Countdown to Cannes: All you need to know about the Kiwi creatives heading to Cannes Lions

As the official Aotearoa representative for Cannes Lions, the Commercial Communications Council will take us behind the scenes of this year’s event for coverage that promises to deliver captivating stories straight from the heart of the happenings. Stay tuned as James Wotton brings us the highlights!

As the prestigious Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity approaches, Aotearoa New Zealand’s advertising professionals are gearing up to showcase their innovation, talent, and unique perspectives on the international stage. With an exciting line-up of speakers, judges, and promising award nominations, the Kiwi contingent is ready to leave a lasting impression at this year’s festival.

Among the world-class speakers invited to share their insights and experiences at Cannes Lions, Rob Campbell, Chief Strategy Officer at Colenso BBDO, will take the stage to discuss the topic “Strategy Is Constipated, Imagination Is The Laxative,” offering a fresh perspective on the power of creativity in advertising. Joining him are Paula Bloodworth, Head of International Strategy at Uncommon, and Martin Weigel, Chief Strategy Officer at AMV BBDO. James Hurman and Connor Archbold from Tracksuit will also grace the Cannes stage. Hurman will explore the role of creativity in building stronger brands in the digital-first world through his talk “Creative Impact Unpacked: Building Brands for a New Economy.” Archbold, on the other hand, will share practical tips and insights on leveraging brand data in marketing strategy, captivating audiences with his module on “Unleashing the Potential of Brand Data in Marketing Strategy.”

Aotearoa New Zealand is well represented on the Cannes Lions Juries. These individuals will play a pivotal role in evaluating and recognizing outstanding creative work from around the world. Among them, Anne Boothroyd, Christina So, Group Digital Planning Director at FCB, Damon Stapleton, Chief Creative Officer at The Monkeys, Fiona King, Global Director of Production at Sweetshop, and Kelly Rosnell-Shand, Client Partner at Spark Foundry, are part of the shortlisting phase, selecting the best entries in their respective categories. In the awarding phase, Gary Steele, Chief Creative Officer at DDB, Brigid Alkema, Chief Creative Officer at Clemenger BBDO, and Lisa Fedyszyn, Executive Creative Director at SPECIAL, will have the honour of awarding metal across the Direct, Radio & Audio, and Health & Wellness categories.

New Zealand has a long history of success at Cannes. As the shortlists are slowly being announced, the signs are positive for another great year. DDB New Zealand & Team Heroine’s “Correct the Internet” campaign has already been recognised, earning a shortlisting for the Glass Lion category, which celebrates culture-shifting creativity by addressing gender inequality and prejudice through advertising. Special & Partners Life’s “Last Performance” has received a shortlisting for the prestigious Titanium Lion category, highlighting ground-breaking creativity. With an impressive track record, having already secured multiple awards in local competitions, these campaigns are poised to make a lasting impact.

Aotearoa New Zealand’s advertising future shines brightly as talented young professionals represent their country at the Cannes Lions Festival’s Young Lions competition. Lauren Brokenshire and Matthew Aitken from FCB will compete in the Print Category, while Loren Smith and Amber Garrett from MBM will showcase their skills in the Media Category. These young talents, winners of the Aotearoa Young Lions competition sponsored by Stuff, have the opportunity to demonstrate their creativity, strategic thinking, and ability to tackle live briefs on a global stage, further cementing New Zealand’s reputation as a breeding ground for emerging advertising talent.

As official representatives of the Cannes Lions in Aotearoa New Zealand, the Comms Council will be attending the Festival, providing updates on the progress of our local contenders in the awards, alongside reports from the Speakers Programme. We wish everyone the very best of luck and hope to see some Lions coming back to Aotearoa.

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