The countdown to Cannes Lions 2023 has begun. As always IDIDTHAT will be the ultimate source of all the South African news live from Cannes. This year, IDIDTHAT has joined forces with Howard Audio led by Cannes veteran Adam Howard. Howard Audio is the perfect partner for Cannes, having previously won Gold, Silver and Bronzes at Cannes, the company understands the importance of supporting our Saffas nominated on the international stage.

The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity returns to The Palais in Cannes from Monday 19 to Friday 23 June 2023.

IDIDTHAT Cannes Predictions

Our coverage kicks off with our annual IDIDTHAT Cannes Predictions, where we team up with top industry leaders to select and showcase the South African work that they think will turn heads in Cannes for South Africa this year. Results out soon – here are the people you’re going to need to bribe.

🇿🇦 Xolisa Dyeshana, Chief Creative Officer at Joe Public United
🇿🇦 Pete Case, CEO & Creative Chairman, Ogilvy South Africa Group
🇿🇦 Neo Mashigo, Chief Creative Officer at M&C Saatchi Abel Group South Africa
🇿🇦 Fran Luckin, Chief Creative Officer at Grey Africa
🇿🇦 Adam Howard, Owner and Sound Director at Howard Audio

L to R: Neo Mashigo, Pete Case, Fran Luckin, Xolisa Dyeshana, Adam Howard

Follow IDIDTHAT’s live winner and shortlist announcements

IDIDTHAT will announce South Africa shortlists and winners live from Cannes, follow our live updates page during Cannes week 19 – 23 June.

IDIDTHAT on the ground in Cannes

We’ll also be in Cannes, on the ground, behind the scenes and often with a glass of rosé in hand, so follow IDIDTHAT on Insta and Facebook throughout Cannes week for updates.

South Africa in Cannes family photo

Calling all Saffas and ex Saffas, if you’re going to be in heading to Cannes this year for the festival, please make sure you send us your number (pop it through to studio@ididthat.co) so we can add you to the South Africans in Cannes WhatsApp Group to keep up to date with where everyone is hanging out, where to meet for our annual South Africans in Cannes photo and where you are taking us for lunch

Let’s brag a bit about why we’ve partnered with Howard Audio this year:

This year we bring you all the SA news from Cannes thanks to the incredible support from Howard Audio led by Adam Howard. Howard Audio has been around for over twenty years and has established itself as one of the leading Music and Sound companies in South Africa, constantly evolving, always open to collaboration and at the forefront of innovation – now looking to the future with their new 3 Dolby Atmos studios. Most importantly, Howard Audio champions this industry, of which Adams says: ‘I am blessed every single day to get to work with such incredible creatives across the board. I truly believe that a win for one of us is a win for our whole industry, so I’m very proud to get to back this country in Cannes. Let’s bring back some metal!’

Adam Howard is no stranger to awards, grabbing statues for sound design, final mix, music composition, music supervision and performance at the highest level. At Cannes specifically, he’s won Gold and Bronze for Sound Design and Final Mix on Cadbury, a Silver for Original Music and Performing as Soloist (playing the flugelhorn) for Allan Gray and again a Silver for performance in Hugh Masekela.

When we asked Adam what his proudest moment in his career was, he answered. ‘Awards aren’t the be all and end all, but they can instil a great feeling of pride. I remember my first award, it was my first Silver Loerie back in 2005. It was an IEC job and I remember I got a call from Paul Warner and he said ‘Adam, you just won a f*cking Silver Loerie you f*cker’. Classic Paul haha. I had been trying to get into the industry for a long time and that suddenly set up my career. I’m really proud of that.’

Last but certainly not least. Congratulations and good luck to the incredibly talented South Africans who will be judging Cannes this year. It’s not an easy job but we couldn’t be prouder that you’re out there on the frontlines representing us.

• Creative B2B: Andisa Ntsubane, Managing Executive: Brand Marketing and Communications Africa, Vodacom Africa
• Creative Business Transformation: Khensani Nobanda, Group Executive for Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Nedbank
• Design: Thabang Lehobye, Head of Design, FCB Africa
• Entertainment Lions for Music: Elouise Kelly, Chief Operating Officer, Universal Music Group
• Film: Kabelo Moshapalo, Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy South Africa
• Outdoor: Roanna Williams, Chief Creative Officer, Net#work BBDO
• Print & Publishing: Loyiso Twala, Chief Creative Officer, McCann Worldgroup
• Radio & Audio: Tseliso Rangaka, Chief Creative Officer, FCB Johannesburg