Cannes Lions - Shortlists, Insights, Lions: m&k Werbewoche.ch reports live here

It's the question of questions that everything revolves around these days on the Côte d'Azur: Which are the best campaigns in the world? Who can hope to win a lion? A total of 26,753 entries were submitted by agencies and companies worldwide this year. Werbewoche editors Anna Kohler, Sarah Willi and Beat Hürlimann are on site - and will keep you up to date with all the important developments live from the Croisette several times a day. (Pictures: Anna Kohler, Sarah Willi, Beat Hürlimann).

Friday, June 21: Creativity should not be a privilege of advertising

Last but not least: The closing party

The crowning finale follows on Friday evening: the Lions Party at Carlton Beach. Impressions of the final hours of the 71st International Festival of Creativity can be seen in the event video.

Update, 4 p.m.: Follow-up question with Philipp Skrabal from Farner 

Philipp Skrabal, political advertising is rather unusual when it comes to Swiss awards. You won at the ADC. And now also in Cannes. What does that mean from your point of view?

Creativity should not be a privilege of advertising. Creativity belongs in every communication discipline. It's great that the juries think so too.

 

These are the first Lions for Farner, how do you classify the victories?

We have been playing a part in the creative rankings for five years now, from 10th place to 8th place to 4th place to 3rd place in the current ranking. It's clear that we want to be at the top. The fact that we are the most successful Swiss agency in Cannes this year makes us incredibly proud. Nevertheless, we would also have been delighted with the success of the other agencies.

 

What conclusions do you draw from the two lions in terms of input?

Difficult question. I think you always need a bit of luck in Cannes.

 

How are you feeling - and where and when are you celebrating?

We are incredibly happy! Behind these successes are so many great colleagues in our various agencies. The Lions are just the tip of the iceberg of many good communication solutions, including from disciplines for which there are no awards. We celebrate them all. Where? We'll decide on Monday!

 

Asked by Islam Alijaj:

"I am very proud of my team and all the supporters who backed my campaign. It is not a matter of course that political campaigns receive so much attention, especially a campaign for the concerns of us people with disabilities."

Update, 2:30 pm:

Bronze: Another lion for Farner!

Farner is definitely the Swiss winner of the Cannes Lions: today, Friday, there will be another Lion for the agency, which already won on Tuesday in the Film Craft category for the Greenpeace campaign "If you breathe, you need the sea" has cleared.

Now there is another bronze for Farner with the campaign "Giving a Voice to the Unheard"which has already been honored at several award shows - such as last weekend at the ADC Awards 2024 (Werbewoche.ch reported). With the support of the campaign, SP politician Islam Alijaj made it into the National Council in October 2023.

Alijaj's conviction: People with disabilities must take the fight for more self-determination into their own hands - and that can only be done in parliament. His starting position to be elected was almost hopeless, partly due to a speech impediment. Farner turned precisely this into his strength - and made him the voice for all people with disabilities who had previously not been heard.

AI-generated text-to-speech avatar

The strategy: Farner created an AI-generated text-to-speech avatar of Islam Alijai. The voice was designed to still match Islam's. The avatar was launched on social media in September 2023 and presented Islam's election platform for four weeks - a new interface between Islam and the population that allowed him to showcase his intelligence and ideas.

To this end, volunteers from the community were found and trained in how they too can become politically active. There were workshops, flyers, events and campaigns on social networks. And it paid off: Islam Alijai was elected to parliament. He received more than 95,000 votes, overtook four rivals on the party list and prevailed against over 700 other candidates. Islam, who himself has very limited speech, became the voice and hope for people with disabilities in Switzerland.

In the Sustainable Development Goals category, the jury recognizes work that has a positive impact on the world through creative solutions to problems or initiatives that use creativity.

Update, 11:00 am:

Two shortlist places for the Young Lions

The tension on the terrace of the Palais was almost unbearable. The eight Swiss women and men could hardly contain their excitement and joy at finally finding out the results of the tough and sweaty competition. 448 entries from 69 countries were judged by 38 jurors, and Swiss presenter Tanya König opened the award show at 10.30 sharp.

Even though there was no award, the two teams were at least shortlisted in the Media and Film categories. Congratulations to Francesca Kleinstück and Emil Maeder from Marty-Trezzini (Film) and Franca Boeglin from Jung von Matt Limmat and Gabriela Oetliker from Jung von Matt Impact (Media).

Want to know what else the young creatives got up to during their week in Cannes? Read here the diary of the Young Lions after.

Beat Hürlimann spoke to the shortlist winners:

Update, 00:05:

What was it like at the Weischer Cannes Lions German Beach?

Thursday, June 20:

Update, 11am:

What do you do when it's cloudy in Cannes? You listen to exciting sessions - or take a stroll through the submissions.

A tour of the print and OOH works in the exhibition

Update, 8am:

What a night! Yesterday evening Werbewoche.ch was a guest at Jung von Matt-Hostel (here we have already reported on this) and watched the European Championship matches. Two games, two wins - that's how an evening can end!

Here is Beat Hürlimann's video compilation:

...and of course some familiar faces were there too!

Wednesday, June 19:

Update, 3 p.m.: 70 guests at the Swiss BBQ

The Swiss BBQ at O Key Beach is almost legendary. 70 guests came to celebrate and Weischer Cinema Switzerland gave a positive review. Here are the best pictures and a video with an interview with Christof Kaufmann, CEO of Weischer Cinema Switzerland:

Update, 10 a.m.: Gold winner José Serrano from ParadaisDDB in a video interview

José Serrano and his team from ParadaisDDB in Ecuador have won a Golden Lion at Cannes Lions 2024. Serrano explains that the success is based on two main factors: Consistency and strong customer relationships. "We tried for five years and kept coming back," he says. "An engaged customer who actively participates in the creative process is crucial."

The award-winning "Gamerloan" project" for Banco del Pacifico offers an innovative solution for Ecuadorian young people who, as an at-risk group, are unable to obtain a loan. Serrano and his team allowed gaming accounts to be used as collateral for loans, allowing young people to build a credit history early on. "It was our way of showing that we understand and support the needs of the younger generation," explains Serrano. Serrano emphasizes the importance of Cannes Lions and the valuable lessons that can be learned there. "It opens the mind and brings an enormous amount of knowledge and inspiration," he says. Winning the Golden Lion is proof of ParadaisDDB's creative excellence and innovative strength.

Update, 9:45 am: Gold winner Divyan Kriplani, Leo Burnett Dubai, in a video interview

Update, 9am:

Another shortlist place for Switzerland!

The final shortlist was published on the dot of nine - in an exciting category: Sustainable Development Goals. Here, the jury recognizes work that has a positive impact on the world through creative solutions to problems or initiatives that use creativity.

Farner is nominated for "Giving a Voice to the Unheard"which has already been recognized at several award shows - such as last week at the ADC Awards 2024. With the support of the campaign, SP politician Islam Alijaj made it into the National Council in October 2023. We'll find out on Friday whether there's a lion for this - stay tuned!

Update, 00:40:

Weischer tour: "Creativity is there to give brands a competitive advantage," says Toan Nguyen, founder of JvM Nerd and juror at the Entertainment Lions for Gaming at Cannes Lions in a video interview alongside his views on outstanding creativity, trends in gaming and the importance of case films. You can find the interview here.

Tuesday, June 18:

Update, 2:30 pm:

Bronze: A first lion for Switzerland!

Farner collects for the Greenpeace campaign "If you breathe, you need the sea" took home the first Lion for Switzerland. In the Film Craft category, bronze was awarded to Farner and the video produced by Shining Film. It shows why marine protection affects each and every one of us directly - around 23,000 times a day. After all, the oceans produce half of the air we breathe. With this universal insight and an integrated campaign, Greenpeace Switzerland is raising awareness of marine protection among a new target group.

In April, the campaign was presented at the Webby Awards in the Video Ads category as the Internet's international audience favorite. We say congratulations!

Werbewoche.ch editor Beat Hürlimann spoke exclusively with Film Craft jury president Prasoon Pandey:

Update, 11:45 am:

Olympic fire on the red carpet!

Hardly anyone manages to steal the show from the famous lions. But today they did! Namely the famous Olympic torch, which also made a stop at the Croisette on its way to Paris - on the red carpet, of course. Incidentally, the famous torch was carried by none other than actress Halle Berry. Around the already lively Palais, there is tense excitement, and instead of the lions, Olympia takes center stage for an exciting moment. Whoop-whoop!

Update, 9am: New day, new shortlists - but there are no nominations for Switzerland today either.

Update, 7 a.m.: IAA World Dinner

What a night! Last night the IAA World Dinner took place at RTL Beach - Werbewoche.ch was there. The atmosphere is exuberant, we are excited and keep our fingers crossed for the award show tonight!

Monday, June 17:

New shortlists, new opportunities - but there are no Swiss works on the list in today's "Brand Experience & Activation", "Creative B2B" and "Creative Data Lions" categories.

Sunday, June 16:

5 shortlist places for Switzerland

The first nominees are here! Five shortlist places currently give Swiss agencies hope of winning a Lion, Jung von Matt Limmat / Hamburg is represented three times.

These are the first nominees at a glance:

Design

• Jung von Matt Limmat / Hamburg for Maison Blanche with "Tags against crime"
• Studio Banana for the Inselspital with "Loops"

Film Craft

• Farner and Shining Film for Greenpeace "Whoever breathes, needs the sea"

PR

• (Single-Market Campaign): Jung von Matt Limmat / Hamburg for My Climate "Putinyourvote"
• (non-profit): Jung von Matt Limmat / Hamburg for My Climate "Putinyourvote"