10 Cannes Lions 2018 Sessions You Can’t Miss
Cannes Lions 2018 is less than 2 weeks away! So we’re kicking off our countdown with the 10 sessions you absolutely should not miss if you’re hitting La Croisette this month.
Advertising’s most glamorous festival is full of more panels, keynotes, fireside chats than one person could ever possibly attend. But with 450+ speakers across 18 stages, how do you know which ones really matter?
Well, luckily, Unruly is here to help. We’ve narrowed the list down to 10 must-see sessions advertisers definitely need to check out.
1. I’m Not Sure I’m Right But Who is?
Monday, 18 June, 10:00 – 10:45 @ Lumière Theatre
Kick off your Cannes Lions experience with this opening speech from last year’s Lion of St. Mark’s recipient and founder of award-winning agency Droga5, David Droga.
2. Biometrics: The New Frontier in VR Brand Experience
Monday, 18 June, 11:30 – 12:00 @ Interactive Stage, Palais II
VR has been a stalwart presence at Cannes (and almost every advertising event) for the past few years, but this time it’s back in force – starting with this intriguing talk from tech agency INITION on the future of the medium.
3. The Tongue Paints What Eyes Can’t See: Power of Voice
Tuesday, 19 June, 10:30 – 11:00 @ Interactive Stage, Palais II
This session from Wavemaker and neuroscientist Thom Noble will examine the future of voice assistants and search – with a focus on tangible strategies for brands wanting to carve out an identity for themselves in this new space.
4. The Death of OpenRTB: Blockchain Beyond The Hype
Tuesday, 19 June, 10:00 – 10:45 @ Innovation Stage, Palais II
Join MAD Network, WPP and Omnicom Media Group as they discuss a new open-source blockchain protocol, which aims to address the issues in today’s programmatic marketplace.
5. New Tech: Creating Great Brand Experiences With Augmented Reality
Wednesday, 20 June, 11:30 – 12:00 @ Interactive Stage, Palais II
With Augmented Reality set to take over shopping, gaming and much more – brands are quickly realising the value of this emerging immersive format. Join thought-leaders from Google as they explore how advertisers can harness this new wave of tech.
6. AI Will Kill Creative. AI Will Save Creative
Wednesday, 20 June, 12:30 – 13:00 @ Interactive Stage, Palais II
The debate around man vs machine and AI vs creativity has been raging at Cannes for a while now and, although it may have died down slightly, this latest iteration, with speakers from Accenture Interactive, looks set to reignite the fire.
7. Johnny Marr: A Life in Music
Wednesday, 20 June, 16:00 – 16:45 @ Entertainment Stage, Palais II
What would Cannes Lions be without a session from a superstar musician? Head over to the Palais on Wednesday afternoon for an intimate conversation between Smith’s guitarist and songwriter Johnny Marr and DJ Edith Bowman.
8. Future Five: Reddit – The Largest Focus Group in the World
Thursday, 21 June, 11:00 – 11:30 @ Trends Stage, Palais II
Although not without its controversial moments, Reddit is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with. This talk from the website’s co-founder and CEO Steve Huffman will dig into five key communities defining the next wave of consumer trends on the internet.
9. Hieroglyphics: Pre-Historic Meets Post-Modern
Friday, 22 June, 15:30 – 16:00 @ Debussy Theatre, Palais I
The GIF, a hallmark of 90s dial-up internet, is well and truly back – and it’s only fitting that, in 2018, GIF-gatekeepers GIPHY would be hosting their very own session in the Palais.
10. The Future of Storytelling: Engaging and Influencing Next-Gen Audiences
Friday, 22 June, 10:30 – 11:00 @ Spotlight Stage, Palais II
Join Condé Nast Entertainment President Dawn Ostroff on Friday for a session exploring how advertisers can reach fragmented audiences and the types of storytelling that are connecting with the next generation of consumers.
