Australia has won its first Grand Prix in the Film Craft category, going to Bear Meets Eagle on Fire and Revolver for Telstra, plus another eight Lions in four categories, on the second day of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
The Grand Prix, for the Telstra – Better on a Better Network campaign, with production from Biscuit Filmworks and Revolver, included 26 individual spots, each representing lesser-known regional towns and remote areas that benefit from a better network.
President of the Jury Ali Ali, Co-Founder and Film Director, Good People Films, said: “Before we could vote, the Grand Prix revealed itself slowly, like great work often does. In a year dominated by AI and digital gloss, Telstra’s Better on a Better Network felt like a breath of fresh air. Tactile, intimate, and deeply human. It reminded us why we fell in love with this industry. Fifty-six unique puppets animating 42 voices from regional Australians, across 26 stop-motion gems. All simple, all funny, all full of soul. Measured writing, inspired characters – and yes, a bird flying backwards. In a fast-content era, Better on a Better Network felt like a warm, slow-cooked meal,” he said.
Bear Meets Eagle on Fire, Revolver and Telstra dominated the Film Craft category, winning an additional two Gold awards, one for Donkey and one for the Better on a Better Network spots. Donkey also won a Silver Lion and The Shoemaker took home a Bronze Lion. The hotly-contested category saw 49 Lions awarded from 1,459 entries.
VML Sydney won a Gold Lion in the Industry Craft category for the 101 Optometry Eye Test campaign. From 779 entries, 22 Lions were awarded.
In the Digital Craft category, a Bronze Lion went to an Australia/New Zealand/Brazil collaboration for AKQA for Netflix Body Swap. A total of 17 Lions were awarded from 554 entries.
Two Bronze Awards in the Design category went to Clemenger Sydney for the Samsung Packed Full of History campaign and to DDB Group Sydney for RooBadge for Volkswagen. In this category, 33 Lions were awarded from 1,087 entries.
Winners of the Lions will be announced at the Award Shows taking place each evening throughout the Festival, from 16 to 20 June 2025. All shortlists and winners will also be available to view on The Work.
Read all the latest Cannes Festival news here.
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Advertising Council Australia (ACA) – the peak body for Australia’s leading advertising agencies – is the official representative of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in Australia.