LIA - London International Awards’ Post

You Cannes Do it. To all those who know what it feels like being there but are not there! Cannes. A name that makes your adrenaline rush. A place that does justice your dopamine. Once you taste the experience, you want to be there every time. Year after year. Because that place is like no other place on earth. The levels of positivity, the depth of creativity and the height of festivity, all are of a different tangent there. It’s a small beautiful world where talents people come to celebrate creativity. To see how their hard-work fared amongst others. To see how high the bar has been raised. To see how many times the toast will be raised in the bars. To take back home beautiful memories gathered along with Rose’ and Smoked Salmon. To walk the red carpet and feel proud of all the deadlines you met and options you gave. To all the clients who stood by your ideas and all the briefs you had to fight. To all the sleepless nights and endless changes. All those moments of seemingly fruitless efforts look like they were all stepping stones to the stairs leading to the Palais. From display to shortlist to Lion, every day you spend there just makes you feel you are in a paradise of art. You feel you have left the earth somewhere behind and now you are with like minded people who have joined you to create another beautiful place in this space somewhere. A place that has beautiful solutions to almost all the problems in the world. A place that never sleeps. But keeps the dreams alive. And while once is just not enough, once you visit there you can live in its memory for ever. A place every creative person must visit. A festival every advertising person must attend. And sooner you make it, the better. #advertising #cannes #canneslions #cannes2023 #awards #creative #motivation #keepgoing #dontgiveup #nevergiveup #hunger #festival #linkedinstories

You are what you eat. And also the information (and inspiration) you consume. For me, Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is a rich, nourishing feast that feeds both mind and spirit. It does little good for my body, though — but hey, we all walk a lot here, and that makes my Apple Watch happy. Anyway, Cannes isn't exactly a budget-friendly affair. Years ago, a great boss I had gave me this excellent piece of advice: if you're at a good point in your career and have the chance to invest in yourself, consider Cannes. Don't wait for your agency to foot the bill. The competition for those internal budgets is fierce — creative leads with specific KPIs, long-standing employees, and, let's be honest, a bit of office politics. Getting sponsored isn't exactly a guaranteed outcome. So, if you're serious about propelling yourself forward, about rewarding yourself for a year of hard work, invest some of your hard-earned Euros in this experience. After all, your personal growth is mostly your responsibility, not your employer's. Take charge of your own journey. Be the leader of your own creative evolution. There are so many options available: student passes, young professional options, special passes, and quite convenient digital passes if traveling is not your thing. Great efforts from the organizers to make the festival more accessible. Can they do more? Let's see. For me, most of the good things that have happened professionally are connected to Cannes — friends old and new from all over the world, jobs landed, promotions earned, awards received, the big frustrations, the awards not won (and the lessons I've learnt)– it's all somehow been related to that one week in June, year after year. Cannes teaches you things that are not taught anywhere else. This is like my 12th Cannes... And if you ask me where I'll be next year the third week of June... #CannesLions2024 #CannesLions #InvestInYourself #LifelongLearning #CareerDevelopment #LeadershipMindset #CreativeGrowth #CannesLessons

Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, we need to talk… Year after year you have challenged me to be bold, be creative, be effective, be efficient. Immerse myself in the business, build strong agency partnerships, and fuel my strategic thinking. For a long time, I believed that self-improvement was the key to joining the elite conversations at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. After years of learning from industry giants like Peter Field, Mark Ritson Byron Sharp Orlando Wood James Hurman I felt ready to be part of that dialogue. But Cannes, we seriously need to talk. The reality is that attending to the “Athens of marketing and creative effectiveness” remains a distant dream for many of us as the cost of participation is prohibitively expensive. To my fellow marketers who feel the same: I HEAR YOU! We are expected to push the boundaries of creativity and effectiveness, yet we are often left out when it matters most. And to Cannes, you are truly an inspiration for many of us, but when talking about consumer centricity, you need to revisit your business model to give us some entry level. Common, be creative 😊! Until we can meet physically, I will continue to advocate from the distance the spirit of Cannes Lions—effectiveness’s, boldness, creativity—as a state of mind. Looking forward to meet in the upcoming years, Gaby #MarketingLife #CannesLions #CreativeExcellence #IndustryChallenges #StayConnected #MarketingCommunity

Cannes Lions markets itself as the ‘International Festival of Creativity’, but I don’t understand how you can celebrate true creativity if creativity = the size of your wallet. I’ve never entered the Cannes Lions awards before, but this year I thought I’d give it a go. That is until I saw the extortionate entry fees and debated if the kudos of winning this so called ‘prestigious award’ was worth me selling a kidney. There are lots of small independent agencies that are creating ground-breaking campaigns, but they will never be able to financially compete with the larger more established beasts. As a result you have brilliant creative that deserves awards but isn't recognised due to the creation of these elitist and exclusive environments. Organisations like D&AD and The Gerety Awards recognise this, and they offer a 30% discount to small indies which proves that a more equal playing field can be created - you just have to want to do it. But when I asked Cannes Lions if they have a similar incentive, their response was: ‘As a completely neutral party when it comes to awarding, we are unable to provide any discounts or waive fees for any entrants.’ I’m sorry but offering discounts to small indies doesn't sacrifice your neutrality – and it should have no bearing on the judging process itself – what it can offer is a wider, more diverse selection of creative for judges to consider. Which can only be a good thing for the industry and for Cannes Lions itself. How will we ever celebrate fresh perspectives and underrepresented voices if these systemic barriers remain? And the award entry fee is just the tip of the iceberg – throw in the entry to the Palais on top and the extortionate travel and accommodation fees for the South of France in June, and there’s no point even considering it. And then there’s the judging itself. Apparently, you can only judge Cannes Lions if you have won a Cannes Lions. And that my friends is the vicious cycle of elitism at its finest. What should be the high watermark for creative excellence in our industry becomes a wealthy mutual back-slapping exercise between past winners and rich agencies. Maybe I’m alone on this, but I personally think Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity really needs to take a long, hard look at what its current structure is saying to the industry – because all I can see is the perpetuation of inequalities that already exist and the promotion of the same work by the same big agencies, judged by the same people every year. Thus closing the door on diversity. If you really believe in creating a more inclusive landscape that genuinely celebrates the best work that our industry has to offer, you need to put your money where your mouth is. Not ours. #canneslions #equality #diversityandinclusion #awardsandrecognition

The Croisette is calling, and soon the creative world will descend on the Riviera for the annual pilgrimage that is the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. But with all the buzzwords, sponsored beaches and rosé-fueled networking, it's easy to lose sight of what really matters: standout creative work that delivers results and inspires. Whether you're attending the festival this year or, like me, back home watching the action from the virtual sidelines, I believe it's important to approach Cannes with intentionality. The week is noisy, and it's easy to get distracted. (IYKYK.) But this event is still about spotlighting the best creative output of the past year. At the end of the day, we ought to rise above the racket and focus on the work—work that pushes boundaries, sparks dialogue and connects with people on an emotional level. Of course, the top minds in the business will be there, and as always, I look forward to hearing what they've got to say. With all the conferences that have sprung up in our business, Cannes remains an unparalleled platform for addressing the most urgent issues facing marketing, media, tech and the culture. For one week every June, you can bet all eyes and ears are trained on this town. Cannes is ultimately what you take away from it. As for me, I plan to follow all the coverage I can devour and come away a little smarter and a whole lot more inspired. #CannesLions #Creativity #Innovation #Marketing #Advertising #Media #Tech #Inspiration #Impact

On Cannes, Part 2. To get the most out of your Cannes experience, a few pointers from someone who has been there, done that, many times (me below, keynoting on my favorite topic - brand narrative and storytelling, in the world of the ephemeral web): 1. Look at the Work - take a day, or two, to really look at the work. It's a trope to believe that all the inspo, comes from listening to panel discussions about how long walks on the beach fuel someone's creativity. No doubt, it does. But, pass on a few and take the time, to really look at the work. Absorb it, study it, learn about how it was made. Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity does an amazing job of exhibiting all of the award entries, so take the time to explore. 2. Schedule Key Meetings, Ahead of Time - Cannes publishes a list of all the attendees. Rarely are most key players in our industry, gathered in one place for so long. Do take the time to set up one on one meetings, with the folks that really matter to you. Equal parts, business and inspiration. 3. Avoid the Gutter Bar - yes, I've been there. I know the scene. If you do go, leave by 22:00. Late nights and hangovers, are better left for your time back home. Make the most of Cannes - and the dollars being spent on you to attend - by being on your best form, well-rested and clear-eyed to properly digest all that Cannes has to offer. 4. Take Notes, Share Notes - if you take notes as if you're in Uni, you'll better absorb the material being shared. You'll be more present in the moment, engrossed in the creative discussions happening all about you. Yes, your friends and colleagues back home will delight in seeing you holding a Rose at a beach party...but they'll be forever indebted, if you impart some wisdom and help them better understand, what was discussed. SHARE your notes. Nothing creates better absorption of material, than sharing your pov and takeaways, with your colleagues and mates. Record to share, and apply your pov - because your take on the event, is value-added indeed. Ok...more soon! SOCIALDEVIANT #Cannes #Creativity #Lessons #Advertising #CreativeAwards

This one is for the young ones who want to go to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and compete. In the Netherlands we collaborate with JongeHonden | YoungDogs, We Are RA*W, Young in Media (YIM) and bvA next selecting the best teams to participate. Do check their socials for information. And prepare yourself by attending this masterclass. This is a free Zoom webinar designed to help prospective competitors make the best of their creativity and set them on the path to the Palais. Yes, the one in Cannes, France. 🦁 🦁 🦁 We'll be covering questions such as "What are the Young Lions Competitions?" and "What does it take to win a Lion?". In addition, there will be talks on topics like Creative Bravery hosted by industry leaders from across the globe. We will have plenty of time for Q&A to allow competitors to have their burning questions answered. Join us at 12:00pm GMT (13:00 in NL) on 5 February for ‘Empower your Creative Process, Conquer Fear and Thrive in Young Lions Competitions 2024’ – a virtual Masterclass event consisting of talks and a Q&A covering creative bravery, breaking norms and future proofing your creative career. https://lnkd.in/eWTdxsvp This webinar is open to anyone working in the creative communications industry who is 30 or under. This is a chance to learn more about the competitions and potentially compete.

A Carrot named Cannes ! First of all, Congratulations to every winner, every shortlist and every entrant at Cannes 2024. The festival of creativity is not what is celebrated at The Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. It starts the moment you get that one thought that sprouts as a potential idea which you want to share and wait for it to be accepted. And then when you take efforts to sell the idea to your client. Making sure the idea is executed, refined and crafted to perfection. When you spend days and nights perfecting the case presentation. Then eagerly wait for the competition to be thrown open for entry. Finally looking for the right category to be entered in and then looking forward to the shortlist announcement. From the day you get the idea to the day you get the results, every moment is a celebration of creativity. From ideation to appreciation to acceptance to approvals to execution to submission, every milestone is a celebration. And just after the festival, the race will start. To hunt the Lion next June. No matter how many Lions you bring to your shelf, the Lions never cease to attract you. Every Lion home is a reason for bringing the other Lion home. It’s not about why you didn’t get the Lion this year, It’s about how long can you feed the Lion in you and keep it alive. Because the blood you tasted will keep on feeding the Lion of your dreams. It will never dry. The Lion will chase the ideas in your veins and get it out without waiting for any brief. The Lion will roar and get the approvals. The Lion will not let you sleep. As long as the Lion is looking for it’s prey inside, you’ll continue to hunt. It takes a Lion to hunt a Lion. So keep the Lion on its paws and be ready to rule the jungle. #canneslions2024 #cannes #canneslions #cannes #advertising #AdvertisingAwards

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT 🌟 Countdown to Cannes Lions: Week 5! 🌟 Are you a first-time attendee at Cannes Lions? Our latest blog is packed with insider tips to help you navigate the festival like a pro and make the most of every opportunity. 🌟🎉 Read the full article:https://lnkd.in/gFQrY93T #CannesLions #NetworkingLikeAPro #FirstTimeAttendee #InsiderTips