<FONT COLOR="#FF0033"><B>Cannes 2006:</B></FONT> Leo Burnett and Madison book Media Lions

At the 53rd Cannes Advertising Festival 2006, India has managed to cage quite a few lions. With the winners out in the Direct Mailer, Promo, Outdoor and Media categories, we have a lot to look forward to in the next few days.

Together, Leo Burnett and Madison Media have won three media lions for India. Leo Burnett’s work for Prerana, an NGO, titled ‘Give the Baby Girl a Chance’, won it a Silver Media Lion, while Madison won two Bronze Media Lions, one for Procter & Gamble Home Products and the other for Cadbury.

Leo Burnett’s work for Prerana was a documentary against the practice of aborting female foetuses, which was aired on television as well as at a few select gynaecology clinics. The brief was that when pregnant women go to clinics for a sonography, they return home disappointed and contemplate abortion when they discover they are carrying a girl child. The documentary provided a glimpse into the lives of some successful women who have left their mark in the world, such as Indira Gandhi and Margaret Thatcher.

Arvind Sharma, managing director, Leo Burnett, comments on this win: “Leo Burnett is doing well and so is India. What’s heartening this time is that unlike previous years, when only a few select agencies could bring in Lions from Cannes, this year, many new agencies have entered the winners’ list.”

Sharma also expressed his hopes for the ‘Pakya’ campaign done for ‘The Times of India’ and his agency’s work for the Maneland Jungle Lodge.

Meanwhile, Rediffusion bagged a Silver Lion for its work on Midland Bookshop in the Lions Direct category. JWT India won a Promo Lion for ‘Firestarter’, the work done for Pepsico’s Kurkure Spicy Snack.

In all, 58 Indian entries were short-listed at Cannes this year. Out of these, 24 were in the Press, 23 in Outdoor, six in Media, three in Direct and one each in the Promo and Radio categories. Radio did not see any winners from India.

The winners of the Press and Titanium Lions are expected to be out today. The film winners will be declared on Saturday.

© 2006 agencyfaqs!