The UAE Cannes Lions Awards Ceremony celebrated the country’s triumph at the 2023 Cannes Lions Festival, with 21 wins across various categories
Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan – the official representatives of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in the UAE, hosted their annual UAE Cannes Lions Awards Ceremony on Tuesday 12th September 2023 to celebrate this year’s winning agencies.
The 70th edition of the Cannes Lions Festival witnessed the UAE’s active participation with a total of 640 entries from 22 agencies. The UAE distinguished itself by securing a total of 21 Lions, including 1 Grand Prix, 1 Gold, 6 Silver, and 13 Bronze awards, spanning various categories. Notably, the UAE achieved inaugural victories in the categories of Glass: The Lion for Change, Entertainment for Music, and Creative Data. The UAE also amassed an impressive tally of 89 shortlisted entries, solidifying its position as a creative powerhouse on the global stage.
This year’s winners across Print & Publishing, Brand Experience and Activation, Creative Commerce, Creative Data, Creative Strategy, Design, Direct, Entertainment for Music, Health & Wellness, Industry Craft, Media, Outdoor, PR, Radio & Audio, and Glass: The Lion for Change categories included:
*VMLY&R Commerce New York in collaboration with VMLY&R Dubai secured 1 x Silver (Radio & Audio)
Creative heads and their respective team members from this year’s winning agencies gathered for an evening of networking and refreshments, culminating in the prestigious LIONS presentation.
Also in attendance was Jonathan Cruz, who, along with Saymon Medeiros, represented the UAE and And Us at the International Young Lions Digital Competition, as well as Chloe Salloum from the American University in Dubai, who proudly represented the UAE in the Roger Hatchuel Academy student program as part of the Cannes Lions Festival.
This year’s Festival marked a remarkable milestone for the UAE, boasting the largest assembly of jurors to preside over a single festival, totaling 18 esteemed jury members. Particularly noteworthy is Ali Rez from Impact BBDO, who made history by becoming the first Jury President from the MENA region.
Impact BBDO was also presented with the MENA Network of the Year award. This prestigious recognition follows the agency’s consistent performance as the No.1 agency in the Middle East and North Africa at Cannes Lions in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winning agencies, and we eagerly anticipate continued success at the upcoming Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity next year.
Chloe Salloum, a third year student majoring in Visual Communication – Digital Media at American University in Dubai, to represent the UAE at the exclusive Cannes Lions Roger Hatchuel Academy 2023
The Roger Hatchuel Student Academy is a 6-day global learning experience as part of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, designed for students approaching graduation. Since 2003, the Academy has been inspiring the next generation of creative leaders by giving them the tools, knowledge and connections they need to explore different creative avenues and launch their careers in the advertising and creative communications industry.
As the official UAE representatives of the Cannes Lions Festival, Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan are delighted to announce that Chloe Salloum, a third year student majoring in Visual Communication – Digital Media at American University in Dubai (AUD), has been selected to represent the UAE at the exclusive Cannes Lions Roger Hatchuel Academy 2023.
Chloe was one of the four recommended students from the UAE this year, alongside Mary Al Nassr Allah and Ayesha Malak from AUD, and Samyuktha Shankar Narayanan from Middlesex University Dubai, whose submissions were reviewed by the Roger Hatchuel Academy Jury panel – a diverse mix of global experts from reputed education institutions, the industry and related creative fields.
Commenting on being selected for this year’s Roger Hatchuel Academy, Chloe said, “I have always had a love for visual storytelling. I spent much of my childhood embracing my creative side through photography, drawing, and creating short films. So far, I have learned a lot through my own experimentation and throughout my academic journey at the American University in Dubai, and I am looking forward to taking my knowledge to the next level. I am honored and delighted to be representing the UAE at the esteemed Cannes Lions Roger Hatchuel Academy! I am incredibly excited to be a part of this classroom alongside other young and eager creatives from across the world.”
I could not have achieved this alone, and I am so grateful to my Professor Dina Faour, my university, and my family for endlessly supporting me, believing in me, and guiding me to become who I am today,” she added.
Commenting on Chloe’s selection as this year’s Roger Hatchuel Academy student from the UAE, Dina Faour, Professor of Advertising, Department of Visual Arts, American University in Dubai said, “We, at AUD, are very excited and proud to be representing the UAE, once again, at the Roger Hatchuel Academy and at the Cannes Lions Festival. As avid believers in active learning and in close engagement with the industry, we find that the RHA and the festival as a whole offer exceptional learning and networking opportunities that prove to be inspirational to our students, year after year. We want to thank the festival for this initiative.”
“We also thank the Motivate Val Morgan team, especially Ms. Dumindrini Ratnayake, for organizing and conducting the selection process and for the professional support they consistently offer our students. Finally, we wish Chloe the best of luck and we are certain she will learn immensely and will continue to do us proud,” she added.
The Roger Hatchuel Academy class of 2023 will host 30 students in total, and throughout the week-long programme, students will dissect diversity and unlock a greater understanding of each other, the world and the nature of the industry.
This year’s Roger Hatchuel Academy will run in parallel to the Cannes Lions Festival from 19– 23 June 2023 in Cannes, France. Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan wish Chloe Salloum the best of luck as she embarks on this journey, and we hope her experience and learnings at the Roger Hatchuel Academy will create positive impact, and contribute to her future endeavours in the industry.
