Cannes Lions introduces Lions Health in 2014, a festival and awards for the healthcare sector

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The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, the largest and most prestigious annual event celebrating creative advertising and communications, is set to launch Lions Health next year, a new two-day independent festival and awards celebrating creative communications in healthcare, wellness and sustainability.

Taking place in the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, just before Cannes Lions kicks off on 15 June 2014, the event will offer two days of content that will explore and debate the essential and unique issues relating to the world of healthcare communications, offer specialist healthcare Young Lions Competitions, a healthcare Young Marketers Academy, networking opportunities, exhibitions and screenings of the work as well as its own awards show to celebrate and honour the best work judged by specially appointed healthcare juries.

Says Terry Savage, Chairman of Lions Festivals: “The regulatory framework that agencies in the healthcare space must operate within, restricts the creative boundaries. With the health industry positioned to make the world a better place, Lions Health will allow entrants to compete on a fair playing field whilst driving the sector forward to new creative heights.”

Says Philip Thomas, CEO of Lions Festivals: “The changing nature of the healthcare industry, the need for true brand management, and the explosion of new media and digital challenges has meant that healthcare clients and agencies need to come together to learn from each other like never before. Lions Health will, we hope, help push creative boundaries, improving the standards of health and well-being for all worldwide.”

Lions Health will be structured around three elements: Health, which relates to any communication that falls within the regulatory restrictions that often constrain the industry;  Wellness, covering any form of creative communications not governed by a  regulatory environment; and Sustainability, an increasingly important concept for improving the world we live in.

Five juries made up of healthcare communication experts will judge entries submitted into Film, Print, Outdoor, Radio, Print & Poster Craft, Direct, Promo & Activation, Digital, Mobile and PR categories. They will award Bronze, Silver, Gold and Grand Prix Health Lions to those entries deemed worthy. Other awards will include Independent, Network and Agency of the Year and Advertiser of the Year.

Says Alex Von Plato, President and global chief creative officer, PHCG: “The desire to be ‘healthy’ is fundamental to the human experience, regardless of culture, nationality or religion. With the creation of Lions Health, Cannes Lions is embracing the vital role healthcare brands and agencies play in helping millions of people around the world achieve greater levels of health and well-being. Lions Health will provide a fabulous opportunity to elevate the ingenuity, creativity and importance of the work in this sector.” 

Says Jeremy Perrott, global creative director of McCann Health: “I am delighted as creative director of the world?s most creatively awarded Healthcare agency, to see the Health communications industry finally being recognised for its innovation and creativity in the most complex of industries. To be honoured with its own festival by the leading and most prestigious international creative awards show, Cannes Lions, Lions Health gives the industry the highest stage to showcase its brilliance.”

Further information and announcements will be made available over the coming months.