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.
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.
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.
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.
Last night, at a packed Cannes Predictions Dinner hosted by IDIDTHAT in Johannesburg, South Africa’s 2026 Cannes Contenders were revealed live to the industry. And now you can view that work right here.
South Africa came out punching at The One Show Awards 2026, with local agencies, production companies, creatives, marketers, and brands picking up Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Merit recognition across a wide spread of categories. Go team SA! Congratulations to all the South African Pencil and Merit winners. Here’s the work that brought it home.
South Africa is showing up strong at the The One Show, leading the Middle East and Africa region with 48 finalists. From agencies to production and post, the work is cutting through for Team SA, and with every finalist guaranteed a Pencil or Merit, it’s already a big win.
‘Vaseline Verified’ campaign for Unilever racks up an impressive run of Golds and Silvers, ‘Mntana ka Gogo’ bags picks up Silver and Bronze, ‘Show Ghana Love’, ‘Zuzu the Crab’ and ‘The Philipstown WireCar Grand Prix’ bring in a few more bronzes. Have a look at all the work and who won what in our Clios 2026 showcase.
A clean sweep for the Colonel. This month’s IDIDTHAT.co Craft Awards saw KFC take both top honours, with judges Catherine Wanliss, Creative Director at Accenture Song, and Kyle Lewis, Director at Egg Films, recognising top Craft from Zee Ntuli from Darling Films and Grant de Sousa of They Films.
As the countdown to Cannes kicks off, the official IDIDTHAT.co Cannes Predictions are here! This is the South African work handpicked by our panel of judges as the strongest contenders to roar on the global stage. We asked them to view the work entered by South Africa into Cannes this year and choose the pieces they believe will turn heads in France. A massive shoutout to our judges Fran Luckin, Sbu Sitole, Roland Sweet, Danni Pinch, and Safaraaz Sindhi. Thank you for being absolute gold as always!
The 2024 Creative Circle Best of the Year winners have been announced, celebrating the work, the people, and the brands that continue to push South Africa's industry forward. As always, the winning work sparks debate, from purpose-driven campaigns to sharp insights, craft, and humour, ultimately, this work is a snapshot of where we stand as an industry. Here you can find all the winning work and talent behind the work, congrats you beauties.
Want to work with the best South African talent behind the clicks, scrolls, and swipes this year? You’re in the right place. This showcase celebrates the best campaigns in Digital & Digital Craft for 2024 and the names behind the work, awarded by the Loeries.
Welcome to the first in a series of showcases celebrating the very best South African work in 2024. Our first showcase is the Best of Film & Film Craft awarded by the Loeries. Here we spotlight the best local talent making moving pictures. Save their names!
Being selected as a judge at Cannes is a massive achievement. It’s a testament to the respect the industry has for you on an international scale. We know that while a lot of us will be basking in the glitz and canapes Cannes has to offer, these judges will be toiling away in dark rooms, sifting through all the entries to identify the most outstanding work the world has to offer. Not to mention the Cannes Lions Shortlist judges who already had to work overtime and in between their own pitches back home! We see you, and we salute you.
Since the announcement of the 62nd D&AD Awards late last week, our dedicated hamsters have been curating a showcase of the brilliant work behind the results. Here are the exceptionally talented South Africans who brought home the Pencils — now you know who to collaborate with next. Congratulations to these beauties for making us proud!
This month's IDIDTHAT.co Craft Awards were judged by the Judge Judy's themselves, order in the court for Alan Irvin, Director at They Films and all rise for Danni Pinch, ECD at Accenture Song. Congratulations to Darling Films' Chloe Coetsee and independent director Dave Meinert who both took home Best in Craft.
As always, IDIDTHAT is bringing you the Cannes Lions action live, this year in partnership with Howard Audio. As of the 18th of June 2023, this page is your gateway to all things South Africa in Cannes. Right here you can check in to view South Africa’s shortlists, the work and the talented IDIDTHAT members involved in the work. We’ll be updating this page as results come in. Good luck and may the France be with you!