Film Craft Lions
The Film Craft Lions celebrate on-screen artistry.
On this page
Introduction
The history of the Film Craft Lions
The Film Craft Lions were launched in 2010 to celebrate the skill and artistry involved in the various elements of the filmmaking process. They provide a space for entries to be judged and recognised based on the excellence of a specific aspect of the film's production, whether it be direction, cinematography, editing, or other craft disciplines.
Since their introduction, the Film Craft Lions have grown significantly, evolving alongside the expanding complexity of the production and post production process, highlighting the impact of craftsmanship in all areas of filmmaking.
What kind of work can be entered?
Eligible work may include outstanding achievements in areas such as direction, cinematography, editing, sound design, visual effects, animation, and use of music.
The Lion celebrates individual elements of a film's creation, from the smallest detail to the most complex production and post production aspects, ensuring that every facet of filmmaking, from concept to execution, is honoured.
What’s the Jury looking for?
The work should demonstrate technical excellence that enhances the storytelling and emotional impact of the film. It should also show originality, precision, and attention to detail, assessing how each element contributes to the overall narrative and audience experience. The work should push the boundaries of craftsmanship, demonstrating a high level of creativity while elevating the film’s message.
WHOEVER BREATHES, NEEDS THE SEA. | GREANPEACE | TEAM FARNER, ZURICH | BRONZE, FILM CRAFT LIONS | 2024
The Categories
A. Production
The vision and achievement of the direction, including the translation of the creative brief through a director’s vision and how well that vision has been achieved. This may include but is not limited to the way that casting, set design, sound design and cinematography have been used to bring that vision to life.
The film’s script, as written. Analysis of the script will include dialogue, voiceovers, scene setting, movement, actions and expressions. This analysis will also look at how successfully the script delivers on the creative idea and supports the final execution.
You're required to provide a written English translation of the script as part of your submission.
The vision and achievement of the casting. This Includes but is not limited to the pre-production selection of actors, dancers, singers, models, non-professionals, animals and other talent.
It's highly recommended to provide a two-minute demo film showcasing the casting process in addition to the film as it aired.
The aesthetic of the production design/art direction. This includes set design and location builds, as well as the overall look, feel and atmosphere of the piece and how the narrative has been enhanced by the artful management of the visual components.
The quality and effect of the cinematography. The style, artistic choices, camerawork, cinematic techniques, shot composition, lighting and other effects will be considered.
The impact and success of original music compositions, created specifically for film advertisements. The artistic achievement of the track itself will be considered, along with its contribution to the piece as a whole.
The selection of licensed or adapted music. The way a track supports the script, creates the necessary atmosphere or otherwise delivers on the creative brief will be considered.
The overall success of a film, assessed within the context of its individual ambitions and challenges. Scale of production, budget constraints, technical issues, challenges faced during the production process and how the production team made best use of resources available to them to achieve the final execution will be considered.
It's highly recommended to provide a two-minute demo film showcasing the production process, e.g. a ‘making-of’ or ‘behind the scenes’ film, in addition to the film as it aired.
B. Post-Production
The technical and creative success of the edit. All aspects of the film’s edit will be considered. This includes but is not limited to timing, pace, visual dynamics, dialogue dynamics, sound integration and overall storytelling.
The overall achievement in colour correction and grading to create consistent and stylised colour schemes that evoke a specific emotion and transform the final look of the film. This could include, but not be limited to, how the grading works cohesively with the lighting, production design and direction to affect and enhance the mood, feel and interpretation of the final footage.
It's highly recommended to provide a two-minute demo film showcasing the before and after effects of correction/grading.
The creative use of sound design within film advertising. Technical excellence in recording, mixing and the synthesis of samples and sound effects will be considered, along with the cohesion of the edit and its impact on the overall piece.
The use and aesthetic of animation in film. All types of animation, including cell, stop-motion, graphic, silhouette and computer animation in 2D or 3D, will be accepted. For films that include both animation and live action, it will be the animation that is judged.
The creation of film environments and other visual effects, including the aesthetic and technical excellence of the effects themselves along with the success of their integration into real footage.
It's highly recommended to provide a two-minute demo film showcasing how the visual effects were created.
Eligibility
Work will need to have been executed during the eligibility period of 8 February 2024 - 10 April 2025.
Is there a limit to how many times I can enter?
There is no overall limit to how many times the same piece of work can be entered into Film Craft.
Each execution constitutes one entry.
ASHE VERSUS | MODERNA, INC. | THE YOUTH, CURITIBA | GOLD, FILM CRAFT LIONS | 2024
Previous Winners
The Square Meter
Cannes Lions 2024 Grand Prix HeimatTBWA\ , Berlin / HORNBACH D.I.Y. / Home Improvement Superstores / 2024
To improve brand perception among Germany’s younger generation living with the cost of living crisis, HORNBACH D.I.Y. Home Improvement Superstores created a short film showing how creativity can thrive in cramped spaces. It resulted in a 5% increase in brand preference, making HORNBACH the number one choice in its segment.
THE SQUARE METER | HORNBACH D.I.Y. / HOME IMPROVEMENT SUPERSTORES | HEIMATTBWA\, BERLIN | GRAND PRIX, FILM CRAFT LIONS | 2024
Why the work won
The Film Craft Jury awarded this work the Grand Prix due to its extraordinary attention to detail and technical mastery across various touchpoints. Jury President Prasoon Pandey commended the work for demonstrating that no category, regardless of perceived interest or complexity, is inherently low in potential. He emphasised, "There’s no such thing as a low interest category," highlighting the transformative power of creativity and craftsmanship.
Pandey further remarked, “It is what you make of it. How far are you willing to push it?” His statement reflects the work's ability to elevate its category through meticulous execution, pushing boundaries to deliver a compelling and impactful result.
![](http://images.ctfassets.net/vjs6vfoxg7y6/56QYU2njFrAARJbVwpS5Mc/d0fad8485cc45ae80bea65c72db73fb8/image1__1_.webp?w=1168)
THE SQUARE METER | HORNBACH D.I.Y. / HOME IMPROVEMENT SUPERSTORES | HEIMATTBWA\, BERLIN | GRAND PRIX, FILM CRAFT LIONS | 2024
Inside the Jury Room: Film Craft Lions
To hear more from the Jury and how they decided on the winning work, check out the video below.
Entries & Judging
What are the judging criteria?
The main criterion considered during judging will be the execution.
What do I need to provide with my entry?
To enter, you’ll need to complete an online entry form, which can be found on the Cannes Lions entry site. In the ‘Written Explanation’ section, you’ll be asked to provide the Jury with everything they need to know about your work.
You’ll also be able to submit optional supporting materials to provide additional context with your entry.
All case films, films, demo films and original content must be subtitled in English.
Detailed information outlining the entry process can be found on A Guide to the Cannes Lions Awards.
What if I don’t have all the details right away?
Don’t worry – you can fill in the form in any order and save your progress at any time while it’s still in the pending stage. However, please only check out when your entry is 100% complete as no changes can be made to your entry once you’ve clicked “Submit” and “Checkout”.
The Written Submission
Here’s the questions you’ll be asked regarding your work.
To start your entry to the Film Craft Lions, go to our Awards page.
The Jury will refer to the written explanation you provide throughout the judging process. Our advice is to provide as much relevant detail as possible.
When answering the following questions keep the main element you’re trying to celebrate in mind (e.g. the storytelling, the strategy, the craft, the use of data).
The bullet points under each question are prompts designed to guide your thinking, based on the factors the jury will be considering when reviewing your work. You might not need to use them all, and that’s totally fine. They’re there to help you consider what’s most important in your work.
Questions
The word limit for this section is 100 words.
This question is compulsory.
Please provide any brand and cultural context that would help the jury understand any cultural, national or regional nuances applicable to this work.
You should outline why this piece of work was created for this particular brand, in this market, at this particular moment in time, with all of the cultural and market conditions.
The word limit for this section is 250 words.
This question is compulsory.
Do not comment on the brief / challenges / success of the film.
The word limit for this section is 250 words.
This question is compulsory.
Please select the objective(s) that were most important when creating this work – what the work set out to achieve.
For the jury to accurately assess the work, it must first establish its objectives. As you progress through the entry system, you must link your results back to each objective selected.
- Overachieve on brand metrics (e.g. awareness, engagement)
- Change consumer behaviour (e.g. attitudes, frequency, penetration)
- Create short-term sales growth (e.g. sales, promotions, discounts)
- Improve brand health (e.g. consideration, preference)
- Create sustained sales success (e.g. profit, sales)
- Create long-term brand and sales growth (e.g. shareholder value, retention, loyalty)
There is no word limit for this section.
This question is compulsory.
Please provide a summary of your entry.
- describe the background and context behind the work
- what creative challenges did the work face
This should be an overview of the work and an analysis of its effectiveness. You should describe how the objectives of the campaign have been successfully met.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory.
- Yes
- No
This question is compulsory.
I would like the Jury to see this response when judging this work (tick box)
Please outline how this piece of work has aligned with the brand’s sustainability strategy. This could involve either operational measures to reduce the impact on the environment, and consumer strategies to encourage positive behaviour change, or both.
Please provide details of the benchmarks used for measuring the success of this piece of work’s contribution to the overall strategy. This could include, but is not limited to, targets around advertising business operations - advertising production - media planning and buying.
This question is optional.
I would like the Jury to see this response when judging this work (tick box)
Based on the brief, what consideration was given to representation and diversity of the team(s) involved?
What consideration was given to accessibility in the work and what role did DEI thinking play throughout the development of the work?
This question is optional.
If there are additional results you wish to disclose to the Jury but prefer to keep confidential, please enter them below.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is optional.
Category Specific Questions
Tell the Jury anything relevant about the direction.
Do not name the director.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is optional for A01.
Provide the full film script in English.
There is no word limit for this section.
This question is compulsory for A02.
Tell the Jury about the casting process.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is optional for A03.
Tell the Jury about the production design/art direction.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is optional for A04.
Tell the Jury anything relevant about the cinematography.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is optional for A05.
Tell the Jury about the creation of the original music track.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is optional for A06.
Tell the Jury about the choice of music track.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is optional for A07.
Tell the Jury about the ambitions & challenges of production process.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory for A08.
Tell the Jury anything relevant about the edit.
Do not name the editor.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is optional for B01.
Tell the Jury about the colour grading.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is optional for B02.
Tell the Jury about the sound design.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is optional for B03.
Tell the Jury the animation used and summarise any relevant challenges or techniques.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is optional for B04.
Tell the Jury about the visual effects and summarise any relevant challenges or techniques.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is optional for B05.
JINDAL STEEL- THE STEEL OF INDIA | JINDAL STEEL AND POWER | EARLY MAN FILM PVT LTD, MUMBAI | SILVER, FILM CRAFT LIONS | 2024
Contact us
Everything you need to know to enter
For more detailed information on how to use the entry site, craft a compelling submission or submit your work we have a whole range of resources.
From Entry Guides that give you a step-by-step overview of the entire process to the Entry Kits that provide all the detailed rules and requirements for each and every category.
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Whether you have a specific query or would like expert advice, get in touch today.
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