives the show an added gravitas and sense of purpose, as does the standard of the judging and the curatorial structure,” he observed. “There is a real clarity and integrity to the AICP showcase and the nominated work traditionally has a sense of durability to it, with a distinct appreciation of craft. There is nothing disposable about the AICP.”
“On the whole, the AICP Show is a recognition of the work and the people behind that work,” Milling-Smith continued. “The entire judging process represents an opportunity for many to come together, evaluate the state of the industry and be inspired by what’s possible. And then, of course, the black-tie ad-prom gala at the MoMA in New York City. Always a beautiful moment to take a breath and appreciate, perhaps even celebrate.”
Added Razzall, “One of the many things I love about the AICP Post Awards is that it’s totally dialed in when it comes to its categories; it’s very well broken-out from a post perspective. And now that the presentation of winners during the MoMA gala has been combined with those of the AICP Show, it really shines a spotlight on the fact that the post community is such an integral part of the overall commercial making process.”
AICP Awards Committee roster set
While Milling-Smith and Razzall have solo oversight of their respective shows, they are co-chairs of the AICP Awards Committee. This global group – comprising production, post, agency and brand executives – are ambassadors for the AICP Awards. The Committee is tasked with promoting and marketing the full slate of 2025 AICP Awards, including the AICP Next Awards. This broad outreach ensures that the best of the best is in contention for this year’s showcases.
With a membership assembled by Milling-Smith and Razzall, the committee spans a wide range of countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, Peru, Poland, the U.K., and the U.S.
The 2025 committee includes Fuad Abed, The Lift; Tor Adams, The Quarry; Brett Alexander, The Martin Agency; LaRue Anderson, Apache Digital; Julia Bidakowska Andrén, Tango Production; Deb Archambault, BBH; Dana Balkin, resource; Marlene Bartos, Yessian Music; Alan Bibby, Psyop; James Bland, Arts & Sciences; Lauren Bleiweiss, Cartel; Erika Bokamper, Safeword Creative; Jim Bouvet, RadicalMedia; Sevasti Buford, JOJX; Gavin Carroll, Warner Chappell; Leah Churchill-Brown, EXIT FILMS; Ayleen Cisneros, DOC7OR 7ROY; Matt Conforti, Novick/Conforti; Tasha Cronin, Johannes Leonardo; Jon Day, Orange Films; Spencer Dodd, Merman London; Tom Duff, Optimus; Carol Dunn, Barking Owl; Rachael Ford-Davies, Collider; Jordana Freydberg, Biscuit Filmworks; Rob Galluzzo, FINCH; Sophie Gold, ELEANOR; Michael Gregory, Noise; Mary Kate Hatfield, MKH Representation; Trace Henderson, SMUGGLER; Qadree Holmes, Quriosity; Barrie Isaacson, Barrie Isaacson Management; Ariel Leon Isacovitch, The Roots Production Service; Jonathan Jakubowicz, Animal Influence; Chelsea Kammeyer, Method Studios; Farrah Khaled, Merchant; Pete King, Framestore; Eve Kornblum, MakeMake; Zack Kortright, BrandNewSchool; Vivien Lászlóffy, Pioneer Productions; Krystle Loyland, Preacher; Nosisa Majuqwana, SMUGGLER; Joanna Margilaj, Champion; Julie Margilaj, Champion; Emily Marr, Leo Burnett London; J. Patrick McElroy, Champion; Ashley McKim, Company 3; James McPherson, GREY; Ruben Mercadal, Droga5 New York; Jordi Molla, Twenty four seven; Millie Munro, bueno; Renata Neumann, GUT; Brent Novick, Novick/Conforti; Roman Pichon Herrera, DIPLOMATS; Eva Preger, SOFT CITIZEN; Kamila Prokop, division7; Philipp Ramhofer, BWGTBLD; Cristina Reina, Quality Experience; David Richards, division7; Stuart Robinson, Subset Studio; Rafiq Samsodien, MR Films; Erika Sheldon, Safeword Creative; Kaz Shinagawa, Toboggan; Bryan Shrednick, bueno; Lexi Stearn, Citizen Music; Sean Sullivan, Collective Management; Juan Taylor, Landia; Matt Towell, Rascal; Ivo van Vollenhoven; Twenty Four seven; Antonia Vlasto, Electric Theatre Collective; Anastasia von Rahl, The Mill; Erin Wahed, SMUGGLER; James Waldron, SMUGGLER; Brittney Walker, Framestore; James Wells, Human; Virginia Williams, Park Pictures; Carlin Wilson-Webb, SMUGGLER; Ed Zazzera, Dentsu; and Iwan Zwarts, Blacksmith.
