And the lions shall roar!

It will be an interesting week for all of us interested in advertising as the biggest festival in Ad World begins in Cannes. From tomorrow till Sunday we will be able to follow who was the best in "getting" the modern consumer.

This year advertisers are competing in their creativity in 10 categories, nine of which are the typical Lions (Cyber, Direct, Film, Media, Outdoor, Press, Promo, Radio and Titanium and Integrated Lions) and one is a new category - Design Lions. Being new, doesn't make it a shy category. With more than 1100 entries it will be one of the more prestigious Lions to be won.

To make the waiting for the winners pass quicker, here are some interesting statistics about this year's Lions festival in Cannes (as reported by canneslions.com). The biggest categories, based on the number of entries this year are the Press Lions with more than 7000 entries, Outdoor with about 5000, Film with a bit over 4600 and Cyber Lions with about 2700 entries. The fastest growing category is Promo Lions with the change in entries from last year of about +40 percent. Not far behind in growth are Titanium and Integrated Lions (+33% change from last year) and Media Lions (20.4% change from last year). What is surprising to me, since internet is such a powerful communication tool today, is that the Cyber Lions have only a 1.7% growth in entries from last year. On the other hand they are still the 4th biggest category in the festival and the use of internet as an advertising medium is judged in other categories as well (for example Media).

Not to forget the guests will we dining exquisite food and enjoying great drinks while attending of the many parties raging from sushi parties, "before-beach" parties to Craig David concert. Oh well, I as well will one day treat myself with a 2000 euro advertising experience (as the Full Delegate registation costs).

For more information on the Lions go to:
http://www.canneslions.com/
and for information on the shortlists go to:
http://www.canneslions.com/winners/

Till next time, keep an eye open for News (TM).