The winners will be jetting off to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity to test their skill in international waters, learning from some of the greatest and the brightest while competing against the world’s best.

The winners of the Cinemark Young Lions Competition for 2015 are Hanro Havenga and Saf Sandhi from Net#work BBDO, who will represent the country at the international festival as part of their esteemed prize. Second place went to Bianca Kotzen and Tamsin Manby from Havas with Dylan Rohleder and Mpumelelo Ngweu from J. Walter Thompson Cape Town taking third place. 

The competitors had only 48 hours to prepare a commercial no longer than 30 seconds that speaks to the heart of all South Africans, Africans and global humanitarians at this time: say no to Xenophobia. Considering the emotive topic and the turn-around time, the 2015 Young Lions truly rose to the occasion. 

“The Cannes Young Lions competition delivers great creative results, when considering the 48 hour turn-around time,” comments Jury president and executive creative director of Boomtown, Andrew Mackenzie. “Not only do the young creatives have to conceptualise dynamic solutions to the brief, but they also have to prepare a commercial that delivers the solution in the best possible way. I don’t think many of them had much sleep over the two days before the deadline.”

Mackenzie adds, “A big consideration when evaluating the entries is the fact that the winners will represent South Africa in Cannes. We need a team that can compete with the best young creative talent from around the world. The entries that stood out were those that delivered on an insight, a human truth that will make the audience sit up and take notice when they engage with the idea. These ideas really demonstrated not only an understanding of the problem around Xenophobia but also an understanding of the target market.”

The talented winners will be attending the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity from Sunday, 21 to Saturday, 27 June – a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity made possible by the local representative of Cannes, Cinemark.

The prize also includes the screening of the winning advert across Ster-Kinekor cinemas, return flights to Nice, France, a full week’s Young Lion Registration, accommodation for the team and an entry to into the International Cannes Young Lions Competition.

Havenga and Sandhi are thrilled to be part of the 2015 festival in Cannes and will be making the most of the opportunity in terms of both their careers and the experience. Their winning piece was one of many beautifully prepared and well-executed pieces that speak to the heart of Xenophobic issues.

To see the Young Lions submissions for 2015, click here.