
2026 Programme
Creative legends. Marketing mavericks. Inspiring content creators. They're all taking the stage at Cannes Lions 2026.
SAWA
Creative Control: Premium AI Meets the Big Screen
Monday 22 June, 13:15–13:45
Overview
Speakers
Description:
AI is everywhere in advertising, and audiences are already pushing back. Not against the technology itself, but against how it’s often used.
This session tackles questions the industry can’t avoid: how do we use AI without losing craft, authorship and trust? What does creative control look like across technology, production, brand and media? How can AI meet the standards of the big screen?
Bringing together leaders from cinema, creative technology, filmmaking and brand marketing, the session explores how AI can be used with creative control, not as a shortcut. Using cinema as the ultimate benchmark, it shows how premium AI, guided by human intent and discipline, can elevate brand storytelling and deliver creative expression worthy of the big screen.
Content Stream
Innovation Unwrapped
Your guide to the pioneers, technologies and transformations already shaping tomorrow.
Kathryn Jacob OBE
SAWA
Author, SAWA President, and Pearl & Dean CEO
Joaquín Cuenca
Freepik
Founder & CEO
Billy Bohan Chinique
Virgin Voyages
VP, Marketing & Digital Innovation
Nik Kleverov
Native Foreign
Chief Creative Officer
Tags
- Innovation Unwrapped
- Festival Talks
- American Sign Language (ASL) provided
- Live Captioning in 60 languages