Cannes - South African advertising has won nearly 20% more awards at the Cannes Lions Festival than it did last year - and there may be more to come. Two campaigns have been selected as finalists for the Titanium (big idea) and integrated awards, which will be announced on Saturday night.
Unfortunately, they are up against some tough competition: the Obama presidential campaign (which names its product as "presidential candidate") and the already much-acclaimed "best job in the world" campaign.
The South African finalists are Lowe Bull with its "Meet Wally's heart" campaign for Flora margarine, which climaxed with a live heart operation on television; and TBWA Hunt Lascaris for The Zimbabwean newspaper and its billboard made of Zim currency. Both have a good chance of winning a trophy, but the Grand Prix looks out of reach.
Two titaniums are usually awarded, one for an all-round, multi-channel integrated campaign,and the other for a big idea. Another category still to be announced is Film (TV, cinema, computer and cellphone screens.) The shortlist includes two SA entries, from DDB and FoxP2.
A provisional point count puts Hunt Lascaris at the top of the SA league with 6 850 points, followed by Ogilvy Johannesburg (2 850), Net#work BBDO Joburg (2 500), FoxP2 (1 050) and Net#work BBDO Cape Town (900). But Net#work Joburg probably deserves second spot, as it won a Grand Prix.
- Fin24.com