Apple’s “Glad I Met You” wins inaugural ONE Asia Chinese New Year Awards

The ONE Asia Creative Awards, part of the global nonprofit One Club for Creativity, has announced Apple’s “Glad I Met You” as the winner of the Inaugural ONE Asia Chinese New Year Awards, a new recognition honoring the most emotionally resonant and culturally impactful Chinese New Year films from across Asia-Pacific.

 

The new award celebrates brands that invest in high-quality storytelling capable of reaching mass audiences, while also generating genuine cultural conversation. A curated shortlist of 10 standout films representing the breadth of APAC’s Chinese New Year creativity was selected by ONE Asia, and judged by a distinguished panel of top creative leaders from the region.

Created for the Shot on iPhone 17 Pro platform, Apple’s “Glad I Met You” is a moving 12-minute film from TBWA\Media Arts Lab Shanghai and directed by Bai Xue that reimagines what “home” means during Chinese New Year. Instead of following the traditional reunion narrative, the story centers on an urban office worker spending the holiday alone whose life is transformed through an unexpected bond with a stray dog.

Blending live action with stop-motion animation, the film allows the technology to quietly disappear into the storytelling. An extended end sequence featuring real pet owners adds authenticity, and reinforces the film’s emotional core.

“A cinematic triumph for Apple, this CNY film beautifully affirms humanity as the heart of our brand,” said Annie Su, Head of Marcom, Apple Greater China.

Kara Yang, Managing Director at TBWA\Media Arts Lab Shanghai, added “This is our ninth Chinese New Year film with Apple, and each year, we tell a story about human connection. This year, we looked beyond the expected. Sometimes, home finds us. Furry. Four-legged.”

Director Bai Xue sees the film as a warm surge of orange light that symbolizes balance, vibrant yet comforting. “At its core, the story follows how a young girl finds confidence and courage through her bond with a little dog. That’s why this orange color, and the moment it represents, feel so deeply aligned with the spirit of the film.“

This year’s judges praised “Glad I Met You” for its human truth, cultural relevance, and exceptional craft.

David Guerrero, Creative Chair, BBDO Guerrero noted how the platform once again allowed the product to disappear into the narrative, turning loneliness into hope. Theresa Ong, Head of Creative Shop, Meta Southeast Asia and India, highlighted how everyday technology elevated ordinary moments into cinematic memory. TBWA\Thailand CEO Phannika Vongsayan commended its redefinition of “home” as emotional connection rather than physical return.

There were two ONE Asia Chinese New Year Awards finalists this year:
• Nike “Use Sports to Break the Paradox” campaign by Walter Creative, a trilogy of films – “The Chore”, “The Dad-off”, and “The Yield” – which use sports to diffuse the tensions of Lunar New Year family gatherings through hyperlocal humor and confident storytelling.

 

• Adidas “Next Generation Football”, from TBWA\ Shanghai, which paid tribute to future Chinese football talent, celebrating reunion through the bond between young athletes, their coaches, and teammates.

Reflecting on all of the shortlisted work, Droga5 Japan CCO and Co-Lead Masaya Asai said “There were so many outstanding films which were bold, emotional, and beautifully crafted. It’s exciting to see how fast China’s creativity is rising. In this Year of the Horse, the industry isn’t just running. It’s galloping ahead with unstoppable energy.”