Cannes Lions new gender-neutral category kicked off last night with the region winning a quarter of the Lions for Change. The award recognizes work that breaks through unconscious gender bias and shatters stereotypical portrayals of men and women.
Leo Burnett Beirut, who celebrated a Gold Media Lion thanks to its ‘Lebanon4Sale’ campaign for Sakker El Dekkene (Stop The Shop), also won a Glass Lion for its ‘Vote for us. We’ll vote for you’ work for Lebanese NGO Kafa. The same campaign also won a Bronze PR Lion.
Impact BBDO Dubai also picked up a Glass Lion for their very insightful UN Women’s ‘Give mom back her name’ campaign. See a full review here.
In the words of the notorious Fadi Yaish “When we win at international festivals like Cannes, we win for the whole region”.
So congratulations to the whole of the MENA and let’s keep pushing this region further and further. We’re only just beginning.
Basha.