The judges for the 56th Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival have been announced, and eight Canadians will sit on juries this year.
The list, released by The Globe and Mail, includes:
• Stephane Charier, creative director, Taxi Montreal (cyber jury)
• Janice Diner, executive director, strategy and creative, Ripple Social Media (promo jury)
• Lisa Greenberg, creative director, GJP Advertising & Design (design jury)
• Stephen Jurisic, creative director, John St. (press jury)
• Janet Kestin, chief creative officer, Ogilvy & Mather (film jury)
• Philippe Meunier, creative director, Sid Lee (direct jury)
• Lauren Richards, chief executive officer, Starcom MediaVest Group (media jury)
• Jenny Smith, associate creative director, Target (radio jury)
Greenberg said she got some insight into the process last year, when GJP won a Gold Lion for a brochure it designed for Toronto salon Gee Beauty.
“I know how grueling it was last year,” said Greenberg. “We were so shocked when we won. We were thrilled. I do know what it takes to win and I’m going to fight for Canada.”
She foresees stiff competition in the design category again this year, but suspects there will be fewer overall entries because of the global economic downturn.
“Our jury reflects the top calibre talent that we have in Canada, and we are privileged to have such a deep reservoir of expertise to draw upon,” said Andrew Saunders, vice-president, advertising sales, The Globe and Mail, in a statement. “With such a strong judging presence, we now challenge advertising practitioners to place the largest number of Canadians ever on the winners list for Cannes.”
Both Target and Taxi Montreal are contributing judges to their categories for a second consecutive year. Target’s Tom Murphy and Dominique Trudeau, then of Taxi and now at Bleu Blanc Rouge, served on the radio and cyber juries, respectively, in 2008. Richards served on the media jury in 2000, when she worked at Cossette Media.
Entry deadlines for the festival are fast approaching. Film, press and outdoor submissions are due March 6. Submissions for public relations, the competition’s newest competition, are due March 13, along with the direct, media, radio, design and promo categories. Cyber, titanium and integrated entries are due March 20.
The festival takes place June 21-27.
