The Cannes Lions Awards attract over 40,000 entries from all parts of the world and sets the standard for excellence in creativity and effectiveness for the advertising industry. Ogilvy shone as the most awarded South African Agency at Cannes 2023.
Ogilvy South Africa earned top honours as the most awarded South African agency, as well as the Regional Agency of the Year. The wins included innovative campaigns for KFC, Volkswagen and Castle Lager, which pushed boundaries and tackled brand, community and environmental challenges. With an impressive collection of 1 Gold, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze and 7 shortlists, Ogilvy flew the South African flag high, at what is often seen as the most prestigious global awards show for creativity.
On the first day of the festival, Ogilvy’s campaign for Castle Lager SA ‘Bread of the Nation’, earned not only a shortlist for Titanium but converted to a prestigious Gold award. This ground-breaking initiative used spent grain to create a nutritious bread, which is being distributed to areas in need across South Africa. The campaign exemplified the true potential of brand-agency collaboration in making a tangible impact on society.
Additionally, ‘The Blind Spot’ campaign, created for Volkswagen South Africa, earned a Silver and Bronze in the Outdoor and Ambient categories. This remarkable campaign, which aimed to promote safe driving and reduce road fatalities nationally, showcases Volkswagen’s IQ.DRIVE, a range of electronic safety features designed to make drivers aware of objects hidden in the blind spot of Volkswagen drivers.
‘We’re very proud of this work and I think it’s a great example of innovation that pushes the boundaries in marketing,’ said Ogilvy SA CEO and Creative Chairman, Pete Case. ‘Our teams managed to deliver high levels of impact in Volkswagen showrooms with the help of deep craft and clever thinking. The activation delivered a truly surprising experience to consumers as they visited Volkswagen showrooms, while educating them about new product features of the latest vehicles.’
The week culminated with KFC’s ‘Anything for the Taste’ campaign winning a Bronze for Film. Inspired by a heart-warming urban legend; the captivating story not only captured the nation’s attention, but also solidified KFC’s place in popular culture and reignited a love for the brand.
‘Making a great film is not an easy feat. I am immensely proud and applaud this achievement by our talented team behind this remarkable idea and story. It took the strength of our client partnership with KFC and the unwavering spirit of collaboration, together with the production companies. Together, we have crafted something truly special,’ said the Chief Creative Officer of Ogilvy, Kabelo Moshapalo.
‘It was a proud moment to raise the South African flag high on stage this year at Cannes. A huge congratulations to all of our teams and clients, who continue to believe in the power of creativity to create impact for brands and the society we live in. It is simply wonderful to have our work recognised on this global stage, and this truly reinforces our mission to keep creating real work for real clients,’ concluded Case.
OGILVY SOUTH AFRICA
www.ogilvy.co.za
