South Africa comes out swinging with 48 One Show Finalists. Here’s the work.
Awards season is in full swing, and The One Show has dropped its 2026 finalists, with South Africa leading the Middle East & Africa region with an impressive 48 finalists. BOOM! Flying the flag for South Africa are Accenture Song, Bananas, Carbon Films, Chocolate Tribe, Darling Films, Dolph, Giant Films, Joe Public, M&C Saatchi Abel, Marc Algranti, Ogilvy South Africa, Post Modern, Pressure Cooker, Run Jump Fly, Sterling Sound, TBWA\, The Odd Number, VML South Africa and 2Plus3.
They now head into final judging, with Pencil winners set to be announced during Creative Week in New York City on 14 May. Every finalist is guaranteed a win, whether that lands as a Gold, Silver, Bronze Pencil or Merit. Go well, team SA.
If you or your company worked on any of these projects and your credits aren’t listed, it’s probably because you’re not an IDIDTHAT member… which feels like a bit of a miss, considering you’re clearly doing some of the best work out there. Don’t pull a Van Gogh and wait to get famous later. Get seen now, by the people who matter. Take a look at our membership options or drop us a line studio@ididthat.co to get signed up and we’ll make sure your work gets the spotlight it deserves.
AWARDED
Finalist: Creative Effectiveness | Creative Effectiveness – Tourism / Travel / Transportation
AWARDED
Finalist: Sustainable Development Goals Pencil | Sustainable Development Goals
AWARDED
Finalist: Radio & Audio-First | Innovation – Use of Media in Radio & Audio
AWARDED
Finalist: Public Relations | Public Relations for Good
AWARDED
Finalist: Design in Advertising | Print Advertisements
AWARDED
Finalist: Integrated / Omnichannel | Craft – Use of Humor
AWARDED
Finalist:
Public Relations | Public Relations for Good
Out of Home | Out of Home for Good
.
.
AWARDED
Finalist:
Direct Marketing | Innovation – Use of Media in Direct Marketing
Experiential & Immersive | Experiential & Immersive for Good
Experiential & Immersive | Innovation – Use of Media in Experiential & Immersive
The Indies | Print & Out of Home
The Indies | Direct Marketing
The Indies | Campaigns for Good
AWARDED
Finalist:
Social Media | Best Use of TikTok
Branded Entertainment | User-Generated Content (UGC)
Creator Content | Community Activation
Creator Content | Multi-Creator Collaboration
Cultural Driver | Creator / Brand Collaboration
Direct Marketing | Social Media – Creator-Driven Engagement
Direct Marketing | Social Media – Influencer Marketing
Health & Wellness | Social Media – Influencer & Creator
Health & Wellness | Public Relations
Public Relations | Digital & Online
Public Relations | Community Building
Social Media | Community Building
Social Media | Community Engagement
AWARDED
Finalist:
Branded Entertainment | Branded Entertainment for Good
Branded Entertainment | Craft – Storytelling
Branded Entertainment | Craft – Use of Technology
Branded Entertainment | Full Length Video – Single
Creative Use of Data | Data for Good
Creative Use of Technology | Technology as a Creative Tool
Creative Use of Technology | Technology for Good
Cultural Driver | Cultural Driver for Good
Film & Video | Film & Video for Good
Gaming | Gaming for Good
Integrated / Omnichannel | Integrated / Omnichannel Campaigns for Good
Integrated / Omnichannel | Craft – Use of Technology
Moving Image Craft & Production | Use of Technology
IDIDTHAT Directory
Quickly find the right people to work with by searching through our curated Directory. We make the process of sourcing South African companies to work with easy, simple and downright sexy. Basically, if you’re not listed on IDIDTHAT.co, you simply don’t exist, like Bruce Willis in that movie with the kid that sees dead people, except nobody will see you…#Shame
IDIDTHAT Featured Stories
Find out who we’re talking about. Read the latest advertising, production, and creative news. We write it so it’s not kak. Let us know if you’d like us to feature your big stories.
SOUTH AFRICA AT CANNES: Day 5 by Carl Willoughby
Okay, so Carl Willoughby may have technically written about more than just Day 5, but when the reflections hit this deep, we’ll allow it. As CCO of TBWA\Hunt Lascaris South Africa, Chairman of the Creative Circle and a first-time Cannes juror, Carl captures the full emotional arc of the festival: from intense jury rooms to late-night inspiration, powerful panels, and South African pride - all wrapped in the beautiful messiness of being human in this industry.
Live Updates: South Africa’s Winners & Shortlists at Cannes 2025
Cannes Lions 2025 is a wrap and what a special year it was for South Africa. This page has been your live hub for everything SA at Cannes, proudly in partnership with LITTLEBIG. From shortlist excitement to big-stage wins, this year SA did us proud! The work, the energy, the people (especially the people!)… South Africa showed up with heart and an undeniable presence. Scroll back to relive the magic, and thank you to everyone who flew the flag loudly and proudly on the global stage.
SOUTH AFRICA AT CANNES: Day 4 by Gillian Rightford
Through quick quips, overheard truths, and notes from boardroom meetings, Gillian Rightford captures the contradictions of Cannes like only she can. As Executive Director of the ACA - now Africa’s first member of VoxComm, the global body of advertising associations - and a newly appointed member of the Effie Global Council, Gillian’s Day 4 reflections remind us that the business of creativity is as complex, messy, and fun as ever.
IDIDTHAT Monthly Craft Awards
Find out who’s doing the best work in South Africa. Every month we team up with industry leaders to award South Africa’s best in Production Craft. Huge thanks to our recent guest judges who’ve taken the time to judge IDIDTHAT Craft Awards. Look how sexy they are in these black and white pictures we put up – FYI we used the ‘Inkwell’ filter.
Best in Film Craft: January 2017
Liam Wielopolski, Chief Creative Officer at DDB South Africa, awards the best in film craft by Production Companies this month. He was ranked number 3 Chief Creative Officer at the recent Loeries rankings, but more importantly, his Avi on Twitter is an egg, he has 11 followers and his one and only tweet reads: “First tweet, yehaa!’’ - that was back in June 2011… When Liam’s not strategically questioning and undermining the conventions of social media, he’s an industry leader and you need to take note of what he rates as South Africa’s best. We’re honoured to have you Liam…yehaa! 😉
Best in Film Craft: December 2016
Fran Luckin, Chief Creative Officer at Grey Africa Johannesburg, awards the best in film craft by Production Companies this month. She's a bad ass who's bl**dy brilliant at spotting the best craft, so grab your skinny soy frappuccino and have a read through her comments.
Best in Film Craft: November 2016
Molefi Thulo, Creative Director at Ogilvy & Mather Johannesburg, awards the best in film craft by Production Companies this month. With only 3 spots awarded, he'll now be known as 'Terminator Thulo'. View the winners and all the entries by the leading production companies in South Africa.
