Ster-kinekor Announces Winners Of The Cannes Young Lions 2025 Competition

Ster-Kinekor says this year marks the first time South Africa has competed in both the Film and Digital categories, reflecting the country’s growth in driving creativity.

With only 48 hours to respond to a real-world brief, both teams demonstrated bold thinking, cultural relevance and world-class storytelling, adds Ster-Kinekor. 

Khomotso Lwazi Makoto and Paula Stephanie Andropoulos, TBWA\Hunt Lascaris

Their 60-second commercial brought Ster-Kinekor's Vision Mission to life with a narrative that inspired belief in the power of sight. The judges were impressed by the team's ability to combine empathy, craft and cinematic clarity in such a short timeframe, says the company. 

Louise Laas and Khanyisile Modiba, Metropolitan Republic

The winning digital campaign presented an innovative idea for Heineken® 0.0 and Arrive Alive, addressing the issue of drinking and driving through a positive and digitally driven behaviour change solution. Their five-slide presentation stood out for its creativity, insight and potential for real-world impact, says Ster-Kinekor. 

"The level of talent in this year's competition was truly world-class," says Andrea Quaye, Marketing Director at HEINEKEN Beverages. "This marks the beginning of what we see as a long-term investment in creative excellence. We are committed to nurturing this partnership and supporting young talent in the years to come."

“The Young Lions Competition continues to be a platform for identifying tomorrow's creative leaders," says Lynne Wylie, Chief Marketing Officer at Ster-Kinekor. "We are incredibly proud of these young teams and can't wait to see them compete on the global stage."

Ster-Kinekor says the winning teams will now embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Cannes, where they'll join an international community of creative innovators, attend world-class talks and compete for the coveted Young Lions title. 

Ster-Kinekor concludes that people can continue following their journey on Ster-Kinekor and Heineken's® social media pages as the duo spotlights their creative process, global experience and behind-the-scenes moments from Cannes Lions 2025.

For more information, visit www.canneslions.com. You can also follow the Cannes Young Lions on Facebook, LinkedIn X, or on Instagram.

*Image courtesy of contributor