IDIDTHAT will be the first to bring you the Cannes Lions shortlists for South Africa as they are announced from the 11th – 26th of June 2026. Not only will we list those involved in creating the magic, we’ll also be showcasing the actual work that’s being recognised globally and link it back to the IDIDTHAT companies behind the work. This way, you’ll know exactly who the top creative minds to collaborate with are.
Keri-Ann Stanton, Chief Strategist and Founder of KAMuses Group, reports back from the final day of Cannes in the best possible way. We all speak Cannes now. And Keri-Ann... we're all dying to know. Did the giant box of matches make it back to South Africa?
In this diary, we get a two-for-one Cannes special from Accenture Song ECD Cameron Watson. From the nerves and pride of presenting ‘The Philipstown WireCar Grand Prix’ to the Titanium jury, to Silver Lion celebrations, Saffa meet-ups, and the beautiful blur that makes Cannes feel like one giant, sun-drenched fever dream, Cameron's says it perfectly.
Former Ogilvy South Africa ECD and creative powerhouse Mariana O'Kelly is flying the South African flag on the global stage. Now based in Chicago, Mariana is the first Chief Creative Officer of DonerColle Partners, the alliance between Stagwell agencies Doner and Colle McVoy. If you've never had the pleasure of working with Mariana, this diary is a wonderful introduction to her brilliant, funny mind. South Africa misses you, ma se kind.
For her first Cannes Lions, Volkswagen Group Africa Head of Marketing Bridget Harpur navigates the heat (and rosé) like a seasoned professional. One thing that stands out for her is the South Africans. Competitors at home, one team at Cannes. Her diary is a reminder of what an incredible bunch of humans we are. Go Team SA 🇿🇦
Nedbank Africa Regions Executive Head of Marketing Tatiana Ndlovu packs more into a single Cannes day than most people manage in a week. And we thought rosé on the terrace was exhausting. It's inspiring to see someone make the most of every opportunity this festival offers. If you've ever wondered what Cannes Lions really has to offer, this diary is for you.
Boundless Co-CCO Fran Luckin's words never let us down. She shares the quotes and convo's that stuck with her, from creativity and career growth to why the Red Hot Chili Peppers may have cracked the code on long-term creative partnerships.
Darling Films director and Open Chair Lioness Gale Maimane is experiencing Cannes Lions for the first time, and by day two she's already learned some valuable lessons: always eat breakfast, walking is often faster than traffic, and the best conversations aren't always the ones happening on stage.
In this edition of our South Africans in Cannes Diary, Think Creative Africa co-founder and CCO Nkgabiseng Motau takes us through a day of melting in the Cannes heat, chasing inspiration across the Croisette, and finding unexpected encouragement from Susan Credle, this year's Lion of St. Mark recipient. Along the way, she reflects on the power of human creativity, African representation and the moments that make Cannes unforgettable.
For this edition of our South Africans in Cannes Diary, Spotify Sub-Saharan Africa Head of Music Phiona Okumu reflects on her first Cannes Lions experience as a juror. Between moments of impostor syndrome, finding friendship in unexpected places, discovering the real Cannes beyond the Croisette, and squeezing in an early morning run along the Mediterranean, her diary is a reminder that some of the most meaningful parts of Cannes happen far away from the stages.
For day one of our South Africans in Cannes Diary, Machine_ Group ECD and Cannes Lions Audio & Radio juror Jabulani Sigege gives us more than a single day and we’re not complaining. He takes us through his first few days in Cannes, from arriving on the Croisette and settling into jury life to the responsibility of helping award the world’s best work.
More than 200 people gathered for the first-ever South African Creative Showcase where 14 agencies and their clients presented the work they hope will make South Africa proud at Cannes Lions 2026. It was a rare and wonderful sight: competitors and clients all in one room, cheering each other's work on. A rare chance for the industry to come together and get behind Team South Africa.
Being invited to judge at Cannes Lions is one of the highest honours in our industry. This year, 31 South Africans help shape the festival's most important conversations, serving on both shortlisting and awarding juries across categories ranging from Titanium and Glass to Film to Media, Design, PR and a Jury President in-between. Meet the marketers, strategists, filmmakers, designers and creative leaders representing South Africa on the global stage. Thank you legends for making us proud.
Last week, South Africa’s Cannes Lions jurors made a little history. For the first time, current jurors came together with former jurors and Jury Presidents for Jury Duty, a new IDIDTHAT.co and Nedbank initiative designed to share knowledge and hard-earned lessons before they step into the world’s most influential judging rooms.
LAST TICKETS AVAILABLE. On 4 June, the ACA and IDIDTHAT.co team up, with the backing of the Creative Circle, to host a special South African Creativity Showcase - a celebration of the work our industry is taking onto the global stage.
South Africa’s 2026 Cannes Predictions were revealed at IDIDTHAT’s industry dinner in Joburg on the 19th of May. Over 220 people from agencies, production companies, and brands packed out the restaurant, kicking off South Africa’s official Road to Cannes in exactly the right way: an industry showing up for each other, like only we can.
We all know that feeling. A piece of work drops and your stomach sinks a little because… damn, you wish you’d did that. The idea, the craft, whatever it is, it gets under your skin in the best possible way. So instead of pretending creatives don’t get wildly jealous of good work, we decided to celebrate it. We asked some of South Africa’s top talent to look at the work released between September and December 2025 and pick the pieces they genuinely wish they’d done themselves.
South Africa picked up a handful of shortlist recognitions at this year’s D&AD Awards, with a Wood Pencil awarded to Accenture Song for Allan Gray’s ‘A Seat at The Table’. Love this work, go team! And while it wasn’t the country’s biggest year at D&AD, getting shortlisted here still means the work stood out among some of the best creative entries in the world.
IDIDTHAT JUDGE MIKE SHARMAN FOUNDER & CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER RETROVIRAL SOUTH AFRICA JUDGE'S BIO Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Retroviral, which has made more brands ‘go viral, [...]
IDIDTHAT JUDGE NEEMA NOUSE CREATIVE DIRECTOR THE ODD NUMBER SOUTH AFRICA JUDGE'S BIO A creative leader with over 10 years of experience, Neema's innate fascination with the human [...]