Stephen de Wolf’s Cannes Diary #1

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Stephen de Wolf’s Cannes Diary #1

Stephen de Wolf, executive creative director at Clemenger BBDO Melbourne is on the Cannes Direct Lions. de Wolf, along with several other jurors writes exclusively for Campaign Brief.

 

The streets of Cannes are still quiet. Right now a handful of judges and festival organisers still manage to disappear into the crowds of tourists… but come tomorrow that’s sure to change as the industry descends on this seaside resort town.

Today was our first day of judging. It was made clear to our 11 strong jury we weren’t going to have time to be distracted as, for the first time this year, we had to leave our phones at the door (see pic). At first it made many of us anxious, but it wasn’t long before our phone addiction was replaced by a coffee and snack addiction.

Prejudging meant we were spared watching the case studies of nearly two-thousand entries, instead arriving to what I’d call a ‘not insignificant’ long shortlist.

Our brilliant Jury President, Nicky Bullard, set the agenda for the next few days of judging. For us, the first two days will be less talk and more watching as we get to a shortlist. While there isn’t too much talk at this early stage, you know we’re all watching with that one niggling question, ‘What makes this direct?’. Come Monday the conversation and debate is sure to start, as we make sense of what direct means this year.

Stephen de Wolf’s Cannes Diary #1