Cannes 2015: Canada makes Film shortlist 17 times

Canada is that much closer to having its best ever showing at the Cannes International Festival of Creativity with a strong showing on the Film Lions shortlist, released Thursday afternoon.

Canada is in the running for 17 Film Lions — still one of the most coveted competitions at the Festival. As expected, Grey Canada made the list with “Not Allowed” for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America as did Leo Burnett Toronto for P&G’s “#LikeAGirl,” but only once each. That means 15 other Canadian ads are in the running.

Leo Burnett also earned a nomination for Raising the Roof’s “Humans for Humans.” Joining them on the shortlist are:

• DDB Vancouver is there twice, once for  Volkswagen’s “Prom Night” and again for “Airport” for Netflix
• Zulu Alpha Kilo got three nominations for ParticipAction: “Basketball,” “Hockey” and “Playground”
• LG2 is there once for “Reviveaphone” and twice for Société de l’assurance automobile du Quebec: “Messenger” and “Tied”
• FCB also got two nominations, one for for Simply Macs’ “Here’s to the Cheap Ones” and again for PFLAG’s “Nobody’s Memories”
• Pixel Palette Toronto for Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan AM Games’ “Are You Ready?”
• Tribal Worldwide for General Mills’ “Dadhood”
• BBDO Toronto for Wrigley Canada’s “Struck by a Rainbow”
• Union Toronto’s self promotional video, “Union – A Family Agency”

**See below for some of the contenders**

Taxi executive creative director Darren Clarke is on the Film jury, with Grey’s worldwide chief creative officer Tor Myhren serving as president.

Canadian entries into the Film competition increased nearly 20% this year over last from 117 to 140. In 2014 Canada made the Film shortlist 10 times and won three Bronze Lions. Global interest in Film is up overall this year as well with submissions growing 8% from 2,838 in 2014 to 3,070.

After five days of shortlists and awards galas, the Film and new Creative Data shortlists are the only significant development of the day related to Festival competitions.

Friday will see the release of the Film Craft, Titanium and Integrated and Creative Effectiveness lists.

Tribal Worldwide’s “Dadhood”

FCB’s “Nobody’s Memories”

ZAK’s “Playground”

Leo Burnett’s “Humans for Humans”

DDB Vancouver’s “Airport”

FCB’s “Here’s to the Cheap Ones”