SOUTH AFRICA’S BRIGHTEST YOUNG CREATIVES HEAD TO THE GLOBAL STAGE

Ster-Kinekor, the official South African Representative of Cannes Lions, and Heineken Beverages celebrate Cannes Young Lions South Africa 2026 winners

Ster-Kinekor, the official South African representative of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, in partnership with Heineken® Beverages is proud to announce the winners of the Cannes Young Lions South Africa 2026 competition.

This year’s competition reached a new high, attracting over 150 teams. The volume and calibre of submissions reflect the growing ambition and strength of South Africa’s young creative community.

Following an intense 48-hour challenge of strategy, creativity and storytelling, two standout teams have earned their place at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France.

A panel of leading industry judges reviewed the work to select the winning teams.

Film Category Winners

Work Title:        Return to CinemaWinners:            Peter Maluleke & Rosemary MabasaAgency:              TBWA

In the film category, participants were tasked with creating a 45–60 second commercial showing why cinema still matters in the lives of young South Africans.

“Return to Cinema” builds on a simple truth: streaming is convenient, but constantly interrupted. Notifications, ads and distractions break the experience. The winning idea reminds audiences why cinema remains the one place where stories can truly be experienced without interruption.

Digital Category Winners

Work Title:        Inner CircleWinners:           Jessica Babsy & Pippa BrowningAgency:              VML

Participants in the digital category were challenged to develop a digital and out-of-home idea that reimagines Johannesburg’s inner city, creating something aspirational, locally relevant, and worth sharing.

“Inner Circle” taps into the familiar ‘Close Friends’ social media feature to create a city-wide invitation to exclusive Joburg experiences. As stories go live, OOH screens and venue facades mirror the same visual cue with a single signal connecting online and real-world moments, unlocking Heineken experiences along the way.

Selecting the final winners proved highly competitive, with judges noting the exceptional standard of work across both categories. The winning teams will now go on to compete against the world’s best young creatives at Cannes Lions in June.

“We are confident that Peter Maluleke and Rosemary Mabasa will be outstanding ambassadors for Ster-Kinekor, South Africa, and the film category when they compete on the global stage in Cannes,” says Lynne Wylie, chief marketing officer of Ster-Kinekor Theatres.

“Cannes Young Lions is a powerful platform for unlocking talent and celebrating creativity as a force that shapes culture and drives commercial success. This year’s winners represent the kind of bold, future-facing thinking our industry needs, and we’re incredibly proud to see them carry South Africa’s creative voice onto the global stage,” says Andrea Quaye, marketing director at Heineken Beverages.

The Cannes Young Lions South Africa competition exists to showcase local talent on a global stage, offering international recognition and career-defining opportunities for the next generation of creative leaders.

ENDS

Issued by:                                          aHead PR                                                      

On behalf of:                                        Ster-Kinekor Theatres                                                                      

For media information:                    Janet de Kretser                                                 

Tel:                                                          083 973 3531

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About Ster-Kinekor Theatres

Ster-Kinekor Theatres is the largest movie exhibitor on the African continent. To most South Africans, the word ‘movies’ is synonymous with the name ‘Ster-Kinekor’. The company operates 32 commercial cinema complexes in South Africa that house 249 large-scale screens, with 33 147 seats and the largest 3D footprint featuring 99 state-of-the-art 3D screens in South Africa (Commercial, 3D, IMAX, Kids Cinema and Cine Prestige). It also operates four cinema complexes in Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia, with 23 screens and 3 014 seats.

As the industry leader, Ster-Kinekor has pioneered cinema concepts such as Cinema Nouveau, a dedicated art-house multiplex cinema, and the luxurious Cine Prestige theatres, the first ‘business class’ cinema experience in South Africa; and has headed the return of the IMAX® Experience, with eight IMAX® Theatres across the country. Ster-Kinekor has expanded its cinema innovation to launch the first Kids’ Cinema complete with slides and bean bag seating (currently seven screens) as well as D-BOX which brings movie experiences to life with motion seats. Most recently, Ster-Kinekor introduced SKX-PERIENCE Powered by Jozi X at The Zone in Rosebank, an indoor adventure hub offering axe throwing, gel blaster, splatter room and escape rooms, adding a new dimension to the Ster-Kinekor entertainment experience.

As one of South Africa’s most loved brands, it is Ster-Kinekor’s ongoing mission to become synonymous with the unrivalled magic of the cinema experience, by providing ‘Great Moments at Their Greatest’. During 2013, the company embarked on a massive roll-out project to convert and equip every cinema with the very latest in digital projection and sound technology. The result of this upgrade is that every cinema now boasts state-of-the-art cinema technology that encompasses 2K and 4K digital projection and 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound systems.

The SK Club loyalty programme rewards members with redeemable points when they swipe their card when buying movie tickets or catering, as well as half-price tickets on Tuesdays. Combined with industry-leading loyalty programmes from Edgars Club and Discovery Vitality, these give Ster-Kinekor a strong consumer value proposition and competitive advantage. Ster-Kinekor has extended its loyalty offering to include the first subscription model in South Africa: SK Subscription Club, which offers members a limited or unlimited number of movies per month at a set cost whilst also enjoying the benefits of SK Club.

As the market leader, Ster-Kinekor aims to spearhead the advancement of cinema across both South Africa and the rest of Africa, to ensure that consumers continue to experience movies as they were made to be seen – on the big screen.

See more at: www.sterkinekor.com

Media Enquiries - Heineken

Lerato Mogano

MSL

072 549 6320

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About Heineken Beverages

HEINEKEN® is the world's most international brewer. It is the leading developer and marketer of premium beer and cider brands. Led by the Heineken® brand, the Group has a portfolio of more than 300 international, regional, local and specialty beers and ciders. We are committed to innovation, long-term brand investment, disciplined sales execution and focused cost management. Through "Brewing a Better World", sustainability is embedded in the business.

HEINEKEN® has a well-balanced geographic footprint with leadership positions in both developed and developing markets. We employ over 85,000 employees and operate breweries, malteries, cider plants and other production facilities in more than 70 countries. Heineken N.V. and Heineken® Holding N.V. shares trade on the Euronext in Amsterdam. Prices for the ordinary shares may be accessed on Bloomberg under the symbols HEIA NA and HEIO NA and on Reuters under HEIN.AS and HEIO.AS. HEINEKEN® has two sponsored level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) programmes: Heineken N.V. (OTCQX: HEINY) and Heineken Holding N.V. (OTCQX: HKHHY).

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About Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity

https://www.canneslions.com/