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Health & Wellness Lions

The Health and Wellness Lions celebrate creativity for personal wellbeing.

Introduction

The history of the Health & Wellness Lions

Launched in 2014 the Health & Wellness Lions were the product of over 3 years of consultation with the industry, but demand stretched further back than this. The launch of this Lion effectively opened the floodgates for a passionate though heavily regulated industry that had long been seeking its own celebration of creativity.

The first year of Health & Wellness Lions brought many specialists into what was then a new arena which we hoped would help shape the industry. In 2015, the section matured and we saw an even greater spread of ideas championing creativity within the sector.

More recent additions to Health & Wellness include a health tech category; a more clearly defined awareness and advocacy section, plus updated mediums to reflect the award structure of Cannes Lions.

What kind of work can be entered?

Any medium accepted at Cannes Lions is eligible, as long as it’s relevant to health and wellness communications.

Consumer healthcare and wellness work that highlights over-the-counter products, medical devices, or health-focused consumer goods. Work that raises awareness about health issues, educates on prevention or treatment options, or encourages mental health, physical fitness, and mindfulness.

Work addressing societal health challenges, advocating for policy changes, or championing accessibility in healthcare. Innovative uses of technology, such as digital platforms, wearable devices, and immersive experiences, as well as public health campaigns promoting safety or substance abuse prevention.

Additionally work supporting patients on their health journeys and creative medical communications targeting healthcare professionals are also eligible.

What’s the Jury looking for?

An inspired approach to consumer healthcare.

While judging criteria vary by medium, winning work will deliver creative, impactful and original solutions that push boundaries and elevate the standard in Health & Wellness communications.

PAPER ORGANS | TAIWAN ORGAN SHARING REGISTRY AND PATIENT AUTONOMY PROMOTION CENTER | LEO BURNETT TAIWAN, TAIPEI | SILVER, HEALTH & WELLNESS LIONS | 2024

The Categories

To enter into the Health & Wellness Lions, you must first select the sector/category (direct to consumer, regulated, non-regulated and veterinary) for your piece of work. Then you select the relevant medium.

The categories in Health & Wellness are representative of the sector and the mediums are reflective of the types, and the forms of the work being entered. The mediums very closely follow the specialisms of the Lions, for example, Brand Experience & Activation or Creative Data.

A. Consumer Products Promotion

Work created to drive choice for a specific branded product that does not require prescription but provides either a meaningful health benefit or supports personal wellbeing.

B. Health Awareness & Advocacy

Work that promotes general health awareness, encourages proactive personal care or inspires advocacy and donations for legitimate health related causes.

C. Health Services & Corporate Communications

Work created to communicate a health brand ethos through public-facing corporate image campaigns or directly promote public health services and facilities, medical insurance and financial plans.

D. Animal Health

Mediums

Line Gold

The mediums are a type of subcategory found in Health & Wellness Lions and Pharma Lions only and are chosen by the entrant in addition to the category for each submitted piece of work.

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?

The same piece of work may be entered into the Health & Wellness Lions or the Pharma Lions.

There is no overall limit to how many times the same piece of work can be entered into Health & Wellness as long as the categories and mediums chosen are relevant.

VASELINE SUNITIZER | UNILEVER | VML, JAKARTA | BRONZE, HEALTH & WELLNESS LIONS | 2024

Previous Winners

The Last Barf Bag

Cannes Lions 2024 Grand Prix FCB Chicago / Dramamine / 2024

Through a museum, e-commerce platform and documentary, Dramamine created an ode to the humble sick bag it claims to have made redundant. It lifted the anti-nausea brand’s Amazon sales by 26%.

THE LAST BARF BAG | DRAMAMINE | FCB CHICAGO | GRAND PRIX, HEALTH & WELLNESS LIONS | 2024

Why the work won

The Health & Wellness Jury awarded this work the Grand Prix for its use of humour and cultural integration. Jury President Wendy Chan praised it for taking an “unexpected, light-hearted way in” and demonstrating that “a brand of any size can cut through a crowded market”.

THE LAST BARF BAG | DRAMAMINE | FCB CHICAGO | GRAND PRIX, HEALTH & WELLNESS LIONS | 2024

Inside the Jury Room: Health & Wellness 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?

Individual judging criteria is dependent on the medium selected

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 a preview of the questions you’ll be asked regarding your work.

To start your entry to the Health and Wellness 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

STOP BULLYING | STOP-BULLYING.GOV.GR | OGILVY, ATHENS | BRONZE, HEALTH & WELLNESS 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.

Information and advice on how to enter

We are here to help

As Awards Experts, we know the Lions inside out. We can help with:

  • Sharing the updates to the Awards for 2025
  • Offering best-practice advice on how to craft a compelling entry
  • Discussing your work and relevant categories
  • Scheduling regular catch-ups to answer any questions that arise throughout the entry process.

Whether you have a specific query or would like expert advice, get in touch today.

Email: awards@canneslions.com Helpline: +44 0 20 7046 1155