Australia wrapped up a successful week at 2025’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity by bagging more metal and honours of the final day.
Day five saw work by Australian creatives take home a Grand Prix, Lions trophies, Palme D’Or and Independent Agency of the Year title.
Agencies that got the gongs were FINCH, Bear Meets Eagle On Fire, Droga5 part of Accenture Song, Clemenger Melbourne, Revolver, WPP and DDB Worldwide.
Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS, said: “This week we’ve taken our industry on an exhilarating journey of the very best creative work. Huge congratulations to each and every brilliant winner and shortlist for the phenomenal recognition bestowed by peers.
“This is a time for immense pride as we celebrate the transformative power of breakthrough ideas that challenge conventions, solve problems and create meaningful connections.”
Day five:
FINCH claimed its second Grand Prix for Good and a Gold Lion in the Film category for ‘The Best Place in the World to Have Herpes’, a campaign created for the New Zealand Herpes Foundation in partnership with Motion Sickness Auckland.
The campaign won a total of six Cannes Lions: Grand Prix for Good, Lions Health Grand Prix for Good, Gold – Health & Wellness, Gold – Film, Culture & Context, Bronze – Sustainable Development Goals, and Bronze – Entertainment, Use of Humour.
Jury President Judy John, Global Chief Creative Officer of Edelman, called the campaign: “Brave, outrageously creative, wildly ambitious and educational, not the usual combination of words you’d associate with a Grand Prix for Good. But this campaign had it all. Its title alone says everything.
“Often overlooked, the idea tapped into national pride to unite a country against stigma, and did it with boldness and originality.”
Bear Meets Eagle On Fire took home Gold and Bronze Lions in Film for Telstra’s ‘Better on a Better Network’ and ‘Together is for Christmas’ campaigns created in collaboration with +61. The campaign continues to rack up accolades globally for its standout storytelling and execution.
In the same category, Droga5 part of Accenture Song won a Silver Lion for Meat & Livestock Australia’s Australian Lamb ‘The comments section’ campaign, while Clemenger Melbourne won a Bronze Lion for 7-Eleven ‘Go further’.
One of two Film Grands Prix were awarded to ‘Paris Paralympics 2024: Considering What?’ by Channel 4 and 4Creative London, directed by Australian Steve Rogers through Revolver.
Bear Meets Eagle On Fire was named as one of three overall Independent Agencies of the Year at the Festival and also won Independent Agency of the Year – Craft. The agency’s team took to LinkedIn to share photos from the day, showing off their wins.
“For our studio, now only six years old, this is huge, and to have our work recognised and celebrated at this scale is humbling,” the caption read.
“To do it swimming against the currents as a small independent with a belief that when you work and care harder it’s a force multiplier, well, it’s just hard to find words for what that feels like.”
Revolver took home the Palme d’Or, becoming the first Australian production company to in the history of the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity to win the accolade.
Michael Ritchie, Revolver’s Managing Director/Co-Owner, said: “For myself and our entire team, this is an enormous honour, and honestly – pretty overwhelming. Our country is home to some of the best talent globally, and these wins only reiterate the high calibre of work from our region.
“Brent Smart’s (CMO, Telstra) and Micah Walker’s (CCO/Founder – Bear Meets Eagle on Fire) industry defining vision for Telstra, and the trust and respect they offer to their production partners and the Directors they work with, is something we are so grateful for, and a direct contributor to our success this year. Similarly, a huge thank you goes to the entire team behind Steve’s ‘Considering What?’ campaign, which is a brilliant piece of work with an unflinching grit that celebrated the athletes at the heart of the Paralympics.
“We are also incredibly grateful for our long standing partnership with Biscuit Filmworks in LA and UK whom we worked with across a number of our winning works. For twenty years we have worked together and to see this coming to genuine fruition now, is as rewarding as the work itself.”
Meanwhile, WPP was named Creative Company of the Year. Across the festival, WPP agencies from across the world collected an impressive haul of 168 Lions, including the Titanium Lion, 10 Grand Prix including a Glass Lion for Change, 23 Gold, 53 Silver and 81 Bronze Lions.
Mark Read, CEO of WPP, said: “Our success at Cannes Lions is a tribute to the extraordinary talent and passion of our people worldwide, and to the clients who entrust us with their brands. It’s also a powerful statement about the central role of creative and media excellence in building brands, shaping culture and driving growth, a principle at the heart of WPP and one I’m very proud to see recognised today.
“Winning Creative Company of the Year is always a huge honour, but celebrating this achievement with our brilliant people at my last Cannes as CEO makes it doubly special. Congratulations and thank you to everyone who made it happen.”
Rob Reilly, Global Chief Creative Officer of WPP, said: “In a world increasingly shaped by AI, authentic human creativity with integrity commands a growing premium.
“This year’s winners from across WPP brilliantly showcase how our agencies are owning innovation and technology, not to replace creativity, but to amplify it, solve complex challenges for brands, and connect with audiences in more meaningful ways. Congratulations to all our teams and fearless clients for these outstanding results.”
DDB Worldwide won Network of the Year, the agency group’s second time in three years. This year the group took home 112 Lions, a record in its 76-year history.
The group shared photos on LinkedIn and said in the post: “THANK YOU to all of our teams around the globe. A true collective effort across so many agencies and client brands who delivered emotionally-led work with cultural impact and real business results. We wouldn’t be here without you.
“Among the moments that moved us most: Four Grand Prix won across four different brands. Most awarded network in Brand Experience & Activation with 20 trophies. DDB Latina Puerto Rico winning its first-ever Grand Prix. DDB Warsaw bringing home its first Gold Lion. And Finland celebrating its very first Lion in history.
“To our exceptional global family: this moment belongs to you. It’s been a week! Honored. Grateful. And yes, we’re Emotional.”
Top image: Cannes Lions gold