The great annual call by excellence of the advertising industry, the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, started on the past Saturday its 64th edition in the world famous French town. Between June 17th and 24th, it will gather some of the most creative minds in the world, the most renowned professionals of PR, marketing and advertising and the top figures of design and tech talent, from more than 90 countries in Cannes. But the task of the jury at Cannes Lions 2017 has started much earlier. With almost 400 people that integrate the jury this year from 50 countries, they have been reviewing and acknowledging the most disruptive and striking cases though the entire wee. In representation of Spain there were 11 professionals, among them Asun Soriano, CEO of ATREVIA Spain, selected as the jury member in the PR category.
“It´s a fascinating moment for the communication professionals, becoming part of the PR category jury in Cannes is a great honor and, what’s more, a great challenge. In a market ecosystem with much more diluted barriers, the PR and Communication professionals we are conscious about the importance of the idea that connects, the revolution of the transformation and digital influence and of course, the power of storytelling. This is our strength and I have a strong will to enjoy the most disruptive and shocking cases”, affirms Asun Soriano about her task as jury at Cannes Lions 2017.
How the Cannes Lions juries work?
Multiculturalism and a bigger female presence are tendencies at the Cannes Lions Festival, and of course they’ve been reflected in its juries. For example, in this year a 43% of the juries are women, which represent a 40% increase in comparison to the 2016 edition. As for the 11 professionals of the Spanish delegation which are integrated part of the jury, seven were women and four were men.
The official webpage of the Festival offers detailed and curious anecdotes of how the tasks to decide the ones that will take the prize are developed. For example, the juries spend at least 1.278 hours of judgments and discussion, an equivalent of fling 19 times around the world. The radio juries spend three entire days sit to listen all the entries with their headphones.
In order to assure the confidentiality, the juries are held in 23 rooms. 78 typical London type black taxis were needed to host the 390 members of this year; while in 1954 when the Festival begun only 4 were needed. Vietnam and Dominican Republic made their debut this year as juries.
More than 600 speakers
More than 600 speakers will deliver their inspiring talks this year in the traditional sessions of the Cannes Lions Festival. Some of the most prestigious speakers for this edition are Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen, Alexander Wang, Gabourey Sidibe, A$AP Rocky, David Droga, Jeffrey Katzenberg or Madonna Badger.
The most famous international advertising festival is expected to break all the records this year in terms of participation and assistance, which surpassed the 15.000 people barrier last year from 100 countries.
