One of these online video ads will win Virool’s contest and get to defy gravity

Video distribution platform Virool is today announcing the ten finalists in a contest to find the best online video ad of the past year.

And the winner gets an out-of-this-world prize: a ride aboard Zero Gravity Corporation’s aircraft, G-Force One. This is the same one used by NASA to let astronauts experience weightlessness at 35,000 feet. Up to a dozen people on the winning team will get a chance to ride the “Vomit Comet,” as the plane has been dubbed.

Here is the first of the ten finalists:

HelloFlo’s “First Moon Party,” submitted by Hayden 5 in New York:

VentureBeat readers can tweet their favorites at #ZeroGravity, and Virool promises those endorsements will be taken into consideration when selecting the winner.

Hinge’s “Introducing Playdating: Hinge for Toddlers,” submitted by Hinge, NYC:

This is the first time the company has held the competition, which was announced at last year’s Advertising Week in New York City and which has received over 250 submissions.

Downtown Los Angeles’ “#iamdtla,” submitted by Forte – The Collection in LA:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZopszaPukk

The key factor in determining the finalists, Virool CEO Alex Debelov told me, was to select videos that “exemplify what it means to create a great piece of advertainment.”

Dubai Airports’ “Fly Like a Penguin,” submitted by Chief Productions of London:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGcRXhKjyns

Other factors included the social engagement snapshot taken by the Virool VideoSpy Chrome browser extension. It shows such metrics as likes and comments on YouTube and Facebook, tweets on Twitter, shares on LinkedIn, and pins on Pinterest.

Esurance’s “#EqualDreams,” submitted by Leo Burnett of Chicago:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhTuNwO_Sqc

Tiger Direct’s “Orphanage Robbery Prank,” submitted by Tiger Direct of Miami:

As an example of engagement, Debelov pointed to HelloFlo’s “First Moon Party,” which had over 32 million views but, more importantly, about 510,000 shares on social networks.

Organic Valley’s “Save the Bros,” submitted by Humanaut in Chattanooga:

Another factor: What can be accomplished within the shortest time. “Hinge’s ‘Playdating for Toddlers’ is 2:40,” he said, “and [it] had us rolling on the floor.” Quaker’s “The Recital” runs for 4:40 and “brought several [people] in the office to tears by the end of it.”

Quaker’s “Recital,” submitted by OMD in Toronto:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoyq9pcp4Cg

Samsung’s “O Desafio: Bob Burnquist X Gabriel Medina,” submitted by Starcom MediaVest Group, Miami, Florida and R/GA, NYC:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxGg508a8ws

The winner, to be announced September 29 at Advertising Week in New York, will be chosen by six industry experts and celebrities. The judges will get a unique perk: joining the winners on the ride to defy gravity.

The judges:

• Troy Carter, Founder & CEO, Atom Factory
• Casey Neistat, American Film Director and YouTube Star
• Ricky Van Veen, Cofounder of CollegeHumor and Vimeo
• Chingy, Platinum-Selling Hip Hop Artist
• Gregory R. Raifman, President of Rubicon Project
• Jack Myers, Chairman and Media Ecologist at MyersBizNet

And, last but not least:

Zipcar’s “I’d Tap That: Grannies,” submitted by Zipcar in Boston:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6_jtCs4hnE