CANNES, FRANCE — The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity seems to get more expensive and exclusive every year, but for creative agency Jung von Matt, this year will be different.
The agency — which has just been shortlisted for the Dan Wieden Titanium Lions at Cannes for its “Rights Against the Right” campaign — has cut back on luxuries and increased the number of staff it is taking to the festival this year by booking out the Banana’s Camp hostel for 95 colleagues, which is 8.4% of the agency’s total employee base. Even Jung von Matt CEO Peter Figge will be staying in a shared bunk room, so that as many employees as possible can experience Cannes and all the creative opportunities on offer.
While other agency leaders are fighting for rooms at exclusive hotels like the Carlton and the Martinez, Jun’s senior and junior staff members will be settling into the hostel, which promises to be a hub for communal learning, socializing, and watching football.
Situated only 100 meters from central Cannes and a 14-minute walk to the Palais du Festival, the Banana’s Camp has a garden, a terrace, and an event space where the agency will get together for a planned series of talks, screenings, BBQs, and drinks. Selected festival content will also be screened there as well as some key Euro ‘24 matches featuring the German and Austrian teams.
Each day will start with a morning get-together over a shared brunch and a series of inspirational talks and workshops including “Meet the Legends” and “Creative Postcard Writing.” Speakers will include Sir John Hegarty, the legendary Founder of BBH and The Garage Soho, as well as Malcolm Poynton, the Global CCO of Cheil Worldwide.
In the evenings, all Jung von Matt colleagues are invited to attend “Apéro” drinks, while on Monday there will also be a welcome BBQ, and Wednesday is “Party BBQ” night, to which clients, journalists, and friends of the agency are invited.
Everyone will sleep in Banana’s Camp’s dormitories for between two and eight people, and share bathrooms, a kitchen, a lounge, and laundry facilities. Employees from the agency’s Hamburg, Berlin, Stuttgart Vienna, and Zurich offices will be attending, having been chosen due to their involvement in all projects submitted for Cannes Lions.
Peter Figge said: “Who needs fancy hotels and en suite bathrooms? This year, we wanted to be able to share Cannes with many more colleagues and embrace a more democratic experience that we can enjoy together. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
