Cannes Lions 2025 wrap-up, the South African winners and the work

Yes, we know Cannes is over… but we’re not quite done talking about it. Here’s your full roundup of the week: the complete winners table, the work, and the companies that brought it home. You’ve inspired us all and reminded the world (and ourselves) what South Africans are capable of.

SOUTH AFRICA AT CANNES: Day 1 by Mike Abel

Every day this week, we’re handing the mic to a different South African at Cannes Lions 2025. We’ve asked them to capture one day, however they experienced it, in their own words. First up is Day 1 with none other than Mike Abel, Founder & Executive Chairman M&C Saatchi Abel & Group SA, here to give us a taste of his first day of Cannes, South African style.

A Bulletproof park for kids; M&C Saatchi Abel and Gun Free SA forces a nation to look twice

In South Africa, gun violence is so normalised it hardly makes the news. That’s why M&C Saatchi Abel and Gun Free South Africa decided to do something radical: propose a bulletproof playground. Biometric access. Panic buttons. 24/7 surveillance. All to protect kids from stray bullets while they try to, you know, play.

2025-05-15T14:17:33+02:00May 15th, 2025|Categories: Editorial, M&C Saatchi Abel Editorial|Tags: |

M&C Saatchi Abel and MTN’s ‘Today We Make Moves’ signals return to story-led South African telco work

South Africa’s telco advertising is having a moment. M&C Saatchi Abel’s new brand platform for MTN, ‘Today We Make Moves’, is a rallying cry for more authentic, emotionally resonant work in the sector and it launches with an ad that does exactly that.

2025-05-08T15:35:36+02:00May 8th, 2025|Categories: Editorial, M&C Saatchi Abel Editorial|Tags: , |

Creative Circle Best of the Year 2024

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.

Craft Award Results: January 2025

This month’s IDIDTHAT.co Craft Awards were judged by Verona Meyer, ECD at M&C Saatchi Abel and Mzonke Maloney, Director at Carbon Films. Congrats Directors, Thina Zibi and Thea Small, as well as DOP Josh Levi for your Best in Craft wins this month!

Live Updates: South Africa’s Winners & Shortlists at Cannes 2023

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!

‘Work to Watch’ May 2023

Welcome to the ‘Work to Watch’ winners showcase for the first quarter of 2023, awarded by the Creative Circle. Here you can view all the work by our IDIDTHAT members and the names behind the work. Congratulations to all of you beauties!!

South Africa’s One Show 2023. All the winners and the work.

Behold, behold! Feast your eyes on all the winning work that got attention at the One Show Awards. This year, The One Club for Creativity is celebrating The One Show’s first 50 years of honouring global creative excellence. And that’s us South Africa, proudly standing amidst the mighty pillars of ‘global creative excellence.’ Congratulations to all our local winners! You have caused our desert-like dry eyes to well up with tears of joy. Bravo!

BEST OF 2022. All the work and winners.

The Creative Circle Best of 2022 is about celebrating all the finest South African Creativity from 2022. Here you can find all the awarded work and the talent responsible for creating the work...so you know who to call for your next project 🔥

South Africa’s Work to Watch June 2022

Here you can find all the winning work awarded by the Creative Circle in the first quarter of 2022. Congratulations to the incredibly talented teams of creatives and filmmakers who made these stand-out projects come to life – you are all gorgeous geniuses, indeed a rare combination.

IDIDTHAT Craft Awards May 2022

This month's IDIDTHAT.co Craft Awards were judged by Mohlalefi Lentsoane, Executive Creative Director at M&C Saatchi Abel (JHB) and Mfundo Mkhize, Director at The Star Film Company. Congratulations to Kyla Philander and Fausto Becatti walking away with May's Craft Awards. We don't know what they put in the water at Bioscope Films (maybe Corona and Espolōn Tequila??) but it's working!

South Africa’s Work to Watch – June to October 2021

Here we showcase South Africa's stand-out work. This is the work that was awarded by the Creative Circle and represents the best our country has to offer. Basically, if you don’t have these companies on speed dial for 2022, ag shame man.

South Africa’s Best in Digital – Loeries 2021

Here we showcase the best in Digital communications for the past year. This is the work that was awarded at the Loeries 2021. If you want to work with only the best in digital on your next project then throw away that phone book and look no further. We are all about making the process of sourcing the right talent for your project easier, which is exactly what we’ve done here. Find all awarded work in digital and the talented sexy nerds behind it.

South Africa’s Best in Radio – Loeries 2021

We’ve put together this showcase of the very best-of-the-best radio commercials in South Africa. Much like what the Louvre has done for art, this showcase is doing for advertising, that is the truth people! This work was awarded at the Loeries earlier this year and now it's your cheat sheet to use all year round to quickly find out who’s doing the best work in the country and who to hit up for your next project.

Live Updates: South Africa’s Winners & Shortlists at Cannes 2021

Follow South Africa's Cannes Lions Shortlists and Winners right here from the 21st of June. We’ll be updating this page as results are announced - listing all South Africa’s shortlists, showcasing the awarded work, and featuring all the IDIDTHAT members involved.

South Africa’s D&AD Winners 2021 (View the work)

IDIDTHAT showcases all the work that was awarded to our South African members at the recent D&AD Awards 2021 ⚡ Director Kim Gehrig might have received the President’s Award, but you are all our Kweens, congratulations!