Brand MarketingCreative Cannes: Creme De La CremeBy Adweek Staff|July 5, 1999ShareBy Adweek Staff|July 5, 1999ShareFrom The Wacky To The Sublime, Lion Winners Take The Cake Led by a jury president who often quotes the words of Bill Bernbach–DDB Worldwide’s chief executive officer Keith Reinhard–the Film and the Press & Poster juries of the 46th International Advertising Festival at Cannes chose substance over style, particularly when it came to picking a film Grand Prix. With thoughts of the millennium hanging heavy over the 20 members of the film jury, the Grand Prix was awarded to a commercial that, according to Reinhard, sent a message about what the future of advertising should be–thoughtful, insightful and aspirational. The spot for the newspaper The Independent, created by Lowe Howard-Spink, London, is about the freedom of choice (left); it beat out Cliff Freeman’s Outpost.com campaign, a much-talked-about favorite among delegates and itself a strong candidate for the top film prize. Great Britain walked away with the top prizes in both film and print, with an ad for Sony PlayStation taking the Grand Prix in the Press & Poster show. Gold Lions escaped the U.S. in the print portion of the festival, with American shops winning two silver and 13 bronze Lions. The U.S. made a stronger showing in film, winning six gold (this page), seven silver and nine bronze Lions. For the second year in a row, Agency of the Year honors went to DM9 DDB, S-o Paulo, Brazil, which garnered the most awards (including short-listed ads) in print, TV, cyber and media competitions. The Palme d’Or, which recognizes production-company excellence, went to Propaganda/Satellite, Los Angeles. Film Grand Prix: Litany Lowe Howard-Spink, London The Independent With a powerful message and a striking execution set to a piano score, this spot contrasts a voiceover delivering 43 imperatives beginning with “Don’t” with black-and-white images of people breaking those rules. “Don’t play with fire ,” Don’t be different ,” wrapping up the spot with “Don’t buy ,” “Don’t read ,” and a shot of a man reading The Independent. Don’t miss it. —————————— Gold Winner: Forehead, Band, Cannon Cliff Freeman and Partners, New York Outpost.com This campaign’s self-proclaimed mission to spread the word about computer retailer Outpost.com–with startling scenes of toddlers being tattooed with the company’s logo–also made a name for itself among the Cannes judges. —————————— Gold Winner: Slackers J. Walter Thompson, New York Kellogg’s Raisin Bran Crunch A group of groggy 20-somethings set their alarm for 8 a.m. only to stumble into the kitchen for a bowl of Raisin Bran. After breakfast, they climb back into bed. The tagline: “Breakfast is back.” —————————— Gold Winner: Meat Wieden & Kennedy, Portland, Ore. Nike This spot, from the “What are you getting ready for?” series featuring obsessive athletes, shows a boy who prefers to practice his soccer moves while being chased by a pack of neighborhood dogs. The ad won as an individual spot and as part of the campaign. —————————— Gold Winner: Open Road, On the Road Again DDB Needham, Chicago Budweiser A beer delivery man faces numerous perils and distractions on the road, including blond babes in a convertible. When he veers off course, we discover he is in a test simulator. —————————— Gold Winner: Don Cliff Freeman and Partners, New York Hollywood Video When a couple inquires about a movie at the video-rental chain, golden-voiced Don pops up from behind the counter to deliver an intense, movie-trailer-style summary of the film. —————————— Gold Winner: Marathon Man Wieden & Kennedy, Portland, Ore. Nike A runner on his daily jaunt is joined by such greats as Uta Pippig and Michael Johnson. The spot was among seven ads–“Kordell Delivers,” “Mountain Man,” “Jumper,” “Meat,” “Rehab” and “Rejection”–honored with a campaign gold. Press & Poster Grand Prix: Nipples TBWA GGT Simons Palmer, London Sony PlayStation Look closely at the protruding nipples of this young couple and you’ll see they are actually Sony PlayStation symbols. Only an aficionado would know the shapes are from the videogame control pad. Talk about a targeted audience. The ad goes straight to the heart of the young–they know who they are and don’t have to announce it, at least not out loud anyway. —————————— Gold Winner: Perfect World, Pragmatic Visionary Publicis & Hal Riney, San Francisco EV1/General Motors This campaign challenges drivers to envision the electric car. “It’s not a passing fad,” it states. The ads offer compelling advantages over gas-powered cars, such as a quiet ride, less drag and no gear shifting. —————————— Gold Winner: Waiting Silver The Martin Agency, Richmond, Va. Saab Cars USA A series of billboards in this winning campaign features a range of demographics–a couple, a family and singles–that have parked their sofas on the highway, eyes fixed eagerly on the horizon. As the fourth board explains, they’re waiting for the new Saab. —————————— Gold Winner: Id Music Lion Bartle Bogle Hegarty, London Levi Sta-Prest This spot, which also won a film gold Lion, garnered the first award for excellence in music. A Muppet named Flat Eric and his friend bounce to techno-beat rhythms created by director Quentin Dupieux a.k.a. DJ Mister Oizo. Film: U.S. Silver Lions —————————— Silver Winner: Lobster Budweiser DDB Needham, Chicago —————————— Silver Winner: Alonzo’s Pepsi BBDO, New York —————————— Silver Winner: Treacherous Terrain Jeep Grand Cherokee Bozell Worldwide, Southfield, Mich. —————————— Silver Winner: Fountain Conseco Fallon McElligott, New York —————————— Silver Winner: Chase Dunkin’ Donuts Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos, Boston —————————— Silver Winner: Feet FoxSports.com Cliff Freeman and Partners, New York —————————— Silver Winner: It May, Fun With Statistics, Daughter Florida Tobacco Pilot Program Crispin, Porter & Bogusky, Miami U.S. Bronze Lions —————————— Bronze Winner: Ball Boys Heineken Lowe & Partners/SMS, New York —————————— Bronze Winner: Dances With Dog Miller Lite Fallon McElligott, Minneapolis —————————— Bronze Winner: Tribute Nike Wieden & Kennedy, Portland, Ore. —————————— Bronze Winner: Tow Truck Discover Brokerage Black Rocket, San Francisco —————————— Bronze Winner: Laundromat, Grocery Seattle SuperSonics WongDoody, Seattle —————————— Bronze Winner: Bell Sony PlayStation TBWA/Chiat/Day, Playa del Rey, Calif. —————————— Bronze Winner: BBQ ESPN Ground Zero, Marina del Rey, Calif. —————————— Bronze Winner: Rope, Horse FoxSports Cliff Freeman and Partners, New York —————————— Bronze Winner: When I Grow Up Monster.com Mullen Advertising, Wenham, Mass. 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