Medina Tajzoy’s Post

Unpacking Cannes Notes 🕶 ☀ ⛱ I’ve gone through my camera roll, notebook, and enthusiastic texts to friends to pull together my takeaways from this year’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity ⚽ Athletes were the real players. - A few weeks before the Olympics start, in their host country, it’s no surprise that big-name athletes were the biggest draw this year. I think it's going to stay this way. Why? These athletes have gone from brand ambassadors to CEOs – we got a taste of their brilliance at Stagwell Sport Beach and I’m inspired by Margaret (Midge) Purce and the upcoming OffSeason FC, Megan and Sue’s media prowess, the Kelces’ influence, and the burgeoning LOVB pro women's volleyball league. 🎬 What is a media company? - So much innovation and reinvention of what a media company should look like. TikTok speaking the language of marketing, Pinterest betting on experience, and Netflix showcasing legendary IP, there was a lot of exploration of what the future of entertainment looks like… and it was pretty fun.  🤖 AI everywhere except where it matters - AI was talked about so much, but not a lot was said, or shown. The loudest message I heard asserts that AI cannot replace the human magic of ideas… which is a take I do not believe will survive until Cannes 2025. Dismissing its potential will have swift impact on creative businesses. 😍 “Go see the work” - Sometimes people give you good advice. To in fact do the most obvious thing which is go see the work the whole festival is meant to celebrate (but is at least in part buried in the basement of the Palais). The work is universally good. Has real ideas in it. Surprises. Uses technology smartly. Some I loved: WhatsApp, JCDecaux and Mars Petcare 🤝 The rise of creative diplomacy - This is a tricky time to do great work. Every leader who did pull off the feat of great marketing spoke about building allyship, educating their counterparts, building structural data or Ip partnerships, etc. This no better captured that by Morgan Flatley, CMO of McDonald's choosing to share the stage with her partner in transforming the McDonald's brand – their CFO. Cannes was full of impromptu meet ups, delightful conversations with new friends, and reunions on the beach with others. I’m excited to read everyone else’s takeaways, and most excited to put these ideas into action.

Enter the Lions' den 🦁 Last week was the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, the largest gathering for those who work in creative communications, advertising and related industries. The week-long event celebrated the best in advertising with the Lions awards and educated attendees with talks on industry trends. Some of the key branding takeaways: 🤖 AI is here to stay Artificial intelligence and its impact on the industry was heavily discussed with many brand activations at the festival involving the usage of AI. While some talked about the capabilities that allowed for better work, others talked about the pitfalls such as the lack of diversity in AI-generated images. 🤝 The business case for inclusivity Due to diversity fatigue and culture wars, many companies have begun defunding their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. However, one panel at the festival highlighted the commercial benefits of more progressive advertising, citing it helps brands sell more and retain customers. ⚖️ Brands can’t shy away from politics Sessions highlighted the importance of brands getting involved in politics. According to Research Live, 60% of consumers buy brands based on their politics. 🎨 The power of the creator economy This year was the first time the festival included a Creator Pass, an initiative designed specifically for content creators to learn about the advertising industry. Simon Cook, the CEO of Lions, acknowledged the major contributions influencers have had in advertising and the potential growth of the creator economy. Creators with a real connection to their audience are who brands should be partnering with, not necessarily the biggest names. 🏎️ Embrace the now The “Coors Lights Out” ad campaign, born from a pure accident that went viral, was a Lions Award winner. Shohei Ohtani, a baseball player, damaged a billboard featuring a Coors Light ad with a foul ball, and within 48 hours, Coors responded with a special edition can that replicated the damaged ad. Brands should be moving fast to capitalize on what’s happening in culture. Want to learn more about the Cannes Lions Festival? Visit canneslions.com 📸 Contagious ---------- #canneslions #cannes #branding #globalbranding #brandingcontent #brandingmanagement #strategicbranding #brandingforbusiness #professionalbranding #brandingstrategies #svanyc #mastersinbranding #svamastersinbranding #svamib #schoolofvisualarts #sva #svabranding #branding #gradschool #mpsbranding

Having let the train take the strain, Stuart Button, our Executive Creative Director, shares his first impressions of Cannes 2024: “Cannes is here again . . . as adland's hopefuls descend on southern #France for some much-needed vitamin D. “The commercialisation of this 70 year old creative festival continues with more brands showing up than ever before. “Judging by the fringe event talks, AI is still top of the agenda - only this time, it's less: 'We're all doomed!' and more 'we're all going to be rich!'. “As well as AI and D&I, sports is sticking its hand in the air for some much-needed attention (Stagwell's awesome sports beach by Cheerful Twentyfirst is now double the size). “What with the #Euros and #Olympics coming to #France (although you wouldn't know it - it's pretty mute from what I've seen), they’re even parading the old torch thingy down La Croisette tomorrow. “The other topic that's still going strong, is that dirty word 'effectiveness'. The thing that all clients want and creatives struggle to care about. “With stuff like ‘advertising value chain’, ‘digital waste’ and ‘closed-loop attribution’ being thrown around . . . If I didn't know any better, I'd say marketeers were making up stuff just to sell more things. Sneaky little buggers. “Is it any wonder that advertising has only just dropped off the top spot of the UK's LEAST trusted industry for the first time in a decade. “According to Simon Stone, of LoopMe GM International: ‘There is no point in creating the next Guinness Surfer if fragmented viewing habits, skippable ads, and decreasing attention spans prevent it from being seen. Creative remains essential to branding, but only when supercharged with data-driven media placement.' “I mean, I'd love to write the next Guinness Surfer ad - effectiveness be damned! “But then, what's the point in doing what we're doing if absolutely no one cares? And, according to Mark Ritson, no one does. “Hey ho - off to my first event I go.” #cannes2024 #canneslions #events #festivalofcreativity

What were the biggest trends at Cannes Lions 2024? 🌟 I personally didn't attend this year’s festival but stumbled across a short article by Lou Paskalis that outline some interesting takeaways: 📈 RMNs are booming: Retail Media Networks are capturing attention with premium experiences and first-party data. Demand set to outpace supply! 🔄 Publishers pivot: From content to commerce, publishers are now focusing on direct sales. (lower funnel) 🌍 Sustainability strides: New frameworks aim to reduce the industry's carbon footprint. At least a starting point... 🏀 Sports culture reigns: Stagwell’s "Sport Beach" underscored the power of sports in connecting with audiences. 📰 News resilience: Despite challenges, quality journalism seeks sustainable ad support. And his last point that I 100% agree with: ✨ Serendipity wins: Cannes Lions' magic lies in unexpected, valuable encounters. If you were at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity this year, let me know if anything else stood out to you in the comments below (where I also placed a link to the article)! 👇 #CannesLions #Advertising #DigitalMarketing #Sustainability #Innovation

This year, I once again watched the spectacle of Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2024 unfold with awe. Though I wasn't able to attend in person, I’ve been kept up to date by Ella Butler, my social feeds and of course, the BizBash annual round up from Claire Hoffman - which never fails to highlight best in class. Here’s five key activations that really stood out for me: 1.⁠ ⁠Pinterest Manifestival: Pinterest's transformation of the Carlton Beach Club into a real-life version of their digital platform is always a pleasure to behold. They nailed it again this year! 2.⁠ ⁠LinkedIn: The Place to B2B: LinkedIn's clever play on words perfectly encapsulated their activation's purpose. They took over three floors of the Carlton hotel, to create a hub for professional connections and creativity. 3.⁠ ⁠Meta Beach: Meta's focus on connections and the possibilities of their technology was expertly executed. The standout Reels Cinema, emerging from the sand was such a great idea. Nice work Jack Morton Worldwide! 4.⁠ ⁠Spotify Beach: Spotify's round-the-clock activation hub was a masterclass in blending thought leadership with entertainment. 5.⁠ ⁠Netflix: The giant Netflix 'N' towering over the Croisette is now a Cannes Lions staple, serving as a constant reminder of the streaming giant's presence. Their rooftop takeover, featured vignettes inspired by their most popular shows. Another incredible experience by Seen Presents. Did anyone meet our Squid Game actors, by the way? A huge shout out to ALL the brand ambassadors, event managers, and support staff who are the unsung heroes of Cannes Lions, ensuring that every interaction leaves a lasting impression. With thanks to our teams supporting our clients Amplify, 160over90, Chase, United Airlines, Seen Presents and Netflix. Check out the BizBash article here: https://lnkd.in/eEeTDgQs #KruLive #BrandExperiences #EventProfs #EventStaffing #LoveForPeople

✨ First Impressions at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity ✨ If this was your first or second time, please share your POV in the comments.⤵ Attending the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity for the first time has been an incredible experience. This event, renowned as the largest annual advertising gathering, promised a wealth of insights and opportunities to network with the brightest minds in our industry. 🕶 However, amidst the excitement, I couldn't help but notice the overwhelming presence of celebrities. While it's exciting for some to see familiar faces, it often felt like the essence of the festival—creativity and industry insights—was overshadowed. The abundance of celebrity appearances seemed to shift the focus away from the core purpose: to learn, share, and grow as professionals in advertising. For many, that was why they were there, and to each their own. From this observation, and after reviewing the overwhelming amount of individual apps, programming emails, group chat recos, and LinkedIn posts I resolved to do the following: 1️⃣ Prioritize panel discussions and workshops: Featuring industry leaders and experts who are known for providing actionable insights and thought-provoking discussions vs. outside-of-the-industry theory. 2️⃣ Attend the more intimate networking events: Smaller, focused gatherings where I could connect more meaningfully without the distraction of celebrity fanfare. 3️⃣ Navigated to talks that highlighted emerging or disruptive Talent: I love to hear from up-and-coming creatives whose fresh and atypical perspectives can inspire and invigorate the industry. 🔆 Cannes Lions has the potential to be a beacon of creativity and innovation, a place where industry professionals can come together to celebrate and advance the art of advertising, but you have to decide that is what you will get from the experience -- if that is what you want. 📣 General industry PSA: Let’s bring back the essence of creativity over celebrity to marketing and advertising. #CannesLions #CannesxCulture #CreativityOverCelebrity #Advertising #Marketing #Networking #IndustryInsights #FirstTimer #AdIndustry

The #Cannes Film Festival is a media juggernaut! But even if you’re not in the film industry, you can leverage its buzz with killer marketing campaigns for your brand on social media. It’s all about staying relevant with the trend👊🏻🤟🏻 Here are 5 Instagram-worthy Cannes marketing hacks to dominate your feed! 👍🏻👎Top or Flop? (Hashtags: #CannesFashion #RedCarpetLooks) Ask your audience to vote on the best and worst looks from the festival. It’s a fun way to spark engagement and showcase your brand’s style sense. (Results: Generates buzz, user interaction, brand association with fashion) 🔮Predict to Win! (Hashtags: #CannesContest #PalmeDorPrediction) Host a contest where users predict the Palme d’Or winner. Offer a coveted prize to sweeten the deal! (Results: Builds excitement, drives user acquisition, creates brand loyalty with prize) 🎉Festival Flashback! (Hashtags: #CannesTrivia #CannesHistory) Test your audience’s Cannes knowledge with a quick quiz about the festival’s history. Use interactive features like polls or sliders for maximum audience participation. (Results: Boosts brand awareness, creates a fun learning experience, builds brand community) 🍸Cocktail Connoisseur? (Hashtags: #CannesVibes #BeachPartyDrinks) Create a personality test that matches users with their ideal Cannes cocktail. This is a great way to promote your own products or showcase local drinks and build brand association. (Results: Generates user-generated content, promotes brand products/services, creates brand connection with a fun activity) 🧐Star Spot the Difference! (Hashtags: #CannesStars #ThenAndNow) Challenge your followers to match current celebrity photos with their childhood pics. It’s a fun way to spark conversation, boost engagement, and show off your playful brand personality. (Results: Creates a lighthearted interaction, increases brand reach through user sharing, builds a relatable brand image) **What Cannes-inspired marketing ideas do you have? Share them in the comments! **

Being on the ground at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, here’s my initial dispatch: In 2010, Cannes Lions dropped the word “advertising.” It made sense at the time because there were starting to be so many new forms of advertising that didn’t fit the old mold. Branding-wise, I believe it was a great positioning move. Since then, the festival has grown tremendously. It now attracts so many people from so many different job functions and companies, not just agencies and production companies. So many new categories have been added also. Naturally, I thought there would be way more creative work entered into the show. Not so. Almost 40% less creative work. Does that mean this industry is now less about the work and creativity? Creatives used to own the word creativity. That may have been true in the context of advertising. However, in a borderless, always-on world where anyone can create, creativity no longer belongs to creatives only. I made this point to a strategist friend of mine near the Croisette today. He said candidly. It never did. #CannesLions #creativity #advertising

🌟 Reflecting on Cannes Lions 2024 🌟 What an incredible week at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity ! Watching the shortlisted and winners content has left me inspired and reminded of the timeless truth: people still love to be told stories. Whether it’s through a captivating ad or a heartfelt campaign, storytelling remains at the heart of what advertising agencies and creatives do. Here are my key takeaways: Go for Boldness: The most memorable work was often the boldest. It's the willingness to push boundaries and take risks that sets the best campaigns apart. Human Connection: Witnessing mankind at its best—creative, kind, clever, resourceful, and beautiful—was truly uplifting. The magic happens when creatives craft stories that people can relate to, transcending the mundane part of talking about a product and tapping instead into universal emotions. Partnership: The best creative agencies don’t just work for their clients, they partner with them. They delve deep to carve out a human story from a product or technical need, transforming advertising into something magical. In essence, Cannes Lions reminded me that creativity is the utmost human manifestation —to inspire, connect, and transform. Here’s to continuing to create magic in our industry! -Not written by IA, all errors mine- #CannesLions #Storytelling #Creativity #AdvertisingMagic #HumanConnection #Boldness #HERAW

🌟 Maximize Your Cannes Lions Investment! 🚀 Hurray, the dust has settled after the intense Cannes Lions submission process. You've invested heavily in creating standout case films and presentation boards. But what happens to these assets now? Their usefulness shouldn't stop there! 📝 I've just shared a new blog post detailing how you can repurpose your Cannes Lions campaign assets to continue gaining value from them throughout the year. From leveraging them for case studies to entering them into upcoming award shows like the The Gerety Awards, The Drum Awards, Festival of Media's M&M Global Awards and more, there are numerous ways to extend their lifespan and effectiveness. 🏆 Plus, a resource that can’t be missed: Our Ultimate, Always Up-to-Date Marketing, Media, and Advertising Awards Show Directory. This comprehensive guide is your gateway to over 40 relevant award shows and preparing your entries to maximize their potential. 🔗 Read the full blog here https://lnkd.in/dFxgk8pz and discover how to keep your campaign assets working hard for you! 💬 Interested in the Awards Show Directory? DM us "Access" for a special introductory offer! Let's ensure your creative work continues to receive the accolades it deserves. #CannesLions #Marketing #Advertising #AwardShows #CreativeIndustry