The Nashville Advertising Federation held its equivalent to the Oscars thisweekend, and many of the usual suspects dominated the show.

Of course, upstaging most everyone was this year’s MC, Tennessean columnistBrad Schmitt, who co-hosted the event along with WTVF Channel 5’s KristinPriesol. Schmitt spent the night ribbing DH&Q/Tombras Advertising about itsunusual name and encouraging back-of-the-room agencies to sit closer to thefront next year. This after Schmitt keenly observed that those agenciessitting close to the front tend to win more awards. And indeed they did.

Not surprisingly, The Buntin Group, arguably Nashville’s largest ad agencyin terms of billings and employees, collected the most trophies, a total of35 in all. Buntin’s new advertising campaign for O’Charley’s garnerednumerous awards, as did its work on behalf Blue Cross Blue Shield ofTennessee.

With a much smaller presence locally, Alabama-based Lewis Communicationsracked up 27 awards for clients including Purity Dairy, Vanderbilt MedicalCenter and St. Joseph Heart Institute in Kentucky. The agency’s work onbehalf of Purity earned Lewis the "Best of Show" award for television.Copywriter Laura Powers added another major win for the firm when she wasrecognized as Copywriter of the Year. Saturday night’s award marked thesecond time NAF honored Powers with the trophy.

An even smaller shop, DH&Q Tombras, got incredible ADDY mileage out of itsad campaign for Watkins College of Art & Design, including "Best of Show"for print advertising. The 17-month-old firm picked up 12 awards total.Former partner Sharon Harms, who continues to work with the agency on afreelance basis, made a repeat performance as Art Director of the Year.

Bohan Advertising, a growing mid-sized local agency with a good deal ofmomentum, collected 21 trophies, the third highest amount of the evening.The firm’s winning work included campaigns created for the Country MusicHall of Fame and Ebonite International, a bowling ball manufacturer.

As usual, Jack Design had strong showing. Headed by Buddy Jackson, thesmallish design firm went home with 11 awards. Dye Van Mol & Lawrence,primarily known as PR shop, made a respectable showing with nine awards.

Other major award recipients include Arthur Jonhsen of Creative Works(formerly with Bohan). Johnsen received the Silver Medal, given annually tothe individual who has done the most to advance the advertising industry.