Active Octopus Wins Gold AVA Digital Award for Long-Form Promotional Video

Active Octopus has been awarded a Gold AVA Digital Award for its long-form promotional film The Ringling Ghost, created for Ringling College of Art and Design.

A Different Approach to Promotional Storytelling

Rather than producing a traditional institutional video, the 23-minute narrative mockumentary was developed as a strategic brand asset, designed to generate curiosity, deepen engagement, and elevate perception of Ringling’s nationally ranked BFA Film Program. The film also served as the launch catalyst for the new Ringling Film YouTube channel, created to showcase student work, life inside the program, and ongoing educational content.

The project was written and directed by Matt Gissing, Founder and Creative Director of Active Octopus, and executed in collaboration with student filmmakers at Ringling College.

Gissing said, “We believed the best way to create awareness for a nationally respected film program was to give audiences something genuinely worth their time. Instead of delivering a traditional institutional message, we built an original piece of entertainment designed to spark curiosity and invite engagement.”

The AVA Digital Awards recognize excellence in digital communication and creative execution worldwide. The Gold Award represents the highest level of achievement within its category.

The Ringling Ghost reflects Active Octopus’s commitment to narrative-led brand strategy, developing cinematic campaigns that build long-term awareness, strengthen audience connection, and position organizations with clarity and distinction.

If your organization is exploring narrative-driven brand strategy or long-form promotional storytelling, we welcome the conversation.