Matt Gill’s Cannes Diary: Day Five

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IMG_1990.jpgMatt Gill, group CD, Healthy Thinking Group is Australia’s representative on the Health & Wellness Lions jury. Gill, along with most of the Australian and NZ jurors, is reporting exclusively for CB.

Up early again and back in the jury room for a 9am start. Today was all about picking gold, silver and bronze plus the coveted best of show Grand Prix. We have been taking bets each day on how long the sessions will last and to be honest I thought with all the discussion so far we might be looking at an afternoon off and getting stuck into what the town has to offer outside the Palais des Festivals. Unfortunately that was a bit nieve for a first timer judge at Cannes and we finished up 16 hours later leaving at 1am but at least debating everything and having some sort of unified front.

IMG_2004.jpgIt has been an absolute pleasure to sit with these creative directors from all over the world. Brazil, London, Germany, Portugal, New Zealand, Mexico, India, Switzerland and the US. Some of these people could sell ice to the Eskimos and you could tell why they were picked to be involved,

We all need to go to the press conference in the morning when the results will be announced. Cannes is now packed and a very IMG_2019.jpgdifferent sight to when I arrived four days ago, the festival has absolutely taken over the town. They have asked my to do a talk on Sunday for the visiting client based delegates explaining the jury procedure, showing the best work and what we voted high and why.

I’m now looking forward tomorrow to not only see what the festival has to offer in terms of speakers and workshops but also look around Cannes itself as I’ve basically spent most of my time going back and forth from the hotel to the Palais. Saying that it’s made the jury very close and I’m sure some of us will remain friends for many years to come.