Romania earned both its first and second ever Grand Prix wins at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity as an “American Rom” campaign for Kandia Dulce’s Rom chocolate bars out of BV McCann Erickson, Bucharest, took the Grand Prix honor in both the Promo & Activation and Direct Lions competitions last night.
Meanwhile the Grand Prix for PR went to ad agency Clemenger BBDO Melbourne for National Australia Bank’s “Break Up” campaign.
The Rom work stirred the pot by replacing the candy bar’s Romanian flag-themed packaging with one featuring the USA’s stars and stripes. This raised the patriotic ire of many in Romania who came to the defense of the chocolate’s Romanian heritage, sparking news coverage and grass-roots protests. After a week of objections and debate, BV McCann Erickson as planned brought back the original home country packaging.
As for the PR Grand Prix winner, National Australia Bank also disassociated itself–not from a candy wrapper but from the bad rap of big banking. National Australia Bank had been known as one of Australia four major consumer banks in Australia, a distinction which had an inherent stigma attached given the global economic meltdown. So Clemenger BBDO Melbourne launched a 24-hour PR blitz which heralded National Australia Bank’s breaking away from its three major competitors. The campaign began with what appeared to be an accidental tweet about a pivotal decision about to be made by National Australia Bank. The PR initiative distanced National Australia Bank from the undesirable big banking label and differentiated it from the country’s other big three.
Now into its third year, the PR category received 819 entries, up 43 percent from 2010. The jury, chaired by Dave Senay, president/CEO of Fleishman-Hillard, shortlisted 105 and went on to award 10 Gold, 13 silver and 15 Bronze Lions.
Of the 2,125 entries submitted in the Promo & Activation category, a 33 percent increase versus last year, 175 were shortlisted from which 55 were selected as winners by the international jury led by Warren Brown, creative founder of BMF. Along with the Grand Prix a further five Gold, 17 Silver and 32 Bronze Lions were also awarded.
Of the 1,858 entries submitted in the Direct Lions category, an increase of 29 percent compared to 2010, 204 went on to make the shortlist of which 10 Gold, 15 Silver and 31 Bronze Lions were awarded. Presiding over the Direct Lions Jury was Alexander Schill, global chief creative officer and partner of Serviceplan Group.
The prestigious Direct Agency of the Year award was won by Ogilvy Argentina, Buenos Aires.
All of the Promo & Activation, PR and Direct Lions winners along with their credits can be viewed here.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Reach Divorce Settlement After 8 Years
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have reached a divorce settlement, ending one of the longest and most contentious divorces in Hollywood history but not every legal issue between the two.
Jolie and Pitt signed off on a default declaration filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday, saying they have entered into a written agreement on their marital and property rights. The settlement was first reported by People magazine.
"More than eight years ago, Angelina filed for divorce from Mr. Pitt," Jolie's attorney, James Simon, said in a statement. "She and the children left all of the properties they had shared with Mr. Pitt, and since that time she has focused on finding peace and healing for their family. This is just one part of a long ongoing process that started eight years ago. Frankly, Angelina is exhausted, but she is relieved this one part is over."
The filing says they give up the right to any future spousal financial support, but gives no other details. A judge will need to sign off on the agreement. An email late Monday night to Pitt's attorney seeking comment was not immediately answered.
Jolie, 49, and Pitt, 61, were among Hollywood's most prominent pairings for 12 years, two of them as a married couple. The Oscar winners have six children together.
Jolie filed for divorce in 2016, after a private jet flight from Europe during which she said Pitt physically abused her and their children. The FBI and child services officials investigated Pitt's actions on the flight. Two months later, the FBI released a statement saying it would not investigate further, and the U.S. attorney did not bring charges.
A heavily redacted FBI report obtained by The Associated Press in 2022 said that an agent provided a probable cause... Read More