As usual, the annual British Arrows Awards offer up a series of eye-popping commercials that either warm or break your heart, delight your senses and baffle your brain.

Founded in 1976, the British Arrows selects the previous year’s most compelling advertisements and compiles an evening of the best of the best. For decades, Walker Art Center has screened that compilation throughout the month of December. It’s an annual tradition that typically draws more than 30,000 people each season.

One surprise this year is the absence of a clip from U.K. retail giant John Lewis. The company’s annual holiday ad, a big-budget affair that typically uses a slowed-down cover of a pop music classic as its soundtrack, was relatively underwhelming when compared to previous efforts. The ad did win a sliver medal, but for whatever reason it did not make the cut for the annual program. (In possibly related news, John Lewis dumped its ad agency of 14 years in May.)

This year’s 74-minute program features 50 commercials and is also available for virtual viewing.

Here’s a look at six highlights from this year’s program. (And don’t worry, we won’t spoil the emotionally charged winning ad.)

Mert and Marcus’ “Love Parade” and “Exquisite”

Italian luxury fashion brand Gucci spared no expense in shooting spots for two of its campaigns. The company hired fashion photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott to stage an impossibly decadent party set to the Velvet Underground classic “Venus in Furs,” itself an ode to sadomasochism, bondage and submission. A grab bag of celebrities including Gucci brand ambassador Jared Leto, Beanie Feldstein, Miley Cyrus, Snoop Dogg and “Squid Game” star Lee Jung-jae eat, drink and make mischief while dressed in Gucci’s finest. Every bit as stunning is the pair’s “Exquisite” ad, which faithfully recreates scenes from Stanley Kubrick’s films “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “A Clockwork Orange,” “Barry Lyndon,” “The Shining” and “Eyes Wide Shut.”

Taika Waititi’s “Daniel Craig”

Not to be outdone, Polish vodka brand Belvedere got Oscar-winning director Taika Waititi (“Jojo Rabbit,” “What We Do in the Shadows”) to capture Daniel Craig – aka the former James Bond — as he seductively dances and prances his way through a posh hotel before finally pausing to enjoy a vodka on the rocks. Rita Ora and Giggs provide an original tune for the clip, which includes some goofy outtakes tacked on at the end.

Tom Hooper’s “A Christmas Love Story”

The most memorable ads from the British Arrows tell a complete story in just a few minutes and that’s exactly the case here. Director Tom Hooper makes up for his disastrous 2019 film adaptation of “Cats” with this endearing tale of a potential new romance nearly dashed by a smudged phone number on the back of a lottery ticket — specially one from the clip’s sponsor, the United Kingdom’s National Lottery.

Jeff Low’s “The Octocurse”

The octopus is a fascinating animal with a doughnut-shaped primary brain and additional brains in each of its eight arms. The cephalopod is known for the ability to solve puzzles, get in and out of containers, use tools and recognize human faces. Outspoken nonprofit People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals figures that’s reason enough not to eat them and makes the case via a campy ad exploring the so-called “octocurse” that spreads among octopus eaters.

Kim Gehrig’s “The Greatest”

In addition to a gold medal from the British Arrows, Apple’s “The Greatest” was also recognized by AdAge and Adweek as one of 2022’s top campaigns. Released ahead of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the commercial uses a cast of people with a wide range of disabilities using Apple products to navigate their way through the world. It was also a diverse crew, with several disabled people contributing behind the scenes. In its first week online, “The Greatest” was viewed more than 16 million times.

2023 British Arrows Awards

When: Through Dec. 31
Where: Walker Art Center, 725 Vineland Place, Mpls.
Tickets: $18 ($15 Walker members, students and seniors). Each ticket includes free gallery admission. Online viewing is $25 ($20 for members, students and seniors) and is available on-demand Wednesday through Dec. 31.
More info: 612-375-7600 or walkerart.org

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