The Daily Show’s Roy Wood Jr. returned as host of the event.Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Webby Awards
Ciel VanderVeen, managing director of The Webby Awards, explained that this year, organizers wanted to celebrate the journey that all creators follow, which is “filled with so many moments and emotions that every single person at The Webbys has felt—’That Feeling.’ The excitement of coming up with the perfect idea, the thrill of getting it just right, and the sometimes terrifying high of putting your project out into the world.”
The theme of “That Feeling” was carried throughout the show including the stage design, step-and-repeat, the program, and on- and off-screen signage, as well as the video that kicked off the evening, which was created by The Webby Awards’ creative partners SpecialGuest.
After two years of virtual shows due to the pandemic, this was the second year that the awards were back in person, but the event still integrated hybrid features in order to recognize winners both in the room and at home. This included posting acceptance speeches online throughout the evening and promoting winners via social media.
The 2023 winners—who were announced ahead of time, “so that nobody leaves our show disappointed,” VanderVeen said—included SZA, Tracee Ellis Ross, Hoda Kotb, Anderson Cooper, and Shigetaka Kurita (inventor of the emoji), among others. Companies including Apple TV, Adobe, ESPN, Headspace, Disney, Spotify, Verizon, and more were also acknowledged for their content and campaigns. Even ChatGPT won the Webby Breakout of the Year Award.
The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS) members, including Questlove, Tan France, Natalie Guzman, Roxanne Gay, LeVar Burton, Samantha Bee, and others, selected the winners.
The show also highlighted two important social movements—the protests in Iran and Black Lives Matter—with Iranian American actress Nazanin Nour highlighting the revolution led by women in Iran who are fighting for their fundamental human rights and protesting the brutal killing of Mahsa Amini, and George Floyd’s sister, Bridgett Floyd, accepting an award on behalf of the Ad Council and R/GA for the Gentle Giant Campaign, an initiative that promotes acceptance and inclusion of all people across race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, and ability.
Known for its trademark five-word speeches, the award show bucks the trend of "really long, really boring" acceptance speeches, VanderVeen said, adding that the original organizers “wanted to have an award show that was reflective of the internet, which is irreverent, often brief, and sometimes a little bit weird.” She added that the acceptance rule “makes our show really fun, energetic, and fast-paced. It’s also incredible how much impact our winners can have with only five words.”
Keep scrolling to see key vendors and more from inside this year's Webby Awards...
VENDORS
Creative Direction and Video Production: SpecialGuest
Entertainment: Empire Entertainment
Production: 1stAveMachine
Venue: Cipriani Wall Street
