Facebook calls for entries for Studio Awards 2016

The submission of entries can be made between January 8 and April 1.

The social media giant Facebook has announced that the Facebook Studio Awards 2016 calls for entries are open now. Entering its fifth year, the awards celebrate the best creative work being shared on the Facebook platform. The submission of entries can be made between January 8 and April 1.

"Businesses are increasingly using Facebook and Instagram to connect with audiences and tell stories more than ever before, and the FB awards showcase the power of Facebook and Instagram as creative canvases," reads an official statement from the company.

Facebook has introduced a slew of changes in this year's edition. In a bid to internationalise the awards programme, Facebook has allowed all countries to be recognised for great work within their region, with local creative executives from each region as judges at the regional voting events.

This edition onwards, regional awards will be awarded and the top winners from each regional voting events will move to the global Judging event.

The judging process will take place in three rounds this year due to the volume of entrants.

In April this year, members of the Facebook Creative Shop will review the submissions and announce those moving on to the regional voting events. In May, regional voting events will take place selecting the best regional work. In June, the top winners of each regional voting event will move to the global judging event in NYC, where the Global Creative Council will select the best campaigns in each category.

For the first time ever, the Facebook awards will recognise small business advertisers who have earned effective, eye-opening results. Winners of this category will also receive Facebook ad credits.

This year, the entry and judging process will be entirely on mobile.

In 2015, Facebook Awards reviewed over 2,700 submissions from 160 countries that offered a snapshot of the state of creativity and innovation across Facebook, Instagram and the entire industry. Asia-Pacific (APAC - 37 per cent) drove the highest number of submissions, followed by Europe, West Asia, Africa (EMEA - 30 per cent), Latin America (LATAM - 21 per cent) and North America (NA - 12 per cent). There were 111 shortlisted campaigns and 86 winners.