Changes to judging process announced for Cannes Lions 2017

Cannes Lions announced it will change its juries, with the size of jury panels to be reduced by 92 members across the board, ensuring the highest standard of meaningful debate can take place.

The first phase of the voting process for the Promo & Activation, Media and Direct Lions will, from now on, be completed in the weeks before the Festival by a shortlist jury. The jury members will be selected using the same process and criteria as the awarding juries and held to the same rigorous standards of neutrality and fairness. Jury panel sizes will also be reduced across the Film, Radio, Print & Publishing, Outdoor, Digital Craft, Creative Effectiveness and Mobile categories.

Protecting the integrity of the Lions is down to getting the right people in the judging room (…) Some juries have been much larger than others in the past as a result of the number of entries they have to judge – but it is the Titanium jury, of ten extremely well-qualified people, that is the gold-standard. After extensive consultation with previous jurors and the wider industry, we have concluded that we can reduce the number of jury members while still allowing them plenty of time to judge the work.

Jose Papa,

Managing Director Cannes Lions

2016’s Titanium Jury President, John Hegarty, founder of Bartle Bogle Hegarty:

I would rather be judged by fewer jurors who are more focused, more responsible and better qualified. Collective responsibility and the quality of discussion are lost if you have too many judges. Size is no guarantee of strength

Philip Thomas, Chief Executive Cannes Lions:

The standard of judging and quality of our juries is one of the major factors that contributes to the longstanding value of Cannes Lions. Upholding the value of the Lion is paramount

Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2017 is scheduled to take place on 17-24 June 2017 in Cannes