The many speakers of today included four-time Academy Award® winner Alfonso Cuarón, Wieden+Kennedy’s Colleen DeCourcy and David Linde of Participant Media discussing how art and activism can drive change in a world where people are more purpose-driven. Multi-award-winning designer Thomas Heatherwick joined Richard Edelman of global communications firm Edelman to discuss the ground-breaking impact of taking risks. And a candid conversation with industry great David Droga of Droga5 and Brian Whipple of Accenture Interactive took place about the shape of the industry today and their hopes and vision for the future.
This evening’s Award Show honoured the winners of the Craft Track, focusing on the artistry, skill, talent and flair required to deliver beautifully executed ideas with the power to cut through and bring the creative idea to life, as well as the Entertainment Track, celebrating creativity that goes beyond branded communications to create authentic entertainment that engages consumers and impacts culture.
Digital Craft Lions – Craft TrackThe Grand Prix was awarded to VIRTUE, Copenhagen for Carlings’ ‘adDRESS THE FUTURE’, whereby the multi-brand chain created a digital fashion collection to raise awareness of the environmental damage of fast fashion.
Jury President Rei Inamoto, Founding Partner, Inamoto & CO, said: “This is a Grand Prix with the ambition to tackle a huge problem that humanity faces. The unexpectedness of the idea itself, the ingenuity and the scalability makes this a worthy winner.”
Film Craft Lions – Craft TrackFinal Cut, New York picked up the Grand Prix for ‘The Truth Is Worth It’ campaign for The New York Times which aims to show that original, independent journalism requires resources, time and commitment, and that subscribing to The NY Times is crucial in that effort.
Jury President, Rebecca Skinner, Managing Director/Executive Producer, Supreme Films, USA, commented: “Over seven days of judging there were many perspectives and discussions across all of the work, but when it came to the Grand Prix it was unanimous. A bold and courageous campaign crafted in a unique way.”
The jury pointed out that whilst the craft was very diverse and shone through, there was a high level of brands touching on social issues.
Industry Craft Lions – Craft TrackThe Grand Prix was presented to Momentum Worldwide, New York for Nike who transformed a church into a basketball facility called 'Just Do It HQ at The Church' for Chicago’s youth.
Trevor Robinson OBE, Founder & Executive Creative Director, Quiet Storm and Jury President, commented: “It’s a Grand Prix that celebrates bringing restraint to craft, with a legacy that lives beyond this award”
Entertainment Lions – Entertainment TrackUM Studios, New York won the Grand Prix for Johnson & Johnson’s ‘5B’, a feature film showing how powerful nurses are.
Jury President, Scott Donaton, Global Chief Creative & Content Officer, Digitas, Global, said: “5B is a brave idea and a beautiful story that's brilliantly crafted. It can – and will – stand as a piece of great entertainment as well as an example of bold marketing. We need more stories like this, stories that make people care, that reflect a brand's values and that point the way forward for our industry.”
Entertainment Lions for Music – Entertainment TrackDoomsday Entertainment, Los Angeles won the Music Content: Excellence in Music Video Grand Prix for ‘This Is America’ for Childish Gambino which looked at the representation of black people in America and the prejudices they faced. The second Grand Prix in this category awarded for Community: Fan Engagement/Community Building, was awarded to AKQA São Paulo, the first Entertainment Lion for Music Grand Prix for Brazil, for ‘Bluesman’ by Brazilian rapper Baco Exu Do Blues, aiming to unify audiences in the quest for equality and peace.
Entertainment Lions for Sport – Entertainment TrackThe first ever Grand Prix has been awarded to Wieden+Kennedy Portland for Nike’s ‘Nike Dream Crazy’, which leverages the power of sport to move the world forward.
This is the second Grand Prix they’ve won at Cannes, having earlier won in the Outdoor Lions Billboards category. The jury, led by Steve Stoute, Founder & CEO, Translation Enterprises noted that many of the work judged centered around diversity and inclusion in sport, and in particular women in sports with a call to action to fight back against gender bias.
Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity is currently taking place in Cannes until 21 June. For those unable to attend, the Festival Digital Pass, provides a mix of live and on-demand content from the Festival, including a live stream each day of the awards.