Latest news with #CannesLions2025
Campaign ME
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Campaign ME
UAE says ‘Cannes-Do' to the ‘impossible'; creates conversations on the Croisette
For the second year in a row, the UAE Government Media Office has attracted incredible attention at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, with several hundred delegates, attendees and passers-by seen raising their phones to scan the QR Code on a massive billboard that read: 'An ad without a logo. There's only one country that would do something that risky.' Positioned perfectly at the busiest entry points within the heart of the Palais, and on the glass façade overlooking the Croisette, these billboards played on the inherent curiosity of the global creative, brand, marketing and advertising industry. Several similar billboards located within the Palais and along the Croisette also drew eyeballs. Campaign Middle East overheard conversations of the 'bold' and 'disuptive' ads from those who stood watching these billboards while waiting patiently in long queues – in the hopes to lay eyes on global celebrities such as Serena Williams, Jimmy Fallon and Reese Witherspoon. Many visitors and attendees at Cannes Lions raised the question about 'what it would be like to work in a country that is daring enough to have billboards that read': 'If ideas don't seem impossible, we're not interested.' 'You didn't get into this business to resize banners. Let's fix that.' 'Where ideas go from 'nice deck' to 'next landmark'.' Commenting on the campaign, Khaled AlShehhi, Executive Director of Marketing and Communication at the UAE Government Media Office, said, 'The UAE Government Media Office returned with louder confidence and sharper intent, taking over the Palais and the Croisette with bold, pointed headlines that did more than catch the eye.' He added, 'The strategically placed outdoor and indoor billboards didn't ask for attention. They earned it. But beyond scale or design, it was the tone that turned heads: not promotional, not ceremonial, but culturally fluent. Made for the creative crowd, by a country that now speaks their language fluently.' With an approach that included out-of-home (OOH) static billboards, digital-out-of-home (DOOH) billboards, and indoor billboards, the campaign created in collaboration with Impact BBDO, was also rolled out across some print publications. Furthermore, the campaign also showed up on digital and social channels as a result of user-generated content (UGC) at Cannes Lions 2025. Reacting to the buzz around the campaign, Ghassan Kassabji, CEO Dubai, CGO MENA, Impact BBDO said, 'The UAE didn't just show up at Cannes Lions. It showed the world what it stands for. If ideas don't seem impossible, they're not enough. This was a bold invitation to dream bigger, do more, and do it from the Emirates.' Ali Rez, Chief Creative Officer, Impact BBDO, added, 'We are beyond proud to have the opportunity to create this bold campaign for the UAE, a place which has always inspired us with its vision of making the impossible possible.' That said, Campaign Middle East also spoke to agency leaders who were not involved in the campaign. For instance, Natalie Shardan, Managing Partner, Serviceplan Group Middle East, and a jury member at Cannes Lions 2025, said, 'If there were a Grand Prix for turning the impossible into reality, the UAE would win it hands down.' She added. 'After 20 years of calling this place home, the UAE's relentless ambition – regionally and on the global stage – still leaves me in awe. And, as someone leading an advertising agency, I know bold messages like this don't just inspire – they attract ambitious creative minds who want to turn possibility into action.' This campaign also closed the loop on 'Bring Your Impossible': The platform launched by the Emirates at Cannes Lions 2024. What began as a campaign has since evolved into a narrative that continues to unfold: A narrative that calls on creators, founders and thinkers to go beyond ambition and move into execution. And, this year, that message was not only reinforced on the streets; but also within the Cannes Lions 2025 jury rooms. Khaled AlShehhi was selected as a PR Lions juror marking a quiet shift in how the UAE is showing up at the highest levels of creative influence. 'We didn't come to Cannes to be seen,' AlShehhi said. 'We came to be part of the conversation on the stage, in the jury room, and on the streets. Our message is simple: if you have an impossible idea, you'll find your partner in the Emirates.' The UAE's presence at Cannes Lions 2025 was further boosted by several UAE-based brands, government entities, and agencies that were seen engaging in the form of panels and partnerships throughout the festival. Additionally, FP7 McCann Dubai, Impact BBDO, VML Dubai and LEO Dubai picked up the coveted metal cat trophies at the Cannes Lions Awards 2025, adding credibility to the Emirates on the global creative stage. There's no doubt about it: These ads weren't just seen; they were felt. They didn't promote; they provoked. They didn't sell; they were invited. They didn't follow; they set a standard. 'And the message was clear,' AlShehhi concluded. 'The Emirates are open for ideas as long as those ideas are impossible.'
Economic Times
11 hours ago
- Business
- Economic Times
India tops last year's medal haul with additional wins at Cannes
India continued its success at Cannes Lions 2025, securing two more Bronze Lions on Day 4, bringing its total to 28 metals, surpassing previous years. Acko's 'Tailor Test' and Ogilvy India's 'Eye Test Menu' were among the winners in the Brand Experience & Activation Lions category. Day 4 also featured insights from David Droga, Amaury Guichon, and Bill Nye. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads India maintained a steady presence at Cannes Lions 2025 on Thursday, adding two more Bronze Lions on Day 4, following a standout haul of 14 metals on Day 3. The wins came from some of the festival's most prestigious awards were in the Brand Experience & Activation Lions category, which recognises brand building through innovative use of experience design, activation, immersive, retail, and 360° customer 'Tailor Test' by Leo India earned a Bronze in the Corporate Purpose & Social Responsibility sub-category, adding to the Gold it picked up for the same campaign on India's 'Eye Test Menu' for Titan bagged another Bronze in the Brand-Owned Experiences sub-category, bringing its tally for the campaign to three Lions so far."Ogilvy's relationship with Titan as a brand is a deep and cherished one. They spared no effort in pursuing excellence on this dream project. It feels good to win for such meaningful work," said Sukesh Nayak, Harshad Rajadhyaksha and Kainaz Karmakar, chief creative officers, Ogilvy four-day tally at Cannes Lions 2025 now stands at 28 metals - comprising 6 Gold, 8 Silver, 13 Bronze and one Grand Prix (as of press time)-already surpassing the country's overall totals from both 2023 and 4 also featured several high-profile speakers. At the Palais' Lumiere Theatre, advertising icon David Droga, who will be stepping down as CEO of Accenture Song in September, took centre reflected on the ideas behind some of the industry's most influential campaigns and, in an emotional moment, spoke about the passion and gratitude he holds for his work, crediting his mother as a key influence."I honestly care deeply about what I do, who I do it with, how it works. How I treat people, it doesn't mean I'm perfect, but I really care professionally about it. And that comes from my upbringing, from my mother, a poet and activist. And from the gratitude that I've been paid to have an imagination."He added that, as someone who didn't attend college but still run a $20 billion company, "you don't need to go to college to care".Elsewhere, world-renowned pastry chef and content creator Amaury Guichon shared insights on crafting a brand that commands attention, while educator and TV personality Bill Nye-popularly known as "The Science Guy"-spoke about the power of humour in breaking down taboos.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
India tops last year's medal haul with additional wins at Cannes
India maintained a steady presence at Cannes Lions 2025 on Thursday, adding two more Bronze Lions on Day 4, following a standout haul of 14 metals on Day 3. The wins came from some of the festival's most prestigious categories. Both awards were in the Brand Experience & Activation Lions category, which recognises brand building through innovative use of experience design, activation, immersive, retail, and 360° customer engagement. Acko's 'Tailor Test' by Leo India earned a Bronze in the Corporate Purpose & Social Responsibility sub-category, adding to the Gold it picked up for the same campaign on Wednesday. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo Ogilvy India's 'Eye Test Menu' for Titan bagged another Bronze in the Brand-Owned Experiences sub-category, bringing its tally for the campaign to three Lions so far. "Ogilvy's relationship with Titan as a brand is a deep and cherished one. They spared no effort in pursuing excellence on this dream project. It feels good to win for such meaningful work," said Sukesh Nayak, Harshad Rajadhyaksha and Kainaz Karmakar, chief creative officers, Ogilvy India. Live Events India's four-day tally at Cannes Lions 2025 now stands at 28 metals - comprising 6 Gold, 8 Silver, 13 Bronze and one Grand Prix (as of press time)-already surpassing the country's overall totals from both 2023 and 2024. Spotlight on Speakers Day 4 also featured several high-profile speakers. At the Palais' Lumiere Theatre, advertising icon David Droga, who will be stepping down as CEO of Accenture Song in September, took centre stage. Droga reflected on the ideas behind some of the industry's most influential campaigns and, in an emotional moment, spoke about the passion and gratitude he holds for his work, crediting his mother as a key influence. "I honestly care deeply about what I do, who I do it with, how it works. How I treat people, it doesn't mean I'm perfect, but I really care professionally about it. And that comes from my upbringing, from my mother, a poet and activist. And from the gratitude that I've been paid to have an imagination." He added that, as someone who didn't attend college but still run a $20 billion company, "you don't need to go to college to care". Elsewhere, world-renowned pastry chef and content creator Amaury Guichon shared insights on crafting a brand that commands attention, while educator and TV personality Bill Nye-popularly known as "The Science Guy"-spoke about the power of humour in breaking down taboos.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Shubhranshu Singh and Sumit Virmani in Global Most Influential CMOs list: Cannes Lions 2025
India's marketers made a significant mark on the global stage at Cannes Lions 2025 . Two prominent Indian marketing leaders, Shubhranshu Singh , global CMO of Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and Sumit Virmani of Infosys, are named in a prestigious Forbes compilation that records the 2025 list of the World's Most Influential CMOs . The announcement, made at the ongoing Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, underscores the rising impact of Indian marketing leaders in redefining the modern CMO role through innovation, data-led strategies, and cultural resonance. Singh's inclusion on this esteemed annual list highlights his significant contributions to building brand equity for Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles. He is particularly recognised for his deep cultural insights, category leadership, and an unwavering focus on national and business purpose. "Under his guidance, Tata Motors has executed transformative campaigns that have successfully positioned the company as a forward-looking and trusted name in commercial mobility," the report said. Further solidifying his influence, earlier this week, Singh also joined the inaugural board of the Effie LIONS foundation. This global marketing apex organization, incorporated as a not-for-profit in New York, aims to educate and empower the next generation of marketing talent globally, with a particular emphasis on underrepresented communities. Sumit Virmani, global chief marketing officer at Infosys, also features prominently on the Forbes list, a testament to his transformative leadership in the technology sector. Virmani is credited with significantly enhancing Infosys' global brand ambitions and helping it navigate into the league of the world's top 100 brands, evolving into one of the fastest-growing IT services brands globally. "His approach emphasises a creatively-driven, human-first strategy in B2B marketing, placing strategic priority on customer experience. Under his leadership, Infosys has made significant investments in global partnerships, notably in tennis, providing in-match analytics and insights to enhance personalized fan experiences, and more recently, expanding into Formula E Racing to illustrate mission-critical solutions to B2B customers. Virmani is also a staunch proponent of business's role in driving positive social impact, even amidst pushback on ESG and DEI efforts in some international markets," the report said. The Forbes World's Most Influential CMOs List, now in its 13th year, is a rigorous evaluation of marketing leaders based on criteria such as digital engagement, campaign effectiveness, brand and community engagement, media visibility, and overall business impact. The presence of both Singh and Virmani on this global roster places them alongside some of the most impactful marketing voices from around the world.
Express Tribune
20 hours ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Veo 3 set to be integrated with YouTube Shorts over the summer
Veo 3 set to be integrated with YouTube Shorts over the summer YouTube CEO Neal Mohan has announced Google will integrate its latest AI-powered video generation model, Veo 3, into YouTube Shorts later this summer. The tool will allow users to create short-form videos entirely from text prompts, significantly lowering the barrier to content creation. Mohan introduced the update during Cannes Lions 2025 event, describing Veo 3 as a means of empowering storytellers and democratising content production. 'The possibilities with AI are limitless,' Mohan said, noting that the feature could help 'anyone with a voice' reach an audience and build a brand. YouTube is plugging Veo 3 AI videos directly into Shorts — The Verge (@verge) June 18, 2025 Veo 3 marks a major evolution from Google's earlier Dream Screen initiative, which allowed users to generate backgrounds using AI. The new model goes further, producing complete videos — with both visuals and audio — from a few lines of written input. The update comes as more than a quarter of YouTube Partner Programme creators now earn income from Shorts. However, Veo 3's rollout has prompted debate over how the platform will balance innovation with content quality and creator sustainability. Critics have raised concerns over the increasing prevalence of AI-generated content, which some have dubbed 'AI slop.' These concerns include the potential for misinformation, declining originality, and the rise of deepfakes or low-quality spam that could crowd out human-made videos. In response, YouTube is developing a likeness protection tool in collaboration with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and content creators. The aim is to safeguard public figures from unauthorised replication via AI. For advertisers and brands, the integration offers a new way to produce targeted video campaigns without requiring costly production resources. However, the surge in automated content may also make it harder for individual campaigns to stand out. While Veo 3 expands access to video creation, it may also intensify competition for visibility on the platform. Traditional creators may feel squeezed as algorithmic systems prioritise AI-generated Shorts — or may choose to shift their efforts elsewhere. YouTube and Google Labs continue to refine the feature as part of the broader Gemini AI ecosystem, which includes experimental tools like Search Live and Gemini Live. Veo 3's inclusion in Shorts signals a wider push to bring generative AI into the hands of mainstream users. The company has yet to confirm a global release date beyond its initial US rollout.
