Volkswagen-owned Audi tapped San Francisco's Venables Bell & Partners to introduce its R8 luxury  sports car in its first Super Bowl appearance in two decades. The clever result -- a "The Godfather" spoof featuring an original cast member -- was well-received. Pleased with the results, the carmaker returned to the game in 2009 ("Chase") and kept coming back ("Green Police" in 2010, "Release the Hounds" in 2011, "Vampire Party" in 2012, et cetera.)

Director: Noam Murro, who also directed Audi's "Doberhuahua" as well as Chevrolet's "2012," TurboTax's "Boston Tea Party," Hummer's "Monsters" and other big-game spots. Director of photography: Toby Irwin.

Creative director: Paul Venables. Creative director: Greg Bell. Art Director: Jonathan Byrne. Copywriter: James Robinson. Producer: Craig Allen. Group account director: Erik Petersen. Management supervisor: Colleen McGee. Line producer: Jay Veal. 

Editing: Bikini Edit. Editor: Avi Oron.

BRAND: Audi

YEAR: 2008

AGENCY: Venables Bell & Partners

SUPERBOWL: XLII

QUARTER AIRED: Q1