@radical.media’s Jon Kamen heads top jury line-up for inaugural Cannes Film Craft Lions

The new Film Craft Lions honouring the skill and quality of craft and technique as demonstrated in the filmmaking process, will be chaired by award winning Jon Kamen, who has founded and built one of the world’s most respected content companies, @radical.media.

CRAFT LIONS JURY MEMBERS

Jon Kamen, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, @radical.media – Jury President

João Daniel Tikhomiroff, President, Mixer, Brazil

François Chilot, President Producer, Les Producers, France

Calvin Soh, CCO – Asia, Publicis Asia, Singapore

Ringan Ledwidge, Director, Rattling Stick, UK

Joe Pytka, Director, Pytka, USA

More than an occasional tourist in Cannes, Kamen serves as the Chairmanand CEO of @radical.media, a global company that is practically themodel of the current day transmedia company. The company is highlyrespected for its successful navigation into the worlds of branded,digital and entertainment media, while continuing to produceaward-winning films that originally earned its reputation at CannesLions.

Kamen has served as an executive producer or producer of AcademyAward-winning, Grammy Award-winning, Emmy Award-winning and SpiritAward-winning, features films, documentaries, television series andspecials such as The Fog of War, 10 Days That Unexpectedly ChangedAmerica and Mad Men. His company has been twice honoured with the Palmed’Or award, presented to the best production company at Cannes Lions,The Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award for CommunicationDesign and just about every accolade, trophy and paperweight associatedwith the advertising industry, including numerous Cannes Lions.

Kamen was also the founder of AICP Show at the Museum of Modern Art inNew York, a show that has been dedicated to focusing on craft fornearly twenty years. In 1994 the Mayor of New York presented him withthe Crystal Apple Award for his outstanding contributions to the city’sproduction industry.

He has been an active participant and contributor to the TEDConferences since 1987, is a Trustee of the Rhode Island School ofDesign (RISD), is on the Board of Directors of VCU Brandcenter inRichmond, Virginia, and the Berlin School of Creative Leadership.

Kamen and his partner Frank Scherma have constantly been dedicated tofurthering the evolution of the company as well as the industry atlarge. @radical.media is involved in significant pro-social andcorporate initiatives that exploit their multi-disciplinary skills,contributing meaningfully to people’s lives, something Jon and theentire company are most proud of.

“Jon has long been seen as a visionary in his innovative approach tothe business, much emulated and admired throughout the world. We aredelighted to have him lead what is a stellar international Jury, withliterally hundreds of Lions between them, and each, in their ownfields, leaders at what they do. The calibre of the Jury is befittingof a category that will become the global standard for craft in film,and we thank them all for being part of it,” says Philip Thomas, CEO ofthe Festival.

“I’m very excited to chair this prestigious jury. Why me? I’m gonna beeaten alive… but it’s important to distinguish Craft from thetraditional categories of brands. Especially at this time, where Craftwill evolve and the intricacy required will become even a bigger partof modern marketing communications. Let the debate begin,” says Kamen.

The Film Craft jury will award Lions to films based on the quality ofthe direction, copywriting, cinematography or editing as well as theskilful use of music, sound design or animation. The level of theemotional bond with the work and whether the craft of the work addssomething to the idea and pushes the execution will also be taken intoaccount.

The Craft Lions will be presented in Cannes on Saturday 26 June alongside the Film, Titanium and Integrated winners. To submit entries to this new section, go to www.canneslions.com.