The United Arab Emirates wins 23 majestic Lions – 1 Grand Prix, 3 Gold, 5 Silver and 14 Bronze, at the 2024 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
The 71st Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity concluded on June 21, 2024, with the UAE securing an impressive 23 Lions—including 1 Grand Prix, 3 Gold, 5 Silver, and 14 Bronze—across multiple categories such as Grand Prix for Good, Health & Wellness, Print & Publishing, Audio & Radio, Pharma Lions, Industry Craft, Direct, and more.
Winning agencies from the UAE include IMPACT BBDO, Leo Burnett MEA (Middle East & Africa), FP7 McCann, Saatchi & Saatchi ME, MullenLowe MENA McCann Health, and Serviceplan Group Middle East, alongside the brand Floward MENA.
Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS, said, “As we wrap up another year of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, I hope everyone feels an extraordinary sense of pride and a rejuvenated sense of energy and inspiration in our industry. I’d like to congratulate each and every winner – as well as those shortlisted – on being recognised by your peers as demonstrating the greatest, most effective creativity our industry has to offer.”
This year’s festival saw 13 Awarding Jury Members and 12 Shortlisting Jury Members who joined the cohort of Juries from around the world to select and award the best work of the year.
Nayan Ganegoda and Braeden Bihag proudly represented the UAE in two esteemed events as part of the Festival: the International Young Lions Digital Competition (for young creatives under 30 in the digital category) and the Roger Hatchuel Academy (a mentorship program for university students in creative communications). Their participation exemplifies the UAE’s commitment to nurturing and empowering emerging talent in the ever-evolving creative landscape.
Commenting on their experience at this year’s International Young Lions Competition, Team UAE – Nayan Ganegoda and Braeden Bihag – said “Attending the Cannes Lions for the first time was a remarkable experience. It went beyond what we imagined the festival to be, where we had the opportunity to not just immerse ourselves in learning from the best in the industry but form meaningful connections with them while celebrating creativity week long. We leave inspired and driven to attend again in the future.
They added, “Representing the UAE at the Young Lions, we had the chance to compete with over 100 of the world’s best under-30 creatives for a climate advocacy brief set by ‘Project Dandelion’. They are a new non-profit social movement aiming to unify climate efforts under one banner. In 24 hours, we were tasked with developing and presenting a digital campaign that would drive mass recruitment and awareness. It was a tough challenge, but having the chance to work on a meaningful problem and pitch to industry heavyweights was a truly gratifying experience. Armed with our experience, having succeeded locally at the UAE Young Lions, we brought that experience forward with a strategy-led campaign. In the end, we made it to the shortlist, presenting a second time to a larger jury and securing ourselves a place among the Top 7. Special thanks to Motivate Val Morgan for making all this possible, and to our team at Almost Impossible Agency for believing in us.
Speaking about her experience at this year’s Roger Hatchuel Academy, Clara Armanious from Murdoch University Dubai said, “Representing the UAE at the prestigious Cannes Lions Roger Hatchuel Academy 2024 was a career-defining moment. The energy of the festival, surrounded by the world’s most inspiring creative minds and celebrating the groundbreaking campaigns, was truly transformative and an achievement that will shape my professional journey for years to come.
She added, “At the academy, I had the unique opportunity to engage with and learn from the world’s best industry leaders through panel discussions and sessions, gaining invaluable insights into the creative landscape. I’m grateful to my Professor Joseph Nalloor and Murdoch University Dubai for nominating me for this incredible opportunity. I also want to thank the festival, the RHA, Ian Fairservice, Motivate Media Group, Avinash Udeshi, and Sahal Valliyot from the Motivate Val Morgan team for making this incredible experience happen. This experience has not only broadened my perspective but also inspired my passion for pushing the boundaries of creativity in my future work.”
As the official representatives of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in the UAE, Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan extend heartfelt congratulations to the victorious agencies, esteemed jury members, and talented young representatives who proudly showcased the UAE at this year’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
Check out the Cannes Lions Wrap Up Report to catch up on all the prominent moments from the festival from industry insights to festival themes and what was said on stage and the work that won.
The 71st edition of the Cannes Lions Festival will witness the largest cohort of jurors from the UAE to judge at a singular festival.
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has announced the lineup of twelve shortlisting jury members from the UAE who will take part in the initial judging phase for this year’s Cannes Lions awards, scheduled to take place in Cannes, France, from June 17-21.
This update follows the earlier announcement of thirteen awarding jury members – including a jury president – who will collaborate with jurors from 54 diverse markets to acknowledge and celebrate exceptional global creative achievements, setting a new standard for excellence.
The 71st edition of the Cannes Lions Festival will feature its largest UAE cohort yet, with 25 jurors overseeing judging duties at a single festival, highlighting the nation’s increasing impact and expertise in the global creative landscape.
Commenting on the global shortlisting jury members announcement, Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS, said: “Our Shortlisting Jurors play a fundamental role in the Cannes Lions judging process. This talented line-up of industry experts will bring us one step closer to defining the creative benchmark on the global stage this June. I’d like to extend my gratitude for their hard work in curating the work that will go on to be awarded and recognised at the Festival this year.”
In reference to the Cannes Lions jury panel from the UAE, Ian Fairservice – Managing Partner of Motivate Media Group, said: “In reference to the Cannes Lions jury panel from the UAE, Ian Fairservice – Managing Partner of Motivate Media Group, said: “We are excited to see the continuous increase in the UAE’s footprint at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity. Kalpesh Patankar’s appointment as the second consecutive jury president in two years serves as a clear indication of the creative industry’s development here, steered by a diverse and talented group of experts. This reflects the UAE’s steadfast dedication to upholding standards of excellence and innovation in advertising, marketing, and communications. With a further twelve talented jury members, each bringing their own unique perspectives to the judging process, this is a great representation of our region at the international level.”
The 2024 Shortlisting Jury Members from the UAE have been named as:
Brand Experience & Activation:
Jarrad Pitts, Creative Director, Consulum
Direct:
Zahir Mirza, Executive Creative Director, C2
Entertainment:
Shereen Mostafa, Head of Production Publicis Groupe Middle East, Publicis Groupe
Film:
Serena Abi Aad, Creative Director and Film Director
Film Craft:
Rodrigo Scapolan, Creative Director, TBWA\RAAD
Health & Wellness:
Rana Sadek, Associate Creative Director, ImpactBBDO Dubai
Industry Craft:
Prerna Mehra, Creative Director and Head of Art and Design, MullenLowe MENA,
Gemma Crompton, Creative Director, Landor
Outdoor:
Firas Medrows, Executive Creative Director, DDB
PR:
Shafaq Tariq, Director – PR, Social Media and Influencer Marketing, MKV Digital
Print & Publishing:
Mohamed Bareche, Executive Creative Director, Horizon FCB
Social & Influencer:
Akanksha Goel, CEO and Founder, Socialize / We Are Social
With the Luxury & Lifestyle Lions Jury to be announced soon, you can see the full list of Global Presidents and Awarding and Shortlisting Juries here.
Further information on this year’s Festival and the Lions Awards can be found at visit www.canneslions.com.
Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan are the official representatives of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in the UAE.
Nayan Ganegoda and Braeden Bihag from Almost Impossible Agency won gold at the UAE Young Lions Digital Competition 2024
The 21st edition of the prestigious UAE Young Lions Digital Competition, hosted by Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan – the official UAE representatives of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, took place on Saturday, 24th February 2024.
The online competition for the digital category witnessed 23 teams representing agencies, client-side creative teams, as well as freelancers. The Judging and Awards Ceremony followed on Wednesday, 28th February 2024, with Nayan Ganegoda and Braeden Bihag, representing Almost Impossible, winning Gold.
Nayan and Bihag will receive a full week’s delegate pass and an all-expense-paid trip to represent the UAE at the International Young Lions Digital Competition – part of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, in June 2024.
Jolanda Van Rooyen and Jean Pierre Deaibes from Publicis Middle East claimed the Silver, while Francesco Negri and Michelle Co from FP7 McCann took home the Bronze.
Additionally, this year introduced a new section for honorable mentions, recognizing the exceptional efforts of Faten AlMukhtar and Sevval Asena Celik from TikTok, and Anzan Nahas Mohammed and Kezia Shamil from Leo Burnett.
This year’s client brief was from Every Can Counts, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting awareness about recycling aluminum drink cans. Participating teams were tasked with crafting an integrated digital campaign that communicates the significance of aluminum drink can recycling and inspires change in behaviour to boost recycling rates by utilizing creative storytelling and compelling messaging to resonate with the audience and drive action toward sustainability in the UAE.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Nidhi Sehgal, General Manager- Strategy & Growth, FLC Group – Marketing Agency for Every Can Counts UAE stated, “Amidst the challenges of limited awareness and cultural barriers, the Young Lions teams boldly tackled the mission to transform aluminum drink can recycling in the UAE. With innovation as their compass, they’ve crafted campaigns that not only educate on the importance of recycling but inspire behavioral change, aiming to elevate our recycling rates beyond the current 33%. Each team’s unique perspective contributes to a collective push for a sustainable future, aligning with Every Can Counts’ vision to make every can count in the journey towards environmental conservation and ACT Now.Thank you to Motivate Val Morgan for selecting the initiative to be part of this year’s UAE Young Lions Digital Competition 2024, and the respective teams for their dedication, hard work and unique perspective to make a change.”
The jury panel for this year’s competition comprised of: Ahmed Alotaibi (BPG), Ali Zein (Saatchi & Saatchi), Andre Nassar (IMPACT BBDO), Andrej Arsenijevic (Commonwealth McCann), Aunindo Sen (Publicis Middle East), Fernando Miranda (VML), Frederico Roberto (TBWA\RAAD), Joseph Bihag (Almost Impossible), Kim Jerbo (Create Media Group), Leila Katrib (Incubeta), Muhammad Ali (Leo Burnett), Moemen El Siwi (Memac Ogilvy), Nicolas Garcia (Science & Sunshine), Oliver Robinson (Mullenlowe MENA), Paulo Engler (FP7 McCann),Sandy McIntosh (M&C Saatchi), Saravana Ramakrishnan (FLC Group), Saymon Medeiros (And Us) and Youssef Gadallah (TikTok).
Ian Fairservice, Managing Partner, Motivate Media Group, commented, “In an ever-evolving industry, the UAE Young Lions Festival stands as a beacon of creativity and innovation, showcasing the brightest talents in our region. This year, we witnessed an excellent level of participation, highlighting the festival’s growing importance and the thriving creative landscape in the UAE. The quality of work from all participants was truly exceptional, especially from the winners, Nayan Ganegoda and Braeden Bihag, who I’m sure will be great ambassadors during this year’s Cannes Lions event”
The UAE Young Lions Digital Competition, supported by Getty Images (the exclusive image provider of the competition), aims to unveil the brightest creative minds from across the UAE and is part of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, the world’s biggest celebration of creativity in communications. The 2024 festival will take place between 17-21 June at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes, France.
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.
The United Arab Emirates wins 21 majestic Lions – 1 Grand Prix, 1 Gold, 6 Silver and 13 Bronze, at the 2023 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
The 70th edition of the prestigious Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity drew to a close on 23rd June 2023, with the United Arab Emirates winning a total of 21 Lions – 1 Grand Prix, 1 Gold, 6 Silver and 13 Bronze, across multiple categories, including first-time wins in the categories of Glass: The Lion for Change, Entertainment for Music, and Creative Data. The UAE also amassed an impressive count of 89 shortlists, truly exemplifying its creative prowess on the global stage.
Winning agencies from the UAE include Impact BBDO Dubai, FP7 McCann, Leo Burnett, ‿ and us, VMLY&R, Saatchi & Saatchi ME and Havas Middle East. Their remarkable achievements serve as a testament to the thriving creative landscape within the UAE and the country’s capacity to compete at the forefront of the global advertising and marketing industry.
Philip Thomas, Chairman, LIONS, said, “The body of Lion-winning work that emerged from the Jury rooms points the way forward, and demonstrates the power of the industry to drive change, build businesses and shape society. Congratulations to all those who entered, who made the shortlists, and who won a Lion at the Festival’s 70th edition to set the creative benchmark on the global stage.”
The 70th edition of the Cannes Lions Festival also marked a significant milestone for the UAE, as it boasted the largest contingent of jurors to preside over a single festival. Notably, Ali Rez from Impact BBDO made history by becoming the first-ever Jury President from the MENA region, while Sandro Gelashvili from Google contributed as a jury member for the inaugural Entertainment Lions for Gaming category.
Symon Medeiros and Jonathan Cruz from ‿ and us, along with Chloe Salloum from the American University in Dubai, proudly represented the UAE in two esteemed events as part of the Festival: the International Young Lions Digital Competition (for young creatives under 30 in the digital category) and the Roger Hatchuel Academy (a mentorship program for university students in creative communications). Their participation exemplifies the UAE’s commitment to nurturing and empowering emerging talent in the ever-evolving creative landscape.
Commenting on their experience at this year’s Festival, Saymon and Jonathan from ‿ and us, expressed, “Attending Cannes Lions is always a fantastic experience. It’s a hub of creativity and inspiration where we can gain insights from the best ideas around the globe. Moreover, it’s an excellent opportunity to interact with past colleagues and connect with individuals we aspire to collaborate with in the future. This year, the Young Lions competition centered around Rocket Learning, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping young children prepare for school. We were given 24 hours to develop a digital solution for their brief. It was truly rewarding for us to utilize the power of creativity to assist them in solving real-world problems.”
Speaking about her experience at this year’s Roger Hatchuel Academy, Chloe Salloum from American University in Dubai said, “Representing the UAE at the Cannes Lions Roger Hatchuel Academy was a remarkable experience that exceeded all of my expectations. The week-long program has completely transformed my life and mindset, pushing me to embrace heightened creativity and purpose in my work. Beyond the educational aspect, I had the privilege of forging deep connections and friendships with my fellow Roger Hatchuel Academy graduates. As a member of SheSays Dubai, I was thrilled to learn that 80% of the academy members were women! That is a true testament to the brilliance of women in this industry, and I was ecstatic to be a part of it.”
She further added, “I want to thank my professor, Dina Faour, who has been the driving force behind all of this. I am grateful to American University in Dubai for providing me with the academic knowledge and professional exposure I need to start my career. Lastly, I would like to express my gratitude to the Motivate Val Morgan team, especially Dumindrini Ratnayake, for her professional guidance and support throughout the entire Roger Hatchuel Academy experience. The program has left a special mark on my heart, and I am eager to utilize the invaluable insights I have gained to contribute to the dynamic advertising industry in the UAE.”
As the official representatives of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in the UAE, Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan extend heartfelt congratulations to the victorious agencies, esteemed jury members, and talented young representatives who proudly showcased the UAE at this year’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
Sources: Cannes Lions ‘The Work’
The 70th edition of the Cannes Lions Festival will witness the largest cohort of jurors from the UAE to judge at a singular festival.
Leading voices in their fields — and proven experts when it comes to creative excellence in action – meet the esteemed panel of jury members from the United Arab Emirates, tasked with benchmarking creative work at the 70th edition of the prestigious Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
The 70th edition of Cannes Lions will witness the largest delegation of jurors from the UAE to judge at a Lions Festival, Impact BBDO’s Ali Rez serving as the first Jury President from the MENA region, and Google’s Sandro Gelashvili as an awarding jury member for the Entertainment Lions for Gaming category, which will be awarded for the first time in 2023.
Commenting on this year’s Cannes Lions Jury line-up, Simon Cook – CEO of LIONS, said: “Our Jurors have a huge responsibility – giving up their time, energy, and expertise to set the benchmark for creative excellence as part of the 70th edition of the Lions. We are excited to see the body of Lion winning work that will set the industry standard for the next 70 years.”
In reference to the Cannes Lions jury panel from the UAE, Ian Fairservice – Managing Partner of Motivate Media Group, said, “We are thrilled to have such a diverse and talented group of experts representing the UAE as part of this year’s Cannes Lions jury panel. The 70th edition of the festival signifies a series of milestones for the UAE, including this year witnessing the largest cohort of jurors to judge at a singular festival, and the notable appointment of Ali Rez from Impact BBDO Dubai as the inaugural Jury President from MENA. All eighteen jury members from the UAE reflect the country’s unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest standards of excellence and innovation in advertising, marketing, and communications, and we are confident that their extensive knowledge and insights will significantly contribute to setting new benchmarks for the global industry.”
See the full list of Presidents, Awarding and Shortlisting at canneslions.com/awards/jury
Further information on this year’s Festival and the Lions Awards can be found at canneslions.com
Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan are the official representatives of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in the UAE.
Source: Cannes Lions
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.
Impact BBDO’s Ali Rez serves as the first Cannes Lions Jury President from the MENA region
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has announced the names of the Jury Presidents who will lead juries to award this year’s Lions and set the global benchmark for excellence in creativity.
Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS, said, “These individuals represent the rich spread of exceptional talent from across the full spectrum of the creative industry. The Cannes Lions Jury Presidents play an essential role in upholding the integrity of the Lions as well as setting the creative benchmark for the global industry. We thank them for their unique perspectives, expertise, and experience for the leadership they will bring to the very important task ahead of them.”
In a first, Impact BBDO’s Ali Rez will serve as Cannes Lions’ first Jury President from the MENA region. Commenting on the appointment, Rez said, “The UAE is a place where creativity thrives, and where we believe nothing is impossible. It is a special honour to represent that very spirit of this inspiring country, and the rich heritage of the Middle East, at Cannes Lions as Jury President. I hope this announcement will pave the way for many more people from the region to lead juries in the future at this most prestigious of awards.”
The Cannes Lions 2023 Jury Presidents have been named as:
Brand Experience & Activation Lions:
Ari Weiss, Global Chief Creative Officer, DDB Worldwide, Global
Creative B2B Lions:
Tom Stein, Chairman and Chief Growth Officer, Stein IAS, Global
Creative Business Transformation Lions:
Justin Peyton, Chief Transformation Officer, Wunderman Thompson, APAC
Creative Commerce Lions:
Nancy Crimi-Lamanna, Chief Creative Officer, FCB, Canada
Creative Data Lions:
Samantha Hernández Díaz, Chief Strategy Officer, GUT Mexico City, Mexico
Creative Effectiveness Lions:
Devika Bulchandani, Global CEO, Ogilvy, Global
Creative Strategy Lions:
Amrita Randhawa, CEO, Publicis Groupe, Singapore & Southeast Asia
Design Lions:
Quinnton Harris, Co-founder & CEO, Retrospect, USA
Digital Craft Lions:
Resh Sidhu, Global Director of Arcadia Creative Studio, Snap Inc., Global
Direct Lions:
Chaka Sobhani, Global Chief Creative Officer, Leo Burnett, Global
Entertainment Lions:
Brent Anderson, Global Chief Creative Officer, TBWA\Media Arts Lab, Global
Entertainment Lions for Gaming:
Francine Li, Global Head of Marketing, Riot Games, Global
Entertainment Lions for Music:
Danielle Hinde, Owner / Executive Producer, Doomsday Entertainment, USA
Entertainment Lions for Sport:
Rob Doubal, Co-President of McCann London and Joint Chief Creative Officer of McCann UK, McCann London, UK
Film Lions:
Bruno Bertelli, Global CEO of Le Pub, Global Chief Creative Officer of Publicis Worldwide, Chief Creative Officer of Publicis Groupe Italy, Publicis Worldwide, Global
Glass Lions: The Lion for Change:
Tea Uglow, Creative Director, Google, APAC
Health & Wellness Lions:
Mel Routhier, Chief Creative Officer, VMLY&R Chicago, USA
Industry Craft Lions:
Yoshihiro Yagi, Executive Creative Director, Dentsu Inc., Japan
Innovation Lions:
Grace Francis, Global Chief Creative and Design Officer, WONGDOODY, Global
Media Lions:
Christian Juhl, Global CEO, GroupM, Global
Mobile Lions:
Shannon Washington, US Chief Creative Officer, Connected Communications, R/GA, USA
Outdoor Lions:
Javier Campopiano, Worldwide Chief Creative Officer at Grey and Global Chief Creative Officer of OpenX From WPP, Grey/OpenX, Global
Pharma Lions:
Joshua Prince, CEO, Professional Group, Omnicom Health Group, Global
PR Lions:
Jo-ann Robertson, CEO, Global Markets, Ketchum, Global
Print & Publishing Lions:
Ali Rez, Chief Creative Officer, Impact BBDO, MENAP
Radio & Audio Lions:
Tseliso Rangaka, Chief Creative Officer, FCB, South Africa
Social & Influencer Lions:
Samantha Almeida, Director of Diversity and Content Innovation, Globo, Brazil
Sustainable Development Goals Lions:
Jean Lin, Chief Culture Officer, Dentsu Group Inc., Global
Dan Wieden Titanium Lions:
David Droga, CEO & Creative Chairman, Accenture Song, Global
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity will take place between 19-23 June and will provide an annual forum for the global industry to address the most pressing issues that they and the world are facing today.
Registration to attend Cannes Lions opens on 12 January 2023 and awards submissions open on 19 January 2023. Further information on this year’s Jury Presidents, as well as the Festival, the Lions Awards and LIONS Membership can be found at canneslions.com.
Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan – the official representatives of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in the UAE, hosted an awards ceremony on Wednesday 14th September 2022 to celebrate this year’s winning agencies.
The 2022 Cannes Lions Festival received a total of 358 entries from the UAE, of which 61 received shortlists and 22 won Lions – including 2 Grand Prix, 2 Gold, 13 Silver and 5 Bronze Lions.
This year’s winners across Outdoor, Print & Publishing, Media, Entertainment for Sport, Direct, Digital Craft, Creative Commerce, Social & Influencer, PR, and Film Craft categories include:
Creative heads and their respective team members from this year’s winning agencies attended the awards ceremony for an evening of networking over refreshments, followed by being presented with the most coveted trophies in the advertising industry – the LIONS.
Also in attendance were Rebecca Menezes and Eduardo Cesar from Saatchi & Saatchi MEA who represented the UAE at the Young Lions Digital Competition, and Fatma Al Suwaidi from American University in Dubai who represented the country at the Roger Hatchuel Academy student program as part of the Cannes Lions Festival.
Congratulations to all winning agencies, and we look forward to many more wins at next year’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
Alok Gadkar, Racha Makarem, Aunindo Sen, Ivan Bormaister, Dana Tahir, Pablo Maldonado and Till Hohmann from the UAE to join Cannes Lions 2022 shortlisting jury line-up
As the official representatives of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan are pleased to announce the line-up of shortlisting jury members from the UAE who will complete the initial stage of judging for this year’s Cannes Lions awards.
Health and Wellness Lions
Alok Gadkar
Executive Creative Director & Managing Director
Group Partnership
Born Sagittarius, 1977. Dribbles the ball at Don Bosco High School. Clicks the shutter & acquires BFA from Sir J. J. Institute of Applied Art. Wins state & art school awards. Hopps, skips & jumps as Art Director from Mudra Communications to Leo Burnett to Enterprise Nexus. Works hard on brands like Times of India, Killer Jeans, McDonald’s, The Economic times & more.
Represents Lowe from Asia as one of the youngest creatives at Cannes Lions on invitation by Adrian Holmes. Drops into Dubai on the way back. Falls in love with the hottest melting pot of culture. Moves to Dubai. Joins Partnership in 2003. Named Campaign Magazine’s young creative to watch in the region. Quits Partnership in 2007. Joins Lowe MENA. Moves back after 9 months.
Creates Iconic Splash Calendar in 2011. Continues to be Iconic every year. Wins first One Show Silver Pencil for Khaild Javed, a humble cobbler in Bur Dubai. Wins first Gold & Silver Cannes Lion for Aster Clinics & the UAE in Health.
Starts judging at Cannes Lions in 2018. Continues jury journey at Clio Health, LIA, Adstars, AME Awards, The Global Awards, New York Festivals & KYIV Festival. Keeps winning. Amassing over 200 awards at Cannes Lions, Dubai Lynx, One Show, D&AD, & more. Named among region’s Top 10 ECDs multiple times. Creates first-ever global campaign on invitation by SA Federation for Mental Health in 2018. Speaks on the global stage at Cannes Lions, Dubai Lynx, Mena Cristal. Mentors students at GEMS International School, FAD Fashion Institute & Middle Sex University.
Continues the show as MD & ECD.
Media Lions
Racha Makarem
Chief Executive Officer MENA
Starcom MENA
Racha is responsible for driving business outcomes by putting forward solutions that accelerate growth for partners as they navigate through an increasingly complex & uncertain ecosystem. Passionate about building brands, Racha strongly believes that key to any business or marketing transformation starts with investing behind the human capital & the right partnerships. In her role, she continues to focus on building diverse capabilities to solve for & unlock growth opportunities for clients across the region. What excites her about her role is that she gets to work with world class talent to accelerate growth for some of the most exciting global & regional brands/partners. Her experience spans across tourism, tech, luxury, automotive, government, CPG, payment solutions, entertainment & commerce to name a few.
Throughout her career Racha has worked closely with industry bodies to enhance & set measurement guidelines and principles. She is an elected board member in the IAB MENA & an active member in the D&I committee dedicated to positively influence corporate leaders & policy makers to value diversity & inclusion as a key currency for the growth of the digital economy. She has actively worked & collaborated with industry leaders to technically consult on ways of advancing audience measurement across MENA.
Previously to leading Starcom, Racha spent 15 years overseeing the A&I (Analytics & Insights) practice at Publicis Media. Her last assignment as a practice lead was to merge the DTI (data, tech & innovation) practice with A&I to create the Data Science Practice for the Groupe.
Racha is a mother of two and enjoys building puzzles & Lego with her kids, in addition to reading, meditating & spending quality time with her family, friends & dog.
Direct Lions
Aunindo Sen
Senior Creative Director
Leo Burnett MEA
Aunindo is Senior Creative Director at Leo Burnett, Dubai. With a career of 14 years, Aunindo started his career at JWT Mumbai, on Cadbury’s and various other brands. Spending the last 12 years in the MENA Region, he has previously worked at FP7/Mccann and Impact BBDO where he has been Creative Director on Nestle CPW, Snickers, Coca-Cola, Pepsico, Dove, JIF, Omo and Dettol among other brands, on both regional and global campaigns.
Along the way, he has been recognized with nearly a century of awards at Cannes, One Show, Clio, London International, Cresta, Epica, Dubai Lynx, Effies, Loeries and the Cristals.
He was recently ranked as the No.32 Copywriter in the world in the Big Won Report for advertising.
Film Lions
Ivan Bormaister
Associate Creative Director
M&C Saatchi UAE
Ivan is a Senior Creative from São Paulo with 12+ years of experience, now living in Dubai .
His work has been honored at Cannes Lions, The One Show, D&AD, LIA, Dubai Lynx, New York Festivals, Loeries and AdStars, among others. He also served as a jury member in Ad festivals and had his work published on Adweek, AdAge, Campaign and Lurzer’s Archive.
After traveling with indie bands photographing concerts, he started studying design and advertising. He did some graffiti and illustrations for brands such as Nike, which invited him to work on projects for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Rio Olympics.
He worked at creative agencies in Brazil as an Art Director, the last of which was DM9DDB. In 2017, accepted an invitation to move to the Middle East to work at Saatchi & Saatchi Dubai, later VMLY&R, the 2020 Middle East and Africa’s Cannes Lions Agency of the Decade. Having achieved success on his projects, Ivan was recruited to be part of the M&C Saatchi Group, the world’s largest independent communications network.
PR Lions
Dana Tahir
General Manager
Red Havas ME
With over 14 years of experience in the PR & Communications industry, Dana has been a pillar at Havas PR Middle East, where her role has spanned across all aspects of the agency’s growth, strategic counsel, team management and overall operations. Recognized for brand building, consultancy, and crisis management, know-how, and do-how, Dana has successfully led the agency’s post-digital transformation in recent years, allowing Havas PR to expand its footprint and diversify its portfolio across industries and disciplines.
Aligning with the global strategic direction of the Group. The new agency vision embraces the micro networks merged media strategic model which integrates earned, social, and experiential capabilities with content at the heart.
Prior to joining Havas PR, Dana worked at Leo Burnett, directly handling the Procter & Gamble portfolio. Dana has also recently joined Middle East Public Relations Association as a strategy board member.
Design Lions
Pablo Maldonado
Executive Creative Director
Grey Dubai
Pablo is Executive Creative Director at GREY Dubai but has also been named among the Top 10 Creative Directors in Argentina for the last 4 years by Lürzer’s Archive.
Over the past 17 years he has been one of the most effective and awarded Argentinean creatives in different markets such as Argentina, Mexico, US Hispanic, and now in the UAE.
His key role in Unilever’s ‘Degree Inclusive’ project, the world’s first deodorant designed for people with upper limb and visual disabilities, earned the Wunderman Thompson network its first Cannes Lions Grand Prix in 2020/21, and the first Grand Prix for Innovation in the history of Argentina.
Prior to this, he helped LatinWorks rank #9 in all of USA on Ad Age’s Agency A-List, and DDB as the #1 Mexican agency in the Gunn Report 2012, and #2 in 2011.
A standout in most young creative competitions, Pablo has not only been awarded 1 Grand Prix at Cannes, but 6 other Grand Prix’s and nearly 400 awards (32 Golds) from some of the most prestigious festivals in the world, including Cannes, Clio, One Show, D&AD, LIA, Epica, and Effie, among others.
At the last Cannes Lions, he helped Wunderman Thompson become the Most Innovative Network of the Year and the LIA’s 2021 Regional Agency of the Year in South America.
He is a regular member of Global Creative Councils and has chaired and judged several industry shows, such as the One Show, New York Festivals, The Drum, Cresta, and many others.
Outdoor Lions
Till Hohmann
Chief Creative Officer MENA
Memac Ogilvy
Since late 2021, Till leads Memac Ogilvy as Chief Creative Officer across 14 offices in the diverse MENA region based out of Dubai.
A role all about accelerating the network’s ability to deliver connected solutions, smart experiences, creative concepts, and borderless creativity for some of the world’s most exciting brands. This demands a decidedly media-neutral and channel-agnostic approach as well as a focus on work that has an impact.
It’s this approach and focus that he has built his 20+ year multinational career on. He has lead units, offices, countries, and regions at famous creative independent agencies as well as powerful global networks – out of Germany, the UAE and Singapore. His work for brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, GSK, The Economist, ACDelco, Unilever and many more has won 450+ industry awards across all disciplines at all major industry competitions. He has also been a member as well as jury president at many iconic festivals.
Interestingly, one of his achievements includes leading the regional Memac Ogilvy network to claim the Dubai Lynx Agency of the Year 2010 title, while based in Dubai for the first time, years ago (2007-2010).
Shortlist jurors will judge remotely online in advance of the festival and will receive full complimentary jury registration to this year’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity from 20-24 June in Cannes, France.
This year’s Festival will also witnesses the highest ever representation of both awarding and shortlisting jurors from the UAE across 12 categories – Print & Publishing, Sustainable Development Goals, Brand Experience & Activation, Industry Craft, PR, Creative Commerce, Health and Wellness, Media, Direct, Film, Design and Outdoor.
The Cannes Lions Festival will be accessible to everyone, and delegate registration is now open. If anyone is unable to travel for any reason, LIONS Members get exclusive digital access to Cannes Lions – plus a series of other benefits, throughout the year.
