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Call for Content Guide 2025

Make history by speaking on the most coveted stage in the creative industry.

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Welcome

Welcome to your step-by-step guide to submitting a session proposal for the Cannes Lions Content Programme. Explore different speaking opportunities, get practical tips to craft a strong content proposal, and delve into the Guiding Principles for a stand-out piece of content at Cannes Lions. Here's all you need to know to develop and submit your idea.

First time submitting content to Cannes Lions?

If you’ve never submitted a content proposal to us before we encourage you to read through this guide thoroughly. It covers everything you’ll need to craft a strong content proposal and maximise your chance of taking to the stage at Cannes Lions 2025.

And if you still have questions or can’t find what you’re looking for, our Content team team is on hand to help.

Spoken at Cannes Lions before?

If this is not your first rodeo and you are looking for more specific information about 2025, such as key dates or the Content Streams, use the side navigation to quickly locate it.

Where to start

What is Cannes Lions

Cannes Lions is where the entire global creative communications industry comes together. The Festival is your chance to celebrate creativity in all its forms – helping prove its effectiveness and shape its future.

Speaking at the Festival is a seminal career moment. Your on-stage opportunity to reach thousands of decision-makers and thought leaders from the world’s most powerful agencies, brands and media owners.

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Who attends?

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The Festival Programme

What are we looking for?

We are always looking for brand new, fresh perspectives and ideas to take the stage at Cannes Lions. And more importantly, we believe that creativity can come from anywhere.

  1. We want to bring voices from around the world to the global stage at Cannes Lions.

  2. We want to draw inspiration from a broader and more diverse spectrum of creative disciplines that will help inspire your work.

  3. We want to deliver practical insights that will help you be the best you can be at every stage of your creative career. From creatives, marketers, strategists and CEOs, from Young Lion to Lion St. Mark.

  4. We want the Cannes Lions programme to educate, inspire and entertain.

So with that in mind, have you got something for the Cannes Lions Stage?

Speaking opportunities

There are three ways to participate in the Festival Content Programme:

1. Submit a content proposal for the Cannes Lions Content Programme

Here's your opportunity to craft a content session from scratch. If you're up for it, then we'll ask you to provide more details about your proposed topic, the speakers, your session format, and more. Once you're ready, you'll need to submit your session proposal via the submission link. See ‘How to craft a strong session proposal’.

2. Nominate a speaker to join an existing content session

Join an existing content session that Cannes Lions has put together as a speaker or a moderator. We're looking for legends of the creative world, underrepresented voices igniting change, future-looking trendsetters, global CMOs and more. Explore different content sessions we're planning for the next year and see if there's a fit for you. See 'Nominate a speaker to join an existing content session' in this guide.

3. Get involved in the LIONS Creators Programme

You can also submit an idea specifically for our LIONS Creators Programme shaping the future of the creator economy. Find out more in the ‘LIONS Creators’ section in this guide.

Key dates

Call for Content Opens: 7 November 2024

Closes: 31 December 2024

See section ‘Deadlines and Timelines’ for more detail.

2025 Festival Content Streams

There are five Content Streams at Cannes Lions. The Content Streams are designed to help our audience navigate the broad range of topics, skills and trends shaping the future of the creative industry.

Before you submit your content proposal, have a look at the descriptions below. This is not an exhaustive list but should give you a sense of what would be hyper-relevant to the Cannes Lions audience. If you can present answers to any of these or related questions, we want to hear from you.

Insights and Trends - Icon

Focuses on the strategic challenges, consumer behaviours, cultural shifts and creative thinking driving the industry forward.

We’re specifically looking for content that addresses any of the following and more:

1. Your consumer playbook: How to connect with always-evolving audiences by understanding their obsessions and the trends that guide them

2. Turn culture into a competitive advantage: Do you drive product, service and brand innovation by tapping into culture? Show us how.

3. The meteoric rise of the indie: Does the future belong to specialised independent agencies? And what can they teach us about the business of creativity?

4. How not to fail in today's polarised world: How to navigate geopolitical tensions, data privacy challenges, ad fraud, supply chain disruptions and other significant world challenges

5. Survive budget brutality: Do more with less, and balance short-term tactics and long-term brand building when budgets are tight

Innovation Unwrapped icon

Innovation Unwrapped

Is your guide to the pioneers, technologies and transformations already shaping tomorrow.

We’re specifically looking for content that addresses any of the following and more:

1. Must-know global innovators: From the latest creative tech innovations to the world’s most disruptive brands, what can be learnt about original thinking from the pioneers behind them?

2. Not tech for tech’s sake: How to ensure innovation efforts are driving real growth, truly understanding why and what you need to innovate

3. Unlock transformation: How to turn breakthrough creative ideas into brand, product, service and business transformation

4. Innovation – it’s a journey: Examples of innovation driving progress and business growth, showcasing what it takes to embed innovation as part of a long-term brand strategy

5. Step up your game in gaming: Connecting people to brand through gaming and the role of new immersive technologies in the latest gameplay

6. Sustainable innovation to save our planet: Who are the pioneers paving the way for a better future, and how are they leveraging creativity to tackle climate change?

The Creativity Toolbox icon

The Creativity Toolbox

Examines the craft, processes and techniques to help you achieve creative excellence.

We’re specifically looking for content that addresses any of the following and more:

1. Skills to succeed: In a world obsessed with technology and automation, what are the skills needed to supercharge the creative’s toolbox?

2. Borrowing from other disciplines: Film directors, actors, musicians, artists – what can different creative visionaries teach us about creative processes?

3. Finding the unexpected: How to connect the dots between different artistic disciplines (music, gaming, design, fashion, photography, etc.) to spark new ideas

4. Stakeholder management: In the age of ROI obsession and budget constraints, how to communicate your ideas to non-creative stakeholders?

5. Storytellers or story-makers: The latest tools and techniques behind breakthrough storytelling

Talent and Cultures icon

Talent and Cultures

Is all about the people and practices behind creative organisations that thrive.

We’re specifically looking for content that addresses any of the following and more:

1. The next generation of talent: What we need to do to nurture the next wave of industry professionals – prioritising creative freedom, mental health, inclusive cultures, flexibility and more

2. Let’s tackle burnout: How to build a burnout-resistant creative team and prioritise mental well-being over the fast-paced nature of the creative profession

3. DEI: Are we moving backwards? What are some of the most common threats to DEI today, and what are the practical steps to continue driving progress?

4. The modern leaders' skill set: Practical tools to enhance emotional intelligence, motivate multiple generations of talent and guide a global team effectively

5. Make space for creativity: How to innovate creative practices and free up creative oxygen for teams to be more productive

6. Beyond ‘bravery’: What role does leadership play in nurturing the culture of creative risk-taking? Tackle key challenges when it comes to producing category-breaking and boundary-pushing creative work

Creative Impact icon

Creative Impact

Serves as the ultimate guide to proving the value and effectiveness of creativity.

We’re specifically looking for content that addresses any of the following and more:

1. Does effectiveness mean different things globally? Delve into local effectiveness stories and global insights to uncover tools to build a culture of effectiveness in your organisation

2. New voices driving creative impact: New research, unexpected success stories and provocative perspectives that can help drive growth through creativity

3. Reclaim creativity and avoid the sea of sameness: New strategies to differentiate creative work and break the mould of standardisation

4. The language of effectiveness: How to translate a ‘crazy idea’ into a business-wide change and make the case for creativity to chief financial officers, clients and other key stakeholders

5. Sustainability X creative impact: Discover the role of sustainability in long-term brand building and how to measure its impact

6. Powered by Gen Z and Gen Alpha: Do the traditional techniques of customer segmentation still work – and why do you need to understand not only how to capture but also measure Gen Z and Gen Alpha's attention?

Content Guiding Principles

What makes a stand-out piece of content at Cannes Lions?

We have examined the highest-rated talks at Cannes Lions over the years, and they all share these Guiding Principles. Your session proposal will be reviewed against these Guiding Principles, so stress-test your ideas against each principle before submitting.

1. Break out of the echo chamber

Inspire the global creative community with unconventional thinking and original problem-solving. We're looking for ideas challenging the industry, disrupting the status quo, or driving significant change. The proposed content session must premiere at the Cannes Lions.

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What we’re looking for

A session proposal that brings in a plethora of perspectives, outside of the industry norms and stereotypes associated with this topic. It's either brand-new thinking or a totally fresh perspective on an age-old challenge. It's boundary-busting, game-changing, Titanium-esque thinking.

What we’re not looking for

Content that has been seen before. Submissions that reinforce industry norms and ideas. There is no consideration given to alternative perspectives. It's the same people, talking about the same stuff.

2. Define a single, clear message. Stick to it. And go deep.

Focus on one thing. Be clear about what you're saying or what you're trying to address. And cover it in depth and with due diligence. Don’t just skim the surface. It's our job at Cannes Lions to curate a holistic content programme that speaks to all of the hottest topics in the industry, so you don't need to. What is the key message you want the audience to think about? Dive as deep as you can into the topic. Remember, if you have more content session ideas/topics, you can enter multiple session proposals. But make sure each has a single message and clear purpose.

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What we’re looking for

A key message that’s so clear and with such depth and expertise that an audience member will feel knowledgeable when they walk away.

What we’re not looking for

Ideas that have no clear direction – covering several topics and issues and answering none of them in depth. An audience member will walk out of the talk without a clear understanding of what they've just learnt or say it skimmed the surface.

3. Be upfront about what the audience will practically take away

We encourage you to answer a simple question throughout your talk – so what? What will the Cannes Lions audience gain from attending your talk? Show us how it's done, offer step-by-step guides, help the audience learn from your mistakes, and ultimately offer practical takeaways in exchange for their time and attention.

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What we’re looking for

Content session ideas where it’s abundantly clear what the audience will gain from attending. The takeaways stand out. Your talk's audience will feel a generous return on investment from attending.

What we’re not looking for

Submissions that make you say, "that's cool, but so what?" It's not clear what the audience will gain by attending this talk.

4. Ask (and answer) the difficult questions. Provoke, challenge, incite

Don't play it safe. The best sessions at Cannes Lions answer the questions everyone is dying to ask out loud. SO be daring and provocative. There's creativity to be discovered in provocation. This could be your moment to step out on stage at Cannes Lions and speak to the world's best problem-solvers. And what do problem-solvers want? To be challenged! No one wants to hear what they already know. It's as simple as that. So disrupt, challenge, incite.

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What we’re looking for

A content session that truly challenges assumptions and offers new (and radical) ideas. It's not only asking but providing the answers to the really thorny questions.

What we’re not looking for

Ideas that are 'playing it safe'.

5. Make sure it's hyper-relevant to the Cannes Lions audience

Ensure your idea resonates with the creative challenges of the Cannes Lions audience today. If you feel you could lift your idea and present it on stage elsewhere, it's probably not right for Cannes Lions. The tools, tips and thought leadership you share will need to apply to creatives, marketers, strategists, creative business leaders and many more. Will it help them do their jobs better? Know who you're trying to reach and keep them in mind at all times in your session proposal.

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What we’re looking for

Something that uses creative examples and could be used straight away by the audience when they return to their day jobs – even if your ideas and examples are not from the creative industry.

What we’re not looking for

Broad, generic presentations that don’t reflect the real world our industry operates in.

6. All content must have DE&I at every level

Before submitting, please ensure your content session reflects the world at large. Does it speak to a global audience? Is your session inclusive? Could it offer a diversity of thought? Go beyond the industry: liaise with professionals from fields such as film, philosophy, art and music who are strongly connected with creativity and what the creative community cares about. Seek input from underrepresented voices in the industry to provide a different perspective. At LIONS, all of our content has diversity, equity and inclusion as part of its core values. We won't move forward with any content submission that does not meet our values.

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What we’re looking for

A session proposal that has deeply considered diversity, equity and inclusion – both in the selection of speakers to represent the content and in the core ideas and perspectives presented.

What we’re not looking for

Session proposals rooted in Western-centric ideals and reinforcing stereotypes through a lack of representation and/or a lack of bringing in underrepresented voices, thoughts and perspectives.

7. Be a storyteller and build an authentic connection

You're not onstage to sell a product. You're there to serenade the audience. To create a connection, rather than a transaction. We’re not looking for sales pitches: we want progression. Make sure your speakers have a strong, authentic, personal connection to the topic. Our audience will know if they don't. And if you can, don’t just tell, show. People love to see examples of work. Creatives are visual people. Think of how you want the audience to feel when they walk out of that theatre – joy, sadness, anger, excitement – and set out to make them feel it. Be a storyteller.

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What we’re looking for

A story that makes people feel something – an emotional connection that you build with your audience.

What we’re not looking for

Sales pitches about your company or business.

8. Bring it to life. Be original in your format.

What can you do to stand out? People want to connect with what's happening on stage. Think about different ways you can involve your audience. Go beyond a panel discussion format or a traditional keynote. Share your wildest idea or a super experiential format. Your content session will be competing with dozens of other events happening at the same time so be creative with the format. Dare to be bold. We dare ya!

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What we’re looking for

Originality and a splash of theatre. Innovate in the way you tell your story on stage. Bring a demo, introduce props, use some innovative audiovisual components. Something that gets people talking.

What we’re not looking for

Dull, overused formats with a panel of people that don’t bring anything new to the debate. If you’re doing an interview or panel, then prepare for it as much as you would a presentation with visuals to illustrate the points you’re making.

How to craft a strong session proposal

Thousands of people worldwide apply for a limited number of slots so craft your pitch wisely. We want to see the new, fresh thinking in your proposal.

Think about your content session format

Make your time on stage an unmissable show that grabs your audience's attention.

How can you make their experience unforgettable? We're not looking for traditional panel discussions. Be innovative, make a splash, and wow the audience with your creativity.

Some formats to consider:

Workshop - learning experiences with interaction, challenges, and working tasks

Demonstrations - maybe you have a new innovation to share or a live experiment? Show the audience, get them involved, don’t just tell!

Performances - could your idea be better showcased through an artistic performance, whether that is through dance, music, or art?

There are many ways to elevate your talk:

  • Lightning talks or pecha-kucha-style
  • Provocative interviews
  • Supporting props
  • Audience quizzing and polling
  • Bringing in subject-matter experts
  • Debuting research
  • Unveiling an exclusive or announcement
  • Premiering a film

What makes a good speaker?

We're looking for creative problem-solvers, inspiring leaders, future-looking innovators, and more. This is your chance to connect with the global creative community.

Here's a quick checklist before you share your speaker nomination:

  • Will they challenge assumptions and offer new ideas?

  • Can they speak to a global audience?

  • Do they have the authority to speak on the chosen series?

  • Will they deliver practical tools and learnings and avoid giving a sales pitch?

  • Will they be willing to collaborate with our team to deliver the best content session for our audience?

Underrepresented voices

Anyone can apply to speak at Cannes Lions.

After the Festival, we conducted an audit of the speakers proposed in the 2024 Call for Content and compared this to the speakers that took to the stage.

Over time we've seen improved gender representation in your session proposals, but we'd like to see greater consideration given to voices from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in the speakers proposed to us in the Call for Content.



Women

Stats-Women

Underrepresented racial and ethnic groups

Stats Underrepresented racial and ethnic groups

We work with all our content hosts to help them bring a more diverse line-up of talent to our stage, and we will continue to do that. But for now, we ask you to think about this when planning your idea.

Challenge your own proposal

Why does the Cannes Lions audience need to hear your idea? Here are some practical questions to challenge your perspective and craft a compelling session proposal.

  • Is this idea new, fresh and timely?

  • Does this idea have a clear direction and will go into depth about the topic?

  • What would be the ROI for attending this content session?

  • Does this idea have the power to be provocative and ask hard-hitting questions?

  • How will your idea resonate with the Cannes Lions audience?

  • Is Diversity, Equity and Inclusion considered in every level of this idea? (In the speakers suggested, the sources of research, campaigns)

  • Do the speakers have the authority to speak on this subject?

  • Are you thinking out-of-the-box with your format?

Need some help?

We’re happy to help workshop your ideas. Get in touch with us at content@canneslions.com

Nominate a speaker to join an existing content session

The other route to becoming a speaker at Cannes Lions 2025 is by nominating yourself or others to join a session in one of our existing content series.

These include:

  • Festival Meet-ups

  • Changemakers

  • Creatives on the Terrace

  • CMOs in the Spotlight

  • Future Gazers

  • Creators

Calling all moderators

We are looking for excellent interviewers with a journalistic background, inquisitive mind, and a talent for getting the best out of speakers.

If you aren’t sure which series is right for you, you can still apply. The Content Production team will match up the right speaker to the best content session.

Festival Meet-Ups

Content-led networking sessions hosted by high-profile industry leaders and legends of the creative world.

Format:
1-2 Speakers, 1 hour session

Who we’re looking for:
Passionate and engaging speakers to lend their expertise, energise, interact with and facilitate a group of people.

Meet ups stage

Changemakers

Format
A mix of individual presentations and interviews

Who we’re looking for
Inspiring leaders who can demonstrate how they moved the needle on making the world a better place.

Available slots
10+

Changemakers

Creatives on the Terrace

Top creatives delve into the power and magic of creativity covering craft, processes and inspiration.

Format
3 Creatives + 1 moderator, individual quick-fire presentations followed by a group discussion)

Who we’re looking for
Creative risk-takers with bold ideas and sharp execution from CCOs to musicians, writers, designers, chefs, and anyone in the creative field.

Available slots
15

Creatives on the terrace

CMOs in the Spotlight

Global CMOs from some of the most innovative brands dissect pressing challenges and articulate their vision and strategy into actionable insights for the industry.

Format
3 CMOs + 1 moderator, 45-minute group discussion

Who we’re looking for
Visionary CMOs from all over the world who don’t speak in PR statements but share candid actionable insights.

Available slots
15

CMOs in the spotlight

Future Gazers

Trendsetters sparking cross-pollination of impactful ideas and igniting nuanced thinking around the possibilities of tomorrow.

Format 3 Future Gazers + 1 moderator, 45-minute session (presentations and a discussion)

Who we’re looking for Original thinkers who can unpick trends shaping the industry, society or culture.

Available slots 15

Future gazers

LIONS Creators - how to get involved

What is LIONS Creators

Get ready for LIONS Creators where creators, brands, agencies, platforms, and investors collide to shape the future of the creator economy. This is your chance to share bold strategies, spark new ideas, and bridge the gap between creativity and business.

We’re here to celebrate creative bravery—showing what works and what doesn’t—and uncover the hidden potential within the creator ecosystem. So let's have honest conversations and deep insights that cut to the chase.

Hot topics we’ll tackle in the LIONS Creators programme:

  • Build sustainable creator businesses. It’s not about virality – it’s about longevity. Let’s hear from the trailblazers on how to build communities, IPs, brands and empires – step by step.

  • Master the craft and storytelling. Creators are some of the most inventive, prolific and effective storytellers. What does great look like? And how do they do it? Let’s spotlight what authenticity, rich imagination and mad skills can do.

  • Bridge the creator–brand gap. Let’s fix the disconnect. Creators and brands often talk past each other, leading to missed opportunities. This is your chance to help align goals, build better relationships and unlock the real business potential in creator partnerships.

  • Prove the business impact of creator marketing. The impact of creator marketing is still under scrutiny. Let’s break down the double standards between the effectiveness of traditional and creator-driven campaigns. Share new ways to prove value and shift the perception of what truly drives business impact.

  • Shape an inclusive creator economy. Let’s leave performative posturing and buzzwords behind and talk about making the creator economy fairer for everyone. How are you moving the needle toward inclusivity, and what can we truly do to make the system more equitable for all?

  • Integrate into the creator economy. The rules are changing. The role and influence of creators are evolving. Where are brands and agencies on their journey of getting the most out of this maturing landscape? Share firsthand stories of what’s working, what’s not and where we’re headed.

Who should submit:

  • Creators building their brands and finding new ways to expand their businesses

  • Brand marketers who’ve cracked the creator-marketing code

  • Venture capitalists and investors supporting creator-led businesses

  • Advertising agencies focused on creator marketing and cutting-edge strategies

  • Platforms with transparent insights about tools, algorithms, and monetisation strategies

How to get involved in the LIONS Creators programme

  1. Do you have a great idea for a standalone talk, a multispeaker presentation, a workshop or other form to present your idea? Submit your idea here. You can specify it’s for ‘LIONS Creators’ when choosing the area you want to be considered for. Just a heads-up: we’re not into panels – so let your creativity run wild.

  2. No specific idea yet, but you're a natural at sparking conversations and bouncing off other speakers? Nominate yourself or someone else for a spot in one of the series’ sessions such as Creatives on the Terrace, Future Gazers, Changemakers, CMOs in the Spotlight or Meet-ups.

  3. Master at guiding discussions, digging out the best insights, and letting others shine? Step up as a moderator.

How to submit

Submission forms

When you get to the submissions form, you will have the ability to ‘Save for Later’ so you can edit your submission before you submit it to be reviewed.

Please fill out all the fields to ensure that the Content Team has as much information as they need to evaluate your speakers and ideas. You can submit multiple times. To view or edit your submissions, follow the link in your confirmation email.

Nominate a Speaker
Submit a Session Proposal

Deadlines and timelines

7th November 2024

Open for session proposals and nominations

31st December 2024

Final deadline, no more session proposals or nominations after this date

January – February 2025

The Content team will review all completed submissions.

February – March 2025

The Content team will reach out to all proposals they’re interested in.

March – May 2025

If selected, you’ll be assigned a dedicated team member to work with you to develop your content session and speakers right up to the Festival.

April 2025

The Cannes Lions 2025 Festival Programme is announced. You’ll continue to work with the Content team on your storyboard and technical delivery of your content session.

June 2025

See you in Cannes for your technical check, and then…showtime!



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FAQs

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