At the prestigious Cannes Lions 2019 that begins today and concludes on 21 June, Indian creative agencies have secured as many as seven shortlists in the Print and Publishing category, two in Design, and another two in Health and Wellness.
TBWA\India leads the tally with six shortlists, followed by DDB Mudra with three, and McCann India two.Indian agencies put up a strong show in the Design category with 34 entries where TBWA\India became the only agency to bag two shortlists, for its work for Neutrogen Brain and Spine Institute. Richard Ting, Global Chief Experience Officer and US CCO-R/GA, is jury president for Design Lions.
In Health and Wellness, Indian agencies submitted 70 entries where TBWA\India got two shortlists for its work ‘One Mindful Mind’ for Neutrogen Brain and Spine Institute’s kit. Besides, the agency was also shortlisted in two sub-categories, namely Brand-led Education and Awareness, and Health Services and Facilities. Shaheed Peera, who is Executive Creative Director, Publicis Lifebrands, is jury president for this category.
In Print and Publishing, DDB Mudra secured three shortlists for its campaign for Khalsa Aid, TBWA\India two shortlists for its work on Neutrogen Brain and Spine Institute’s kit, and McCann India two shortlists for its ‘cure 1’ and ‘cure 2’ campaigns for Mindopeners Counselling for Depression. Olivier Altmann, Co-Founder, CEO, and Chief Creative Officer, Altmann + Pacreau, is jury president for the above category.
Meanwhile, in the shortlists for Pharma Lions, no Indian agency secured a place in the list. Robin Shapiro, Global President, TBWA\WorldHealth, is Jury president for this category.
ENTRY GLUT
Over 30,953 entries — with 1053 from India alone — from 89 countries will take part in The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity this year. Indian agencies submitted as many as 87 entries in Media, 82 in Outdoor, 82 in Brand Experience and Activation, 78 in PR, 73 in Direct (73), and 74 in Industry Craft.
Last year there were 979 campaigns from India.
Two new categories — Creative Strategy Lion and Entertainment Lion for Sport — have been announced, pulling in as many as 848 and 702 submissions, respectively. Indian agencies have submitted 19 entries in the Entertainment Lion for Sport and 39 entries in the Creative Strategy category.
Noting that the changes made to the awards structure helped Lions refocus itself, Philip Thomas, Cannes Lions Chairman, said, “the industry is concentrating on the absolute quality of their entries, allowing everyone in the marketing and advertising community, and particularly brands, to benchmark their output against the world’s very best”.
