Nigeria agencies risk losing out on Cannes Lions 2017 as submission window closes today
Nigerian advertising agencies that are yet to submit their entries for the Cannes Lions 2017 Festival of Creativity risk losing out of the annual creative showpiece as today marks the last day for submission of works for consideration during the award which is globally regarded as the ultimate achievement in branded communications.
Cannes Lions started receiving entries since 19 January 2017; the window remained open until 23 March. The deadline was later extended until 13 April with an increase in entry fee. However, another extension of one week was allowed, but with an increase in late fees.
Over 1500 people from over 90 countries are expected in Cannes France for the carnival which holds from 17 to 22 July. According to the organisers, over 43 000 entries are expected from 4300 companies around the world and there will be 28 grand prix up for grabs.
Till date, no Nigerian agency has been named among winners at the annual Cannes which is a global event for those working in the creative communications, advertising and related fields. While agencies in South African and North Africa have been recognised at the 63year old event, Nigeria has always come short despite its best efforts in the past years.
However, a number of operators, including Lanre Adisa of Noah’s Ark, Steve Babaeko of X3M Ideas, of Feyi Olubodun have all expressed optimism that the country was ripe for a Lion, given that the standard of creativity in the industry has risen remarkably over the years and a couple of agencies have even gone ahead to win other notable international awards like Epica and WARC.
Meanwhile Cannes in a bid to make this year’s even as robust and intellectually stimulating as ever have recently unveil some new speakers that will feature at the June event and notable among them is CEO of WPP, Martin Sorrell, described as the most important advertising executive in the world.
Other speakers are Ian McKellen, an Actor & activist, Ira Glass of This American Life, Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook, David Droga, Droga5, Gabourey Sidibe, Actress, Director, Sir Martin Sorrell, WPP, Pussy Riot, Madonna Badger, Badger & Winters, John Hegarty, BBH, Jason Reitman, Producer and Director, Heather Knight, Stanford University and many more.
Cannes Lions Festival was inspired by the Cannes Film Festival, staged in Cannes since the late 1940s. A group of cinema screen advertising contractors belonging to the Screen Advertising World Association (Sawa) felt the makers of advertising films should be similarly recognised. They established the International Advertising Film Festival, the first of which took place in Venice, Italy, in September 1954, with 187 film entries from 14 countries.
The lion of the Piazza San Marco in Venice was the inspiration for the Lion trophy.
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