This year, the SA Beach House will be themed as ‘Your place under the Sun'. CFC commissioner Laurence Mitchell says, “We have decided on the theme as it accurately depicts the full value chain experience that South Africa offers, in terms of its location and service offerings. This includes the spirit of ‘Ubuntu' in welcoming all visitors to South Africa, our international clients, the people of South Africa, their warmth and culture.
“We are asking you as our clients to ‘step into our office' in Cannes and find ‘Your place under the Sun'. We would like a sophisticated sleek-looking venue that draws attention but adherence to the essence of being a South African.”
Since its participation at Cannes Lions, SA has won a minimum of 22 awards including the prestigious Grand Prix. Go to www.canneslions.com/winners/ for schedule of announcing shortlists and winners.
According to GFC CEO Terry Tselane, “The commercials industry also have the opportunity in Cannes to enhance their reputation as a film friendly destination and to demonstrate the partnership that exists between public and private bodies.”
Toni Monty, DFO CEO, adds, “Through the creation of a brand South Africa Identity at SA Beach House, we have created the perfect platform to promote the South Africa brand and capabilities in terms of its production services and location facilities leading up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.”
As part of positioning the commercials producers industry as ready and able to take on 2010 World Cup projects, the CFC will host a Pimp my Soccer Ball competition at the SA Beach House to drive agency and creative talent through the house. Agencies from different countries will be invited to participate in this campaign and design a Soccer Ball representative of their country.
There will be a string of networking events hosted by South Africa House during Cannes Lions week. South Africa is one of the Shots Party sponsors along with other international sponsors. At this event South African band Goldfish will be playing where it releases its latest CD offering.
The NFVF will be hosting the opening party at the SA Beach House on Wednesday, 18 June 2008. Condor Cape Town and Condor International will host the Soccer on the Beach tournament and a barbeque, to which they will invite SA producers and their international clients, on Thursday 19 June.
This year's industry and/private sponsors include the following: SABC, CTRU, AFS Productions, Condor Post, Waterfront Studios, Moonlighting, Media Film Services, Groundglass, Terraplane, One Step Beyond, Amazing Spaces, Suburban, Cape Direct, Stillking, Dancing Light, Bioscope, Network Productions, Film Event, Screen Africa, The Call Sheet and Maximum Exposure. Ross Gower, Waterford and Lourensford are sponsoring wines while Avis International is offering the SA delegation car discounts.
The Cannes Lions Festival is the platform to market and maintaining SA's position as one of the leading television advertising production destinations and to encourage more foreign direct investment and job creation in the different regions. It's the ideal place to meet and directly influence the full spectrum of decision makers across the entire industry, both in terms of market sector and geography. Cannes Lions is annually attended by more than 9000 senior level commercials delegates from over 85 countries. More than 28 000 commercials are shown across a variety of traditional (eg broadcast) and new media (eg animation) categories.
