Cannes Lions announces Kim Gehrig as Film Craft Jury President

Cannes Lions has announced that Kim Gehrig, Director, Somesuch, has been appointed as the 2023 Film Craft Jury President. The Lion award winning director will lead the Film Craft jury in Cannes, France, to set the global benchmark for creative excellence in exceptional filmmaking and on-screen artistry.  

Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS, said about the appointment, “Kim’s body of Lion-winning work showcases her exceptional talent and artistry. Her work with Libresse, which includes the Dan Wieden Titanium Lion winning ‘Viva La Vulva’, has been highly lauded at Cannes Lions and her portfolio demonstrates her remarkable ability to change and shape culture. We’re honoured to have Kim onboard with us and look forward to seeing the results of her and her jury’s discussions when they award the Film Craft Lions in June.”

Working internationally across commercials, film and music for over 14 years, Kim has a reputation for empowering, human and technically inventive work. As a leading commercials and music video director, she is a pioneering female voice. Her celebrated commercial ‘This Girl Can’ for Sport England won the Grand Prix for Good and prefigured a global explosion in women's sport. The campaign was credited with inspiring over 2.8 million women to take up a new weekly sport. Later that year, she also directed ‘Man on the Moon’, the first John Lewis Christmas commercial directed by a woman.

With an eye to removing the stigma around female genitalia on screen, ‘Viva La Vulva’, was an irreverent commercial for Libresse. The work united an animated cast of vulvas in a rousing singalong. It went on to win 13 Lions, including a prestigious Glass: The Lion for Change. In 2019, her work continued to make waves as she continued her mission to inspire women in sport with ‘Dream Crazier’ for Nike.

About her appointment, Kim said, “As a director, I am only as good as my collaborators. Every aspect of film craft, from writing and casting to shooting, editing, and post-production, is the result of the combined efforts of a talented team of people. It's the alchemy of these people and their crafts that elevates a piece of film beyond what we could even dream of. For me, the art of filmmaking is the reason I get up every morning, and that's why I'm deeply honoured to serve as the President of the Cannes Lions Film Craft Jury this year. I'm excited to see all the incredible work that's been produced and to revel in the artistry of my fellow filmmakers.”

Cannes Lions takes place between 19-23 June and will provide an annual forum for the global industry to address the most pressing issues that they and the world are facing today, as well as setting the global benchmark for creative excellence through the awarding of the Lions. Awards submissions, as well as registration to attend Cannes Lions are currently open. Further information on this year’s Jury Presidents, as well as the Festival, the Lions Awards and LIONS Membership can be found at canneslions.com.