HOW CAN YOU MAKE YOUR MOST OUT OF CANNES LIONS?

I posted a few tips here last year and have repurposed with a few more learnings based on another year of invaluable experience, where I went as an actual small business-owner delegate and not a paid employee of the Festival -( i.e. on a BUDGET).

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Here goes:

1. If you have a ticket to the Palais, use it. Try to go to a minimum of three talks a day or else you’ll come back and think “why didn’t I make more use of my ticket?” The team has done an incredible job as ever. Schedule them, don’t move them and enjoy the inspiration (and air-con!) There’s a handy scheduler on the app (oh yeah, use the app). I’m particularly looking forward to the creative impact track, CMOs in the Spotlight and seeing Marcus Collins and E.lf.

2. Feel the FOMO and basically just get on with it. There are quite literally thousands of events/ parties and talks happening and you can’t go to all of them, so don’t sweat it. In my opinion they vary so wildly in quality anyway and maybe I’m getting old, but I prefer a quiet dinner with friends. OH AND get off the Croisette. There’s so much good stuff happening on the fringe.

3. Try and go to at least ONE Awards Show. My favourite ones are Film and Glass (Friday) and Film Craft (Tuesday) and get in the queue early. You will be blown away.

4. Be intentional with your time. Really intentional and if you haven’t scheduled your week yet, get the fcuk on with it.  It’s honestly the only way I find - or everything just unravels.

5. Go and see The Work in the Basement. It’s often people’s favourite part of the festival and the talks around the winners are also brilliant. After all, it’s why we’re there really.

6. Visit the massive Monoprix on 9 Rue du Maréchal Foch. Honestly it’s a highlight! The best food, clothes, wine, cosmetics, gifts ever. You won’t regret it.

7. Do a long walk of La Croisette on your first day, to get your bearings and to see what’s happening and where. Last year I didn’t do a recce until Tuesday and then I felt a bit all over the place.

8. Actively listen. To the talks, to colleagues, to the trends and the insights. I always make notes but lots of people also write handy summaries afterwards.

9. Find a decent coffee shop. Copenhagen Coffee Labs does a banging flat white.

10. If you’re not getting any younger, take a lot of electrolytes with you.