MORE most interesting sound bites from Cannes

It is a shame that what’s meant to be a celebration of creativity is being used as a war ground. Country against country, continent against continent, network against network, agency against agency. You end up being extra careful with what you say and where you tread, who you’re seen with and who you’re ignoring. I guess it’s inevitable, it is a competition after all. But it’s a shadow over some of the stellar seminars and speakers we’ve seen, and most of all distracts from the real reason we’re here – the work. Maybe we should all take a lesson from this year’s fabulous Press Grand Prix for Benneton. Let’s kiss and Unhate, people! —Arthur Tsang, BBDO's South China ECD

There is also too much instability, the global downturn, cross-border terrorism, politics of repression and the reaction to it, all these things are exacerbated by the rapid information spread around the world... People who do what you do can have a major impact, first, by telling the facts to a world obsessed with the trivial, fleeting and shallow. —President Bill Clinton

The world needs advertisers to empower people and give them a sense of hope. We need people like you to fire our imagination and fill our brains as well as our hearts. Overcoming inherent resistance to hearing information that people don’t believe is the advertiser’s stock and trade, after all. —President Bill Clinton

There is a need for an empowerment ethic that tells people they can make a difference, explain that it’s worth trying because of who they are trying to help, that they are not worthless and they should not fear getting up everyday because they believe nothing good will happen. You can do that. You can make people feel they can create positive change.—President Bill Clinton

Cannes by Andy Warhol

PARTY is one of the best agencies in the world right now and after Morihiro Horano's presentation, now I know why. Blending technical engineering with beautiful creative, they challenged every agency in the room to stop making shit ads for shit products, but instead create new outcomes for businesses so they don't need advertising to paper over the cracks. Amen. —Konrad Spilva, managing director of Visual Jazz Isobar, Australia

Tin Cannes — Gossip, Gossip, Gossip

What I've heard the last few days from brands and agencies is that Facebook has no idea how to monetize their platform and that they're not a serious platform when it comes to advertising. But I think the fact that they're practically pleading with creatives to treat Facebook differently from the rest of the web is quite exhilarating for an agency. As a platform with a billion people connected around the world, we can now tell a brand story without the annoying constraints of all those advertising specifications. —Konrad Spilva, managing director of Visual Jazz Isobar, Australia

The big theme of this year for me is authenticity: The idea that a brand can no longer exist to provide customers a product or service they need, but must stand for something greater to resonate with today's consumers and earn their money.  —Konrad Spilva, managing director of Visual Jazz Isobar, Australia

Paint Cannes

Why are there so many awards? It would be glib to attribute it entirely to the stereotypical ego of advertising executives. Even honorees have limits, which may be why some old statuettes were reportedly spotted for sale at flea market last year. The fact is that shows like these are big business, and there are plenty who want to chase that money. Its reported that the show had made £7-million in profit the previous year.—Susan Krashinsky, Marketing Reporter, The Globe and Mail (Canada)

It’s become a joke. As soon as you enter all the shows, then you’re asked to buy tickets. I can’t even fill tables with clients and staff any more; the market’s become so diluted with these shows. DDB has employees whose full-time jobs are almost entirely consumed with keeping track of the awards calendar and co-ordinating submissions... It’s a necessary evil. Everybody’s playing the game. You don’t have a choice. Like it or not, awards are the currency by which creatives are judged by their peers. It’s what makes these people famous, and thus valuable.—David Leonard, President and COO of DDB Canada

Garbage Cannes — Garbage In Garbage Out — Try harder next year Canada

Why all the negatives about awards shows from Canada? Especially those coming from people who never wrote or art directed an ad before. —Mike Fromowitz, Executive CD, President and Chief Brand Officer, Mantra Partners International

Great job at Cannes — Congratulations to Tham-Khai-Meng and his Network of the Year, O&M Worldwide

Of the 3475 entries in the Film category, the jury, led by Tham Khai Meng, Worldwide Chief Creative Officer of Ogilvy & Mather, shortlisted 257 entries of which 11 were awarded Gold, 19 Silver and 39 Bronze Lions. The Film Grand Prix was awarded to Creative Artists Agency Los Angeles for its entry 'Back to the Start' for Chipotle. Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide was named Network of the Year. —Campaign Brief Asia

Mike Fromowitz

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