Commentary

Another Set Of Lions For Award-Craving Adland

Cannes Lions parent Ascential has added a new set of awards for the 2018 edition of the Cannes Lions International Festival which will honor creative that addresses issues related to poverty or protecting the planet.

The new awards are labeled Sustainable Development Goals Lions.

That’s a mouthful. But if you win, you can just say you won an SDG Lion. Most people will give you a congratulatory nod — even if they’re wondering what the hell an SDG Lion is.

The organization worked with the United Nations to set up the new awards, which are aligned with the 17 SDGs that the UN adopted in 2015.

And here’s something unexpected: According to Ascential, all entry fees generated by the awards will be donated to projects that advance the sustainable-development goals.

Well played, Ascential.

A smart new award that isn’t just about adding new revenue to your coffers — not that there’s anything wrong with that. And here I was thinking for a minute that maybe you were just looking to make up for all the Publicis Groupe fees that won’t be there next year because the Groupe wants to fund its new Marcel AI platform instead.

advertisement

advertisement

Hmmmm. About that, yeah, I still don’t think that’s going happen. Publicis will be there. It has to be. The company’s corps of creatives would be in rebellion otherwise.

And awards count for something.

A lot of clients consider awards in their review process. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t like recognition for their work? I was on cloud nine when informed a while ago that I was a finalist for a Jesse Neal Award (it’s a trade press thing). Rapid descent occurred when the winner’s list was announced.  

Next story loading loading..