TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris duo wins Silver at Cannes for powerful, emotionally charged film

TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris Johannesburg’s Paula Andropoulos and Kgomotso Makoto have won a Silver Lion at the prestigious Young Lions Competition, which took place at the annual Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. This team represented South Africa in the film category, earning global recognition for a bold, emotionally driven film.

Competing against over 35 other international teams, Andropoulos and Makoto won the right to represent South Africa after coming first in the national Young Lions Film competition earlier this year. Their task in Cannes: to conceptualise, write and produce a 60-second film in just 48 hours for Ovarian Cancer Action – the UK’s leading ovarian cancer research charity – with a focus on raising awareness for the next World Ovarian Cancer Day (8 May 2026).

The brief called for an uplifting yet powerful piece to bring attention to a disease that receives far less attention – and funding – than other cancers. Their concept tackled the historic marginalisation of women’s health head-on, drawing attention to the stark medical gap between ovarian cancer and conditions like erectile dysfunction.

‘We found the brief emotionally overwhelming at first,’ said Andropoulos, a copywriter at the agency. ‘The more we learned, the more frustrated we felt. Ovarian cancer has one of the poorest prognoses in gynaecological oncology, yet it’s still wildly underfunded. Our idea was fueled by that anger.’

‘We decided not to make it pretty or overly polished,’ added Makoto, an art director. ‘We leaned into simplicity and honesty – and made something that felt urgent and human.’

Held annually as part of the Cannes Lions School and sponsored by Adobe, the Young Lions Competitions provide a global platform for rising creative talent to tackle real-world briefs in a high-pressure format.

Competitors are only allowed to use Adobe tools, without stock footage or AI assistance, forcing teams to rely solely on craft, speed and creativity.

Makoto and Andropoulos, creative partners at TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris and both career switchers (from design and editorial backgrounds respectively), described the 48-hour process as “exhausting but unforgettable”. The brief was issued at 6.30pm on their first night in Cannes, leaving little room for sleep, second-guessing or comfort.

‘We weren’t the most experienced filmmakers in the room,’ said Andropoulos. ‘But we had a strong idea and we believed in it. We weren’t trying to win: we just wanted to make something we could be proud of.’

Their entry was shortlisted alongside campaigns from Australia, Canada, the UK and others. Ultimately, Guatemala took the Gold, with Portugal claiming Bronze. Back home, the win was met with pride – not only for the winners involved, but for the agency and the local industry they represent.

‘We are enormously proud of Paula and Kgomotso,’ said Karabo Denalane, Chief Executive Officer of TBWA Hunt Lascaris. ‘Their work is a reflection of the originality, edge and emotional intelligence that South African creatives bring to the world stage.’

The pair also credited the agency’s leadership and culture for their success. ‘Our ECDs, our mentors, even the emotional support from colleagues in Cannes like Carl Willoughby (chief creative officer at TBWA\Hunt Lascaris, who judged at this year’s festival), it all mattered,’ said Makoto. ‘It reminded us that creativity doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s the product of care, trust and being surrounded by people who back you.’

‘This team has shown so much commitment through this process,’ said Carl. ‘They went through the whole emotional journey, anxiety, doubt, then finally elation. Seeing their success means so much to us all at the agency. Everyone was rooting for them and they did it. We could not be more proud of these two Young Lions.’

For Andropoulos and Makoto, the Silver Lion proves what’s possible when South African talent has a seat at the table. ‘As South Africans, we’re scrappy, resourceful and emotionally in-tune,’ said Andropoulos. ‘We’re proud to have represented our country, not just because we won, but because we showed up as ourselves.’