South African Companies That Made Us Proud At Cannes

“I hate winning awards” said no one ever.

Despite how much fun it is to complain about award shows, they’re crucial to our industry. They set a benchmark for what we, as an industry, should be striving toward or past, in terms of creating work. Because yes, creativity sells dammit! The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity sets a global standard. In a world where we are faced with thousands of messages daily, this is the work that people stop to watch and this is the work that works for brands.

What’s even more inspiring about Cannes, is that South African companies proved, once again, that we are a major player, bringing home 1 Grand Prix, 5 Gold, 4 Silver, 17 Bronze and 85 Shortlists. And we’re proud to say that South Africa weighs a little bit more since those Lions have been brought home. Of course, there were some surprises. After winning at Loeries, Ad of the Year, One Show and D&AD, FoxP2’s ‘Ster Kinekor #OpenEyes’ campaign didn’t even get a nod at Cannes. That cut us deep. We blame the Guptas, we don’t know why, but it seems like the only logical thing to do.

Once again, radio reigned supreme. In the last 10 years, we’ve brought back 5 Grand Prix Lions. This year we won 10 radio Lions in total and 1 Grand Prix! Can we get an amen!? We challenge any country to top that! (Unless there is a country that’s actually topped that. We didn’t Google it. Shht, stop knitpicking, you’re so negative) Out of a total 40, 000 entries globally, South Africa sent in 816 and ended up ranking 12^th.

These are the iDidTht companies that made South Africa proud, so make sure you check out more about them as they are the ones to watch. Congratulations from iDidTht!

Film Lions

• GOLD: Cadbury Bubbly ‘Pre-Joy’ – Ogilvy Joburg / Bomb Commercials / Howard Music / MOI Content
• SHORTLIST: SA Mention: Adidas Originals ‘Original Is Never Finished’ – Egg Films (Johannes Leonardo NY with RSA Films)
• SHORTLIST: SA Mention: Heineken’s Dos Equis Mexican Beer ‘New Guy Sucks’

Film Craft Lions

• BRONZE: Surfshack ‘Chasing The Dragon’ – Y&R South Africa / 7Films
• BRONZE x 2: (SA Mention) Adidas Originals ‘Original Is Never Finished’ – Terence Neale from Egg Films (Johannes Leonardo NY with RSA Films)
• SHORTLIST: Western Cape Government ‘Everybody Knows’ – 7Films / Sonar Studios / Deliverance X2
• SHORTLIST: Kwesé ‘The Great Escape’ – King James II Johannesburg / Giant Films / Upstairs Ludus
• SHORTLIST: Commercial Bank Of Africa Loop ‘Unbank Yourself’ – Halo / Star Films
• SHORTLIST (SA Mention) Adidas Originals ‘Original Is Never Finished’ – Egg Films (Johannes Leonardo NY with RSA Films)

Health And Wellness Lions

• GOLD: Surfshack ‘Chasing The Dragon’  – 7Films
• BRONZE: Gui Ling Yuan Fang ‘Collection Of Poophemisims’ 
• BRONZE: Western Cape Government ‘Everybody Knows’  –  7Films / Sonar Studios / Deliverance

Companies winning in Film, Film Craft and Health & Wellness categories:

Radio Lions

• GRAND PRIX: KFC Double Down Burger ‘The Sad Man Meal: No One Cheerses, Repeat The Punchline, Long Red Thin Shape’ – Ogilvy & Mather Johannesburg / Produce Sound
• GOLD: KFC Double Down Burger ‘The Sad Man Meal: No One Cheerses, Repeat The Punchline, Long Red Thin Shape’ – Ogilvy & Mather Johannesburg / Produce Sound
• GOLD: Duracell Duralock ‘Paris, Britney, Harry’ – Finetune Studios
• SILVER: Blooms Pharmacy ‘Mall, Flight’ – FCB Cape Town / We Love Jam
• SILVER: Bloom’s Pharmacy ‘Flight’ – FCB Cape Town / We Love Jam
• BRONZE: KFC Virgin Mojito ‘Costume For The Car Pool, Preschool Concert In A Dark Jacket, Welding Mask On A Plane’ – Ogilvy & Mather Johannesburg / Produce Sound
• BRONZE: Gui Ling Yuan Fang Herbal Tea ‘Collection Of Poophemisims‘ 
• BRONZE: Biral Anti Anxiety Medication ‘Gym Boy’ – Publicis Machine Cape Town
• BRONZE: Exclusive Books Penguin Classics Radio ‘Orange Cover’ – FCB Cape Town / We Love Jam
• BRONZE: Flight Centre Student Flights Us Promo ‘The Us President’ – TBWA\Hunt Lascaris Johannesburg / Produce Sound
• SHORTLIST: Doom Insecticide ‘Fly On The Living Room Wall’ – TBWA\Hunt Lascaris Johannesburg
• SHORTLIST: Doom Insecticide ‘Fly On The Bedroom Wall’ – TBWA\Hunt Lascaris Johannesburg
• SHORTLIST: Ster-Kinekor Theatres ‘Bearded Icarus’ – FoxP2 Cape Town / We Love Jam
• SHORTLIST: Flight Centre Student Flights ‘Knowledge’ – TBWA\Hunt Lascaris Johannesburg / Produce Sound
• SHORTLIST: Exclusive Books ‘Penguin Classics Radio: ‘Green Cover’ – FCB Cape Town / We Love Jam
• SHORTLIST: Gui Ling Yuan Fang Herbal Tea ‘Collection Of Poophemisims‘
• SHORTLIST: Flight Centre Student Flights Us Promo ‘The Us President’ – TBWA\Hunt Lascaris Johannesburg / Produce Sound
• SHORTLIST: Exclusive Books ‘Penguin Classics Radio: ‘Green Cover’ – FCB Cape Town / We Love Jam

Companies winning in the Radio category:

Mobile Lions:

• BRONZE: Huffington Post South Africa ‘Stop The Cycle’ – NATIVE VML
• BRONZE: Huffington Post South Africa ‘Stop The Cycle’ – NATIVE VML
• SHORTLIST: Huffington Post South Africa ‘Stop The Cycle’ – NATIVE VML

Entertainment Lions:

• GOLD: Absolut ‘One Source: Campaign’ – NATIVE VML / Egg Films / Deliverance
• SILVER: Absolut ‘One Source: The Song’ – NATIVE VML / Egg Films / Deliverance
• BRONZE: (SA Mention) Adidas Originals ‘Original Is Never Finished’ – Egg Films (Johannes Leonardo NY with RSA Films)
• SHORTLIST: Volkswagen ‘011Beats’ – Ogilvy & Mather Cape Town / Arcade

Entertainment for Music Lions:

• GRAND PRIX: Adidas Originals ‘Original Is Never Finished’ – Egg Films (Johannes Leonardo NY with RSA Films)
• SILVER: Absolut ‘One Source: Campaign’ – NATIVE VML / Egg Films / Deliverance
• SHORTLIST: (SA Mention) Adidas Originals ‘Original Is Never Finished’ – Egg Films (Johannes Leonardo NY with RSA Films)

Media Lions:

• BRONZE: Absolut ‘One Source: Campaign’ – NATIVE VML / Egg Films / Deliverance

Design Lions:

• BRONZE: Goodbye Malaria ‘Beautiful Pathogens’ – TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris Johannesburg
• BRONZE: Soweto Gold ‘76 ‘Marked By Bravery’ 
• BRONZE: TBWA\ Identity Refresh – (Idea Creation) Grid Worldwide Johannesburg
• SHORTLIST: Rocketseed South Africa ‘Stamps For Good’
• SHORTLIST: Huffington Post South Africa ‘Stop The Cycle’ – NATIVE VML
• SHORTLIST: Viacom/MTV ‘#Letstalkcolour’ – Ogilvy & Mather Johannesburg

Companies winning in Mobile, Entertainment, Entertainment for Music, Media and Design categories:

Glass Lions:

• SHORTLIST: Libresse ‘Vagina Varsity’ – Net#Work BBDO Johannesburg / Zootee Studios Cape Town

Cyber:

• SHORTLIST x2: Cadbury Bubbly ‘Pre-Joy’ – Ogilvy & Mather Johannesburg / Bomb Films Johannesburg / MOI Content
• SHORTLIST: Libresse ‘Vagina Varsity’ – Net#Work BBDO Johannesburg / Zootee Studios Cape Town
• SHORTLIST x3: Huffington Post South Africa ‘Stop The Cycle’ – NATIVE VML

PR:

• SHORTLIST: Unilever Sunlight Washing Powder ‘Sunlight Saves Water’ – The Hardy Boys Durban / Ogilvy & Mather Johannesburg

Outdoor Lions

• BRONZE: Joburg Zoo ‘Frog, Snake, Bat’
• BRONZE: Joburg Zoo ‘Frog, Snake, Bat, Bird’
• SHORTLIST: Multichoice Satelife ‘Satellite Dish Numbers’
• SHORTLIST: Greenpeace Africa ‘Trash Masks: Red, Blue, Grey’

Print & Publishing Lions:

• BRONZE: Mandevu Beard Balm ‘Indian, Kenyan, Englishman, Kenyan 2’

Companies winning in Glass, Cyber, PR and Print & Publishing categories:

If you won at Cannes and your company isn’t listed above, we want to feature you, so please contact us immediately and we’ll add you.