Cannes Lions has revealed the full line-up of its 2025 Awarding Jury, and this year’s announcement comes with a notable boost in representation from the MENA region. The global benchmark for creative excellence has selected a strong contingent of MENA-based jurors across multiple categories, reflecting the region’s growing creative influence and strategic importance on the global stage.
Among the jury, here are the jurors representing MENA at the Cannes Lions Awards 2025:
- Manasvi Gosalia, Executive Producer at Dejavu, UAE – Film Lions
- Dida Atassi, Managing Director at Accenture Song, UAE – Design Lions
- Paulo Engler, Senior Creative Director and Head of Art at FP7 McCann, UAE – Digital Craft Lions
- Ali Ali, Co-Founder and Film Director at Good People Films, Egypt – Film Craft Lions
- Lara Assouad, Executive Creative Director at Landor, Middle East – Industry Craft Lions
- Aricio Fortes, Chief Creative Officer at VML, UAE – Direct Lions
- Ramzy Abouchacra, Media Practice President at Dentsu, MENA – Media Lions
- Khaled AlShehhi, Executive Director of Marketing and Communication at UAE Government Media Office, UAE – PR Lions
- Natalie Shardan, Managing Partner at Serviceplan Middle East, UAE – Brand Experience & Activation Lions
- Mohammed Jefri, CMO and Chief People Officer at HungerStation, Saudi Arabia – Creative Commerce Lions
- Seyoan Vela, Chief Creative Officer at Livingroom/LRDXB, MENA – Innovation Lions
- Nada Abisaleh, Head of Leo Burnett Beirut, Lebanon – Glass: The Lion for Change
- Fabio Silveira, Managing Director at Havas, Middle East – Creative Business Transformation Lions
- João Camacho, Executive Creative Director at Saatchi Wellness ME (KSA and Turkey) – Health & Wellness Lions
- Alok Gadkar, CEO and Chief Creative Officer at Tuesday, UAE – Pharma Lions
- Dani Richa, Group Chairman at Impact BBDO, UAE – Creative Effectiveness Lions
- Naila Fattouh, CEO at Impact BBDO, Egypt – Creative Strategy Lions
- Leila Katrib, Global Executive Creative Director at Incubeta, Global – Audio & Radio Lions
- Karim ElFiqi, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer at PepsiCo, Africa, Middle East, and South Asia – Creative Data Lions
- Vidya Manmohan, Founder and Chief Creative Officer at V4Good, Global – Sustainable Development Goals Lions
- Hatem Mohamed, Creative Director at Adpro OMD, Jordan – Print & Publishing Lions
- Rayyan Aoun, CEO at BigTime Creative Shop at Saudi Arabia – Entertainment Lions
This year’s jury includes representation from 52 countries — with Ivory Coast and Kazakhstan being included for the first time — and sees the highest-ever participation from Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Simon Cook, CEO of LIONS, said: “The Cannes Lions Awarding Jury plays a vital role in setting the global benchmark for creative excellence. This year’s line-up brings together some of the most highly respected and accomplished industry talent from around the world.”
Marian Brannelly, Global Director of Awards, added: “We’re delighted to bring such a breadth of voices and perspectives into the Jury rooms, and we thank all of our Jurors in advance for the dedication and care they bring to the process.”
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity will take place from 16 to 20 June 2025 in Cannes, France. The full Awarding Jury spans nine tracks – from Classic to Craft, Experience, Engagement, Good, Entertainment, Health, Strategy and Titanium – and will evaluate and celebrate the most impactful work from across the global creative industries.
