The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity will honor girls’ education activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Malala Yousafzai, with the 2022 Cannes LionHeart; the award is given to a person who has harnessed their position to make a significant and positive difference to the world around us.
Born in Pakistan, Yousafzai’s life changed dramatically when the Taliban took control of the town where she lived and banned girls from attending school. After speaking out publicly on behalf of girls and their right to learn, she survived an attempt on her life by the Pakistan Taliban. In 2014, Yousafzai and her father co-founded Malala Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to giving every girl an opportunity to achieve a future she chooses.
Lions chairman Philip Thomas said: “Malala’s strength and courage is an inspiration. Her creative leadership of Malala Fund has successfully established a charity that is creating positive change for many across the globe. The LionHeart is awarded to those that are making a genuine difference to the world and to whom we offer the platform of Cannes Lions to appeal to the world’s communicators to help their cause. We are humbled to be presenting her with this award in June, and we know that the creative community will respond with their customary generosity and creativity.”
The LionHeart has previously been awarded to Bono, Al Gore, Blake Mycoskie, Richard Curtis, Paul Polman and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
Yousafzai said, “Girls have the power to boost economies, create jobs, make communities safer and drive change. But to see the future educated girls can create will require individuals, leaders and companies across every sector to take action. I am honored to accept this year’s LionHeart Award and look forward to connecting with the creatives at Cannes Lions around how companies can lend their platforms, expertise and resources to accelerate progress for young women, girls and our world.”
With more than 130 million girls out of school, Yousafzai’s mission is to ensure all girls receive 12 years of free, safe, quality education. Malala Fund focuses on three core areas to propel this fight: investing in local education activists; advocating for policies that will help more girls learn; and amplifying girls’ voices. Malala Fund works in regions where the most girls miss out on secondary education, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan and Tanzania.
The Cannes LionHeart seminar, with Yousafzai, will take place in the Lumiere Theatre at 3pm on Thursday, June 23. Yousafzai will accept the LionHeart Award that evening at the awards show.
Jean Smart, Ariana Grande, Michael Keaton among hosts for “SNL” season 50
Fresh off her Emmys win, Jean Smart will kick off the landmark 50th season of "Saturday Night Live."
NBC on Thursday announced the lineup of hosts for the season, which premieres Sept. 28. Joining Smart on the first show will be Jelly Roll as the musical act. He was also at the Emmys, singing during the ceremony's in memoriam segment.
It will be Smart's first time hosting "SNL."
Comedian Nate Bargatze will host on Oct. 5, with Coldplay as the musical guest.
Ariana Grande will host Oct. 12, with musical guest Stevie Nicks.
"Beetlejuice" star Michael Keaton will host on Oct. 19, the last show before Halloween, and Billie Eilish will be that night's musical guest.
The host on Nov. 2 will be "SNL" alum John Mulaney, with breakout sensation Chappell Roan as the music guest.
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