India Makes a Mark at Cannes Lions 2025: Over 50 Shortlists and Rising Creative Power

India’s Creative Ascent at Cannes Lions 2025

India’s presence at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2025 is turning heads and setting records. With more than 50 shortlists across various categories, the Indian advertising and marketing industry has made a commanding statement on the world stage.

This remarkable showing not only underlines the country’s growing dominance in global advertising but also reflects the evolution of storytelling, creativity, and strategy in Indian campaigns. Agencies, brands, and creators from across India are competing at par with the best globally, and this year’s shortlists reinforce that narrative with strength.

A Diverse Range of Entries Across Categories

What makes India’s achievement at Cannes Lions 2025 even more noteworthy is the breadth of participation across different award segments. The shortlists span a diverse set of categories, including:

• Film

• Digital Craft

• Brand Experience & Activation

• Health & Wellness

• Entertainment

• Creative Data

• Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

• Media and Direct

This diversity showcases the multi-dimensional creativity emerging from India—not confined to a single format, but across digital, experiential, social impact, and brand innovation.

From thought-provoking public service announcements to emotionally resonant brand films and daring digital experiments, Indian entries this year represent creative bravery and relevance.

Leading Agencies Behind the Shortlists

India’s representation at Cannes Lions 2025 has been significantly shaped by some of the country’s top-tier creative agencies, both independent and network-owned. Among those with the highest number of shortlisted entries are:

• Ogilvy India
  Known for its legacy of bold storytelling and brand building, Ogilvy has entries shortlisted in Film, Direct, and Creative Strategy categories.

• Leo Burnett India
  With consistent performance over the past few years, Leo Burnett continues its creative streak with works focused on sustainability and social inclusion.

• Dentsu Creative
  Emerging as a dominant force, Dentsu’s entries span Digital Craft, Media, and Innovation categories. Their campaigns blend storytelling with technology seamlessly.

• FCB India
  Well-known for their emotionally-driven narratives and cause-based marketing, FCB has picked up multiple shortlists in the Sustainable Development Goals and Health & Wellness categories.

• VML India (formerly Wunderman Thompson)
  With a digital-first mindset, VML’s campaigns reflect brand innovation fused with sharp consumer insight, earning nods in the eCommerce and Creative Data categories.

• The Glitch and Talented.Agency
  Rising new-age agencies like these are leading India’s digital charge, creating content rooted in culture and youth behavior.

Standout Campaigns Representing India

A few campaigns have emerged as standout creative pieces, gaining not only shortlists but also international praise for their bold approach:

1. “Letters to Dad” – Ogilvy India for a men’s skincare brand

A touching campaign that blends masculinity with vulnerability, showing fathers writing letters to their sons about emotional openness. It received shortlists in Film Craft, Health & Wellness, and Direct.

2. “Plastic Lives” – Leo Burnett India for an NGO

This provocative campaign highlights the perils of microplastics by using interactive media and installations. It is shortlisted in Sustainable Development Goals and Brand Experience.

3. “The Unpaid Artist” – Dentsu Creative for an art education platform

An AI-generated art installation narrating the forgotten stories of unpaid creatives. Shortlisted in Digital Craft and Creative Data.

4. “Pause The Pain” – FCB India for a menstrual pain awareness app

A technology-backed initiative allowing girls to discreetly report discomfort in schools. This project made it to the Innovation, Health, and Media shortlists.

5. “Wipe The Bias” – VML India for a home cleaning brand

A subtle campaign challenging gender roles inside Indian households through social experiments. It is shortlisted in Direct and Brand Purpose categories.

Newcomers Making Waves

Beyond the legacy agencies, several boutique and regional agencies have found their names among the shortlisted entries. This signals a shift in the creative ecosystem where bold ideas can originate from anywhere, not just metro cities or global agency networks.

Agencies from cities like Pune, Kochi, and Ahmedabad have submitted culturally rich, hyperlocal campaigns that address grassroots issues with global appeal.

Their presence at Cannes Lions 2025 reflects a more inclusive narrative, allowing diverse voices and regional storytelling styles to get the recognition they deserve.

A Glimpse Into India’s Growing Global Creative Identity

The strong showing of Indian campaigns at Cannes Lions 2025 highlights how the country’s creative identity is rapidly evolving. No longer limited to traditional storytelling or emotional drama, India is now producing work that is:

• Digitally native

• Culturally nuanced

• Purpose-driven

• Experimental in format

• Rooted in behavioral science

These attributes are helping Indian campaigns resonate globally—not just with jurors at Cannes, but with audiences and clients around the world.

Impact on the Indian Advertising Landscape

The recognition at Cannes has direct implications for the Indian marketing and advertising ecosystem:

• Increased global visibility for Indian agencies and creative talent

• A boost in confidence for brands investing in daring and socially relevant campaigns

• Greater demand for hybrid creatives skilled in both storytelling and technology

• Inspiration for young professionals entering the industry, proving that India can lead the global creative conversation

In short, the 50+ shortlists are not just trophies-in-the-making—they represent a larger creative shift and a promising future for the Indian ad world.

What This Means for Brands in India

Cannes Lions has always been a mirror to the future of branding. For Indian brands, this achievement signals:

• The importance of originality and risk-taking in marketing

• The value of campaigns that tap into human insights and social relevance

• An opportunity to export Indian creativity globally

Brands willing to invest in meaningful, insight-rich, and purpose-driven communication now have proof that such storytelling not only wins awards but also drives brand affinity and trust.

Looking Ahead: The Award Nights Await

While crossing the 50-mark in shortlists is already a commendable feat, all eyes are now on the final results of Cannes Lions 2025. Will India convert these nominations into multiple Lions across Grand Prix, Gold, Silver, and Bronze?

If recent trends are anything to go by, the chances look promising. Over the last three years, India has consistently climbed the creative ladder at Cannes—winning big with work that is deeply culturally relevant yet globally resonant.

Conclusion: India’s Time to Shine at Cannes Lions

The 50+ shortlist milestone at Cannes Lions 2025 isn’t just a celebration of campaigns—it’s a celebration of mindset. A mindset that favors innovation over imitation, heart over hype, and storytelling over selling.