Taking the Silver award in the Film category was one of the two teams representing South Africa this year — Paula Andropoulus, Writer, and Khomotso Makoto, Art Director, from TBWA/Hunt/Lascaris JHB. The brief challenged the teams to create a 60-second film ad in just 48 hours. This year, Ovarian Cancer Action asked competitors to craft a powerful, uplifting film for World Ovarian Cancer Day (Friday, 8 May 2026). Their submission, 'Two Centuries Too Long,' earned them the Silver, says the awards.
"As the South African representative for the Cannes Lions, and the local sponsor of the Cannes Young Lions competition — Film Category, we are delighted that Paula and Khomotso made it onto the podium this year. Creating a 60-second ad from brief to finished product in just 48 hours is extremely challenging, and we want to take this opportunity to congratulate them on this outstanding achievement and for flying the South African flag high at Cannes this year," says Lynne Wylie, Chief Marketing Officer of Ster-Kinekor.
Cannes Lions says the Young Lions competitions, which are sponsored by Adobe, are at the heart of the Cannes Lions School. They embody a true celebration of creativity across the world, where more than 400 young professionals have the opportunity to showcase their talent and achievements on the global stage. All of the entries have been judged by members of the Cannes Lions juries during the festival.
The Young Lions 2025 media partner, The News Movement, returned for its second year to bring the competitions to life through behind-the-scenes video content and interviews designed to capture the spirit of creativity and innovation of emerging talent at the festival, adds the awards.
Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS, says, "For the last 30 years, the Young Lions competitions have pushed emerging talent to think boldly and deliver ideas that truly resonate. This year was no different. With nearly 460 competitors from 67 markets, including the return of teams from Venezuela, Uruguay and Ukraine, the 2025 competitions were a powerful reminder of the global creative spirit. It's inspiring to see countries return and new countries win. This year saw first-time Gold wins from Turkey in Marketers and Guatemala in Film. Congratulations to all of our 2025 winners and to every team that rose to the challenge. We can't wait to see what you bring to the festival next."
Lotte Jones, Chief Commercial Officer, The News Movement, says, "Spotlighting the brilliant agency leaders of tomorrow becomes more essential each year, and we're thrilled to celebrate the 2025 Young Lions winners. This year's competition once again raised the bar, with teams delivering bold, imaginative and forward-thinking responses to the briefs."
Jones concludes, "As a media partner of the competition, we're proud to champion the next generation of creative talent — amplifying their voices, showcasing their ideas and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps. Through our video content, we've been able to offer an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the competition and the incredible individuals driving the future of our industry."
The full list of winners can be viewed here.
For more information, visit www.canneslions.com. You can also follow the Cannes Young Lions on Facebook, X, or on Instagram.
*Image courtesy of contributor