Claire Davidson on the ground at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity: Day 1

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ClaireDavidson_inCannes.jpgCannes_L1080595.jpgClaire Davidson (left) is in Cannes this year and is reporting exclusively for Campaign Brief Asia. Here’s her round up of the speaker sessions on Day 1.

It’s that time of year again. It’s June. It’s Cannes. It’s our big festival.

The industry heavyweights and the creative gods and goddesses have made their annual pilgrimage, descending on France once again for the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity.  The level of competition is fierce, something the jurors know all too well.  They have been locked in dark rooms reviewing world-class work for the past week.  There is a slight tension in the air amongst the agencies, but this is mostly being blown out into the beautiful Mediterranean Sea and replaced by an intoxicating buzz and excitement about the week ahead.  Let’s call it a positive tension.

This year sees 17 categories in competition, with a whopping 37,427 entries – from traditional film and print, to the more technologically modern mobile and integrated.  New in 2014 is the Product Design Category, which recognises work in brand communication – specifically through client’s products, production processes and product interfaces.  The Cyber Lions has been re-launched, with Cyber, Mobile and PR Lions now having separate sections dedicated to Social.

2014 also sees over 300 speakers with over 200 sessions, which will equate to more than 150 hours of content. Wowzers!  Lucky I’ve been practicing my shorthand.