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 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’
Fatma Al Suwaidi, a third year student majoring in Advertising at American University in Dubai to represent the UAE at the exclusive Cannes Lions Roger Hatchuel Academy 2022
The Roger Hatchuel Student Academy, founded in 2003, is a unique learning experience designed to help students interested in pursuing a creative path in advertising launch their careers. Selected students learn first-hand from the world’s greatest brands, creative minds and industry leaders, and the programme takes place over the week of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in Cannes, France.
As the official UAE representatives of the Cannes Lions Festival, Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan are delighted to announce that Fatma Al Suwaidi, a third year Visual Communications student majoring in Advertising at American University in Dubai (AUD), has been selected to represent the UAE at the exclusive Cannes Lions Roger Hatchuel Academy 2022
Fatma was one of the three recommended students from the UAE this year, alongside Kenzy Abedelmaksoud and Lillian Ghousseini also from AUD, whose submissions were reviewed by the Roger Hatchuel Academy selection 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, Fatma said, “If someone had told me at the start of my academic studies that I would become the passionate advertising creative I am today, I would not have believed them. Not because I thought I wasn’t capable, but because I grew in so many ways, that I exceeded my own expectations. I am nearing the end of my studies at AUD, but my journey in seeking knowledge is forever ongoing, and to be selected in my senior year to represent my country at the prestigious Roger Hatchuel Academy is an honor and I look forward to learning from the very best.”
“I am certain that attending the Cannes Lions Festival will be an experience packed with creativity, inspiration and just pure passion. My selection is a triumph I am proud of; however, it is not something that I accomplished alone, I owe my thanks to my family who supported me, my friends who were by my side, my university for giving me the foundation I need, and last but not least, Professor Dina Faour, a true role model every student would be lucky to have,” she added.
Dina Faour, Professor of Advertising, Department of Visual Arts, American University Dubai said, “We are so excited to witness yet another year for AUD at the one and only Cannes Lions and, specifically, at the Roger Hatchuel academy. This is a clear attestation to the program, the curriculum, the team, the students and the work. We wish Fatma AlSuwaidi a journey filled with inspiration and creativity, and we just know she’ll do us proud. We want to thank Cannes Lions for supporting students with this exclusive academy that joins the best students around the globe in one classroom and offers them such a unique insight into the industry. Thank you Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan, for being so professional, you certainly deserve to represent this festival.”
The Roger Hatchuel Academy class of 2022 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.
Other areas covered include:
This year’s Roger Hatchuel Academy will run in parallel to the Cannes Lions Festival from 20 – 24 June 2022. Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan wishes Fatma Al Suwaidi 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.
UAE creative agencies bag two gold, six silver and thirteen bronze lions at the recently concluded virtual Cannes Lions Festival 2021!
The Cannes Lions Festival 2021 drew to a close on Friday 25th June, which for the first time in history – due to the ongoing pandemic, took place online via the LIONS Live platform.
The UAE bagged 21 Lions in total for 2020 and 2021 – 2 Gold, 6 Silver and 13 Bronze Lions, across multiple categories, including newly introduced categories such as Sustainable Development Goals, Creative eCommerce and Creative Strategy.
This year’s winning agencies from the UAE included Impact BBDO, Memac Ogilvy, FP7 McCann, TBWA\RAAD, Mullenlowe MENA and VMLY&R.
Addressing the Cannes Lions Live audience during the Awards Show, Simon Cook, Managing Director, LIONS, said, “Over the past five days we’ve seen the return of the global creative benchmark, and the winning work that sets the bar for the entire industry. We’ve seen inspirational talks, taken part in learning programmes, celebrated creative excellence through our Award Shows and Debriefs – and come together as a community, united in the belief that creativity has the power to build business, shape society, and change the world for the better.”
2021 also witnessed 10 leading advertising and media professionals from the UAE represent the country as jury members at this year’s Festival.
Paul Shearer (Chief Creative Officer, Impact BBDO Dubai), Jennifer Fischer (Chief Innovation Officer, TBWA\RAAD) and Dida Atassi (Design Director, Accenture Interactive Middle East) were part of the Awards jury across Industry Craft, Innovations and Design categories respectively, and joining them as Shortlist jury members were Asad Rehman (Director Media and Digital Transformation, Unilever MENA) for Media, Amy Brill (Head of PR, M&C Saatchi) for PR, Vidya Manmohan (Founder and Creative Chairwoman, V4 Advertising LLC) for Brand Experience & Activation, Serena Abi Aad (Head of Content, Havas Dubai) for Film, Akanksha Goel (Founder & CEO, Socialize) for Social & Influencer, Alex Pineda (Creative Director, TBWA\RAAD) for Direct and Fabio Silveira (General Manager, Havas Dubai) for Outdoor.
Running parallel to the Cannes Lions Festival are the Young Lions Competitions (for young creative below the age of 30 years) and Roger Hatchuel Academy (a mentorship programme for university students in the field of creative communications).
Having won Gold at the UAE Young Lions Digital Competition 2021, Moemen Metwally and Fernando Montero from Memac Ogilvy Dubai represented the UAE at the International Young Lions Digital Competition.
Kamilla Bakytova – a student at American University in Dubai (AUD), pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication (majoring in advertising), was selected to represent the UAE at the prestigious Roger Hachuel Academy.
As the official UAE representatives of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan warmly congratulates all winning agencies, jury members and both Young Lions and Roger Hatchuel Academy participants from the UAE, and look forward to yet another successful Festival in 2022.
Sources: Cannes Lions and Campaign Middle East
Up until 2018, Motivate Val Morgan Cinema Advertising – official representative of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in the UAE, nominated one student to attend the Roger Hatchuel Academy – a student learning programme carefully designed to offer students of advertising, communications and other creative disciplines, the head-start they need to secure a role within the competitive creative industry post-graduation.
In 2019, Motivate Val Morgan recommended three students whose submissions were reviewed by a global panel of 7-9 jurors from Cannes Lions – comprising of a diverse mix of professionals from reputed education institutions, the industry and related creative fields. Earlier this month, the panel of jurors selected Meera Saeed Humaid Alaraj Alsuwaidi – a student at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree of Communication & Media Science, to represent the UAE at the prestigious Roger Hatchuel Academy which will take place from the 17th – 21st June 2019 in Cannes, France.
The Roger Hatchuel Academy is a student learning programme carefully designed to offer students of advertising, communications and other creative disciplines, the head-start they need to secure a role within the competitive creative industry post-graduation.
Students can expect a programme tailored to the current industry landscape, one which combines classroom sessions and a selection of official Festival content – under the guidance of course tutors Abraham Abbi Asefaw and Maksimilian Kallhed – Co-Founders of The Pop Up Agency.
Academy students get full access to the Cannes Lions Festival, including the five Award Shows and the Young Lions Party. They will also have exclusive access to the Jury rooms, which are closed to all other attendees of the Festival. This is a unique way to navigate the world’s most important discussion of creativity in communications, and an unrivalled opportunity to network with other future Lions-winners.
Creative leaders that have previously lectured at the Academy are – Bob Greenberg, Bob Isherwood, Neil French, David Droga, Jim Stengel, Michael Conrad and Tham Khai Meng, to name a few.
Commenting on being selected, Meera AlSuwaidy stated, “ I can’t even put into words how honored I am to be a part of the Roger Hatchuel Academy class of 2019, I’m also very proud and grateful to represent my country in this event. This wouldn’t have been possible without Dr. Park – my advisor, who has guided me through it all and has always believed in me, even at times when I wasn’t confident in my abilities. He has always inspired me to be the best version of myself, and I knew the best way to appreciate his efforts was to earn my spot in the academy. Travelling to different parts of the world has opened my eyes and broadened my thoughts and perception about my surroundings – you can say that it is the fuel that channeled creativity into my work. With this opportunity, I will begin a new journey as a determined communication and media student eager to learn, rather than travelling as a tourist, and will attend this academy that is filled with various opportunities to help build up my character, skills and future career. In addition to that, it is an experience that will help me find inspiration to bring creativity into media. In conclusion, I am very excited to meet my fellow classmates, some of the most creative minds from all over the world under the same roof. This is a once in a lifetime experience that I will cherish forever.”
Park Beede – Graduate Coordinator and Assistant Professor at Zayed University, said, “Everyone, in the College of Communication and Media Sciences, is extremely excited for Meera, to be selected for this opportunity. The rich tradition of creativity at Cannes Lions is a recognized pinnacle of achievement in our field, and the Roger Hatchuel Academy offers such a wonderful opportunity for young creatives to experience this energy. We know that Meera will be an excellent ambassador of creativity for the UAE, contributing to the diverse cultures brought together in this talented group of up-and-coming creative minds. We look forward to all the experiences Meera can absorb during this opportunity and bring back to share with her fellow students. We also appreciate the gracious support of Motivate Val Morgan in nurturing young talent to be tomorrow’s creative professionals. The opportunity for students to share firsthand experience from seasoned professionals is a truly unique opportunity.”
Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan would like to wish Meera AlSuwaidy 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 endeavors in the industry.
