UAE ad agency shines at Cannes

Y&R UAE has bagged an award at the 57th Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival currently being held in Cannes.

Receiving a bronze award in the outdoor category, Y&R was recognised for its campaign for client Paras Pharma.

It has been a European year for Grand Prix and Gold awards so far as the majority of winners announced were agencies from countries such as the UK, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Italy, France, Norway and the Netherlands. The categories announced so far are promo and activation, PR, direct media, outdoor and radio.

The prestigious Direct Agency of the Year Award was won by Abbott Mead Vickers, BBDO, London, the UK. On the first day, both the Promo and Activation Grand Prix and the PR Grand Prix awards went to TBWA\ CHIAT\DAY LA of the US, followed by Paragon Marketing Group and Fleishman-Hillard, for their entry 'Replay' to promote energy drink Gatorade.

The promo and activation category this year saw a 43 per cent growth in the number of entries, totalling 1,595 entries. From which 150 were shortlisted and later 55 were selected winners by the international jury led by Tina Manikas, Global Retail and Promotions Officer of DraftFCB. Along with the Grand Prix, eight Gold, 20 Silver and 26 Bronze Lions were also awarded.

Gold winners apart from TBWA\CHIAT \DAY LA include two awards for JWT Italia's 'Heineken campaign'; BBDO NewYork for 'HBO campaign'; German agency Jung von Matt for a campaign for 'NBC Universal Global Networks Deutschland'; Saatchi and Saatchi Australia for its 'Toyota Motors campaign'.

In its second year, the PR category received 571 entries, up 32 per cent from last year. The organisers said due to the high increase in entries, the jury had decided it was necessary to award Gold and Silver Lions, rather than only PR Lions, which is normal for a new category. The PR jury, chaired by Paul Taaffe, Global Chairman and CEO of Hill and Knowlton, awarded 11 Gold Lions and 32 Silver Lions from an initial shortlist of 87.

Gold winners in this category included Prime PR Sweden for its 'Audi campaign'; Jung von Matt for the 'Philharmonic Orchestra of Hamburg campaign'; DDB Germany; Taivas, Finland; Boondoggle, Belgium; TBWA \CHIAT\DAY LA USA; Barabino and Partners, Italy; and Fleishman-Hillard. Last year's PR Grand Prix award was received by Cumminsnitro, Brisbane, Australia for promoting the 'Best Job In The World campaign' for client Tourism Queensland.

Of the 1,441 entries submitted in the Direct Lions category, 164 were shortlisted, of which 19 Gold, 24 Silver and 31 Bronze Lions were awarded. Special Group Auckland in New Zealand won the Grand Prix for its entry 'Orcon + Iggy Pop' for Orcon Broadband. The Direct Lions Jury of 30 members was chaired by Pablo Alzugaray, Chief Executive Officer of Shackleton.

The Gold winners include Grey Vancouver, Canada; Leo Burnett, Hong Kong; DDB New Zealand; Farfar Sweden; Abbott Mead Vickers; BBDO London; TBWA\PHS Helsinki, Finland; Forsman And Bodenfors, Gothenburg, Sweden; Saatchi & Saatchi Australia; Hakuhodo Tokyo, Japan; Leo Burnett Sydney, Australia; Droga5 Australia; Mortierbrigade, Brussels, Belgium; Lemenger BBDO Melbourne, Australia; And Jung Von Matt Germany.

The second batch of winners announced yesterday evening included the categories of media, radio and outdoor.

The prestigious outdoor Grand Prix was received by Anomaly New York for its campaign 'Diesel', along with Saatchi and Saatchi, Buenos Aires, Argentina, for its campaign for INBEV's Cerveza Andes Beer.

The Media Agency of the Year was presented to Leo Burnett in Sydney with Fischer Portugal taking second place and Lew'Lara\TBWA São Paulo coming third..

Out of the 3,822 entries in the outdoor category, 419 were shortlisted, and 122 selected as winners – 17 Gold, 43 Silver and 60 Bronze.