Noorings: A Familiar Yet Different Cannes Lions

I have had the chance to cover the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity since 2006. At that time, it was still known as the Cannes Lions International Festival of Advertising. Over the years, people such as me have not only seen the Festival’s evolution and its highs and lows but also a very dedicated Cannes Lions organising team. A set of people addressing several press queries and concerns, and in more ways than one going all out to assist in whatever was required despite the festival’s scale.

As India and more than 90 other countries gear up to see who won more Lions, and what creates winning work, this year perhaps for the first time, Team Cannes Lions took the additional step to speak more about the festival itself and the thought process that goes behind creating the annual pilgrimage for global creative professionals.

Lion’s PR Director Camilla Lambert took the stage in her usual, very patient demeanour, to explain to attending journalists about the change in embargos and all the provisions available in making the most from the festival. As more leaders from the company took the stage, it became clearer that Cannes Lions has made use of technology in various ways to understand more about delegates.

As Cannes Lions brings its own diversity, equity and inclusion framework into play, this year it also organised an Eid-al-Adha celebration. The gathering saw not only other Muslims from the festival but also others who spoke about everything from faith in general and cultural nuances to good food and the busy week ahead. I recall celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr at Cannes once during Lions when it was a bit of a task to search for even a prayer room. From then to now, much has changed for the better.

Cannes Lions’ focus on accessibility and making the festival work for working parents is another step in the right direction. Even though all of these are softer aspects, inclusion must apply to all aspects and this year, the Festival has done this.

Noor Fathima Warsia

BW Reporters A veteran journalist in business and corporate journalism, Noor Fathima Warsia is the Group Editorial Director of India’s oldest business publication, BW Businessworld. In her role, Noor leads the editorial initiatives across BW Businessworld’s flagship product and communities focused on education, startups, healthcare and wellbeing, media & marketing, gaming, HR and legal among others. In a career spanning more than two decades, Noor has led the publishing of the flagship BW Businessworld magazine and its community magazines, guided the online editorial team and led communities such as BW Marketing World apart from working on editorial-led IPs such as BW Most Influential Women, BW India’s Most Sustainable Companies, BW Top 50 Marketers and more.