India is making waves at the 2025 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, racking up an impressive 65 shortlists across a wide range of categories, from design and media to entertainment and engagement. This strong showing highlights the country’s creative depth and rising global influence in advertising and digital innovation.
Gaming, Music & Sport: Entertainment Takes Center Stage
DDB Mudra led India’s charge in the Entertainment Lions for Gaming with 3 shortlists for Battlegrounds Mobile India, praised for immersive brand storytelling. Indian campaigns also earned 3 shortlists each in Entertainment for Music and Sport, blending culture, emotion, and compelling narratives.
Media & PR: Strategy Meets Impact
India shined in the Media Lions with 9 shortlists, followed by 7 in PR, showcasing versatility across innovative media solutions, purpose-driven campaigns, and culturally grounded storytelling.
Direct & Social: Driving Engagement
With 5 shortlists in Direct and 3 in Social & Influencer, Indian agencies highlighted their skill in sparking audience participation and leveraging creator-driven digital culture.
Craft Categories: High on Quality
India’s creative finesse was on display with 5 shortlists in Design, 3 in Film Craft, and 1 in Industry Craft. However, no Indian entries made it to the Digital Craft category this year.
Category-Wise Shortlist Breakdown (So Far):
- Design: 5
- Digital Craft: 0
- Direct: 5
- Entertainment – Gaming: 3
- Entertainment – Music: 3
- Entertainment – Sport: 3
- Film Craft: 3
- Industry Craft: 1
- Media: 9
- PR: 7
- Social & Influencer: 3
More shortlists are expected in the coming days, and while categories like Audio & Radio, Innovation, and Glass: The Lion for Change have yet to see Indian representation, the country’s momentum is unmistakable.
The Cannes Lions Awards will be held from June 16 to 20, and with India off to such a strong start, anticipation is high for how these entries will convert into wins.