Spotlight: Independents
This is your moment. Make history.
Entries from independent agencies increased by 18% in 2025, showing that innovation and big thinking aren’t limited by scale.
It just goes to show anything is possible. You know, a local South African agency working with a Thai client, winning Gold in the Film category, competing against work with budgets many many times the size. It just shows you that you can be the David vs the Goliaths.
Sean Harrison
Executive Creative Director
Bananas Agency, South Africa
Explore some Lion-winning work from indie agencies
IKEA Hidden Tags
UZINA, LISBON / IKEA / 2025
Is It Even a City?
NEWSLAB, OSLO / VISIT OSLO / 2025
BAD LUCK REVERSER
NAME, BOGOTA / REFISAL / 2025
The Best Place in The World to Have Herpes
FINCH, SYDNEY / NEW ZEALAND HERPES FOUNDATION / 2025
Let There Be Cake
BANANAS, JOHANNESBURG / KFC THAILAND / 2025
“Raise Your Banners”
GIANT SPOON, NEW YORK / HBO / 2025
Advice from indie winners and Jurors
Be ruthlessly critical about your own work and your own entry. Get an outside view if you can. As an indie, an outside opinion often isn’t easy to find, but it’s incredibly valuable to have. Watch the case studies, read award entries if you can, dare I say it, stalk the team who made it on LinkedIn and understand how they did it.
Hilary Ngan Kee
Partner and Head of Strategy
Motion Sickness | 2025 Lion winner
Sometimes you may think your idea is too simple, but it's not. You don't have to dress it up for the sake of impressing a Jury. Stay true to the problem. If you have a bright enough, brilliant enough solve, put it across in the simplest manner possible so that it lands clearly without complication, and you should be home.
Pallavi Chakravarti
Founder and Chief Creative Officer
Fundamental | 2025 Outdoor Jury Member
Benchmarking is essential to the work, it means setting a bar. It defines the difference between good and great, and ambition in the industry is always about great. You know, what really stands out, what really sets the standard. By setting the standard, you somehow implicitly train yourself, your peers and the new generations.
Jorg Riommi
CEO and Chief Creative Officer
AIN’T | 2025 Direct Jury Member
Want to be part of it?
Enter your work
The 2026 Cannes Lions Awards are open for entries. Be sure to enter by 9 April 2026.
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The Classic Challenger pass is tailored specifically for ambitious independent businesses.
Got questions?
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