Cannes Matters 21.06.24

I write to you from the train as we make our way back from Cannes Lions. I’m sat with my colleagues following a successful week in our role as UK reps, as the trade body representing our members, as ambassadors for UK advertising and its creative service capabilities, and as the team progressing the climate action programme, Ad Net Zero.

I’ll be writing some Postcards from Cannes on LinkedIn, but, for now, as we watch the French Riviera glide, TGV-style, by our window, it’s safe to say this has been our biggest and best week at the global festival of creativity since we took on the representative role in 2019. We’ll be reviewing this year’s winning work through the lens of responsible advertising, considering the themes discussed in sessions, roundtables, meetings and following up on the many connections we made with international colleagues.

A particular shout-out to our fellow rep from Kazakhstan, Askhat. He’s been growing his beard since 2012 when he first became a rep role saying he wouldn’t cut it off until Kazakhstan won their first Lion. Well, in the words of Del-Boy ‘they only went and bloody well did it!’. Last night, a suitably excited Askhat invited us to join him at a party in Kazakhstan this September for a ceremonial shaving. That’ll be one hell of a celebration!

It just goes to show how important being recognised for creative excellence at Cannes Lions is to the many advertising folk working in our industry from around the world. In short, Cannes matters.

We’ll be sharing more about UK successes in the coming days and weeks.

Our must reads, from the Croisette:

• UK Advertising Exports reached £18bn in 2023. What better place for us to announce it than Cannes Lions? (The Media Leader)
• Ad Net Zero and GARM released the world’s first sustainability framework to help decarbonise media (AdWeek)
• Elon Musk attempted to make amends with the advertising industry, in a wide-ranging interview with WPP CEO Mark Read. (The Drum)
• AI at Cannes – Five ways the technology has shown up on the Croisette. (Ad Age)

Our pick of UK wins:

• Golin London’s ‘The Misheard Version’ for Specsavers will be returning with two Grand Prixs!
• Another Grand Prix for the UK! McCann London wins for ‘The Everyday Tactician’, created for Xbox.
• Next up in the list of winners: Adam & Eve DDB’s ‘If You’re Into It, It’s In The V&A’, created for V&A.
• And our ad in the A is ‘106 LIONS on a shirt‘ by VCCP for our very own UKAEG. Did you spot it outside the Palais?

Some of our favourite moments at Cannes:

• In Conversation with Lioness & entrepreneur Mary Earps, with Maya Herm, Christina Taylor, and our Exports Group Director, Aisling Conlon, by UKAEG
• Ad Net Zero Chair Seb Munden announced a partnership with Kantar to track sustainable behaviours change live from the Palais
• We brought together over 30 of our Front Foot leaders on the Carlton Terrace for a mid-week lunch with Pinterest
• The Taylor Swift Effect with Jessica McCourt, Jonny Shaw, Meg Linehan and Jesse Batres
• I spoke at the Google Sustainability Summit, a special event presented at the Contagious Villa
• And to top it off, our UKAEG’s GREAT Global Dinner with entertainment from Munya Chawawa

Meanwhile, back at home…

• With just a fortnight to go until the general election, this opinion piece from Asbof Chair Mark Lund OBE highlights the mission of the OAT and advertising industry efforts to raise public trust
• The News Media Association’s report, Local Matters: Local Media First Line of Defence Against Election Misinformation, emphasises the crucial role of local news media, with 80% agreeing it will be the most important source for general election news.

And finally, congratulations to all the UK winners so far and our Young Lions, whose wins have been announced this morning. Here they are:

• Billy Nhiwatiwa, Designer, Jones Knowles Ritchie, UK and Ethan Brown, Designer, Studio Sutherl&, UK, for winning a Gold Lion in the Design category.
• Matt Nicholas, Senior Creative, VCCP Group LLP, UK and Graham Roberts, Filmmaker, Motion Picture Solutions, UK, for winning a Gold Lion in the Film category.
• Gemma Albin, Senior Manager – Global Influencer Strategy, The LEGO Group, UK and Charlotte Rubesa, Senior Communications Strategist, The LEGO Group, UK, for winning a Silver Lion in the Marketers category.

Come on, UK Advertising – bring it home!