New in this edition, the award was created with the aim of honoring creatives who are a reference in the market
The Festival de Cannes Lions announced the first honorary award for “Creative Maker” as part of the 70th edition of the awards. The inaugural award will go to filmmaker, screenwriter, actor and producer Spike Lee.
Lee became one of the main names in the worldwide audiovisual market. The director collects several awards, including a Gran Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018, with the film “Inflitrados da Klan”.
In addition, Lee founded his own creative agency, called Spike DDB, whose mission is to help brands keep up with the pace of culture.
We know that world-class creative work takes a lot to deliver. Since its inception, Cannes Lions has always been about creators and the creatives who walk through walls to realize their vision. Going forward, this award will honor creative creators, from any discipline, who are inspiring references to our entire community. In our 70th year, it seems fitting that the first Creative Maker award goes to a director. It is a great honor to present Spike Lee, one of the most influential figures in cinema and contemporary culture, with this tribute live at the Festival”, said Simon Cook, CEO of the Festival de Cannes Lions.
In addition to receiving the award, Spike Lee will participate in a chat on the awards stage alongside filmmaker and director Barry Alexander Brown, on June 23rd.
“Spike Lee is a creative role model who paved the way for so many black creatives. The Creative Maker of the Year award inspires us to continue to lead the way in creating pathways for diverse voices and promote inclusion and equity across the global creative industry. We applaud the partnership “, added Peter O Ukhurebor, founder of Black At Cannes.
*Credit: Flickr/canburak
