How to guarantee success at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity

If you’re after an actual article on how to win a Cannes Lion, then here are last year’s top winners – true examples of excellence. Sorry for the interruption. I hope to keep your attention just a little bit longer.

While Cannes Lions is a time to celebrate the best of the best in advertising it is also an event where sexual harassment can and does take place. There are decades of incidents to go on. You’ve likely heard a few.

We need to move beyond this, we can’t turn a blind eye to the fact sexual harassment still takes place year after year. Just because we have all swapped the desk chairs for deckchairs doesn’t mean we are immune to either witnessing or experiencing sexual harassment.

So, whether it’s your first time or 10th time at Cannes, it’s important to be prepared and practice safety precautions. This includes getting to know what support is available from your employers and from other industry organizations like Nabs and TimeTo.

There is a lot of unspoken anxiety from people at junior and manager levels, not really knowing what to expect from Cannes in terms of experiencing any inappropriate behavior. We want everyone to have a Cannes to remember… for the right reasons.

Learn what constitutes sexual harassment, it can come in many forms, and it might not be as obvious as a lot of people think. Unwanted, prolonged and suggestive staring and touching that is not of a sexual nature is still sexual harassment. By making yourself familiar with these types of verbal, non-verbal and physical behaviors, you can directly address them if they happen to you or you witness these taking place. Read the TimeTo code of conduct to gain a deeper understanding of what can fall under inappropriate behavior.

Ask your company to sign up for the interactive TimeTo training to keep yourself up to date on the current practices, precautions, and procedures related to sexual harassment and the complicated and nuanced reasons why it’s perpetrated. Whether you experience sexual harassment yourself or witness it, it’s so important to report it, as only then can perpetrators be made accountable.

Establish your own set of boundaries: Everyone has different tolerances. We respect that. One person’s ‘banter’ could be taken as an insult or harassment to someone else. It’s crucial to take the time to think about and clearly define your personal boundaries. Do not be afraid to communicate these to colleagues. Be clear about what type of behavior you find unacceptable.

Know your agency’s policies and procedures: If your agency has a policy and reporting procedure for sexual harassment, make yourself familiar with it prior to Cannes. Having this knowledge will help you navigate any unwanted situations and empower you to challenge and report harassment. Also, ask your manager about what the policy is for paying for taxis home. Your employer has a duty of care to ensure you get home safely from a work event, even on the French Riviera. Especially on the French Riviera.

Document incidents

If you experience or witness any form of sexual harassment, whether you decide to report it right away or later, be sure to document it in detail. This includes the date, time, location and description of the incident. This is valuable information for any reporting process and will empower you to deal with the harasser.

Work together

If you have some reservations about your personal safety at Cannes, talk to a colleague you trust and with whom you have a strong rapport. Work as a team to establish some practices, such as always leaving social events in a taxi together, creating a way of communicating with each other when one of you feels uncomfortable in a social setting, and supporting each other safely in those situations.

Speaking up and reporting

If you decide to report any incidents of sexual harassment, talk to a trusted colleague or manager. Confide in someone you feel comfortable with and who will be able to support you by preventing any further contact with the harasser and ensuring your immediate safety.

If you see anyone looking uncomfortable in a situation or being harassed you can intervene by asking them questions. For example asking, ‘I haven’t seen you in ages, how are you?’ can distract the victim and stop the incident by giving them a reason to leave the situation.

Ask them, ‘Are you OK? I noticed you were uncomfortable, is there anything I can do?’ Remember it is about the impact on them, center the victim and ensure they feel safe.

Support

Experiencing sexual harassment can deeply affect people’s everyday life, if this happens to you or someone you know, there is support and advice available. Nabs and TimeTo offer support for anyone affected by sexual harassment, they will offer advice and guidance on the next steps as well as ensure your mental wellness.

Everyone should be able to enjoy their time at Cannes, and that comes from us working together to create a respectful environment and culture. By being vigilant of our surroundings and respecting boundaries, we can all help to create a festival in which everybody feels safe and welcome.

For free, confidential and impartial advice and support, for anyone working in the advertising, marketing and media industry, call the Nabs Advice Line on 0800 707 6607, 9am – 5.30pm on week days or email support@nabs.org.uk.