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Here I am at the Palais des Festivals as the world of advertising and marketing wakes up to the week-long Cannes Lion Festival.
It has grown bigger in its 60th year. Stalls and tents dot the landscape as you walk down the Promenade de La Croisette or the Little Cross Drive to the venue. The tents are a varied lot, from those put up by production houses to media networks to even some up by participant countries.
Delegates are arriving from every corner of the world, from hot-shot creatives to ad-film makers, production houses, photographers, illustrators, artists, shoot-location specialists, clients, media networks, party hoppers and, yes, the 'lion' hunters.
A quarter of the registrations this year are by clients and their marketing teams. I view this as a good sign, indicating clients want to be on top of the game in brand-building. No better place than here, where there is genuine exchange of ideas and insights.
I did meet some beloved clients on my way here. Ravi Desai and the young team from ITC Foods in Bangalore were on the flight with me.
I am sure there will be many other key Indian advertisers - Pepsi, Unilever, P&G, GSK, Bharti Airtel - who want to be part of the festival.
People call this the Oscars of Advertising and why not? I think it is the Oscars, Olympics and the World Cup of Advertising, all rolled in one.
Which is why every Indian agency worth its work sends entries year after year. Remember, we are competing with the very best in the world and this is truly the most coveted recognition for an Indian advertising professional.
I can't wait to see the work from various category shortlists and winner showcases. The Press Lions, Outdoor Lions, Direct Lions, Media Lions, Radio Lions, Cyber Lions, Promo & Activation Lions, Design Lions, Mobile Lions, Creative Effectiveness Lions, PR Lions, Titanium & Integrated Campaign Lions, Branded Content Lions and, of course, the most coveted Film Lions and Film Craft Lions are all up for grabs. Add to this the awards for Creative Innovations that will feature in the inaugural Innovation Lions this year and the list will be complete.
I also look forward to the Saatchi New Director's Showcase on Wednesday. This will, undoubtedly, be a huge draw and will see a long queue outside the venue. Don't forget the keynote presentations from creative gurus, artists, musicians and actors.
Also, the workshops on skill training, ranging from creative leadership to planning and account management. Plus daily talk sessions on sectoral issues, as well as how to handle new media, not to mention demonstration of cutting-edge work across platforms from print to digital to TV.
If all this isn't enough, there are the amazing beaches, the quaint cobble-stoned villages, the historic artist haunts, seagulls, yachts and a lot more that make Cannes the vibrant place that it is for admen and women.
The author is National Creative Director, JWT India
