"Rule-breaking work, craft and storytelling" - Lufuno Mavhungu

Lufuno Mavhungu

Creative director Lufuno Mavhungu is on this year’s Cannes Lions Radio & Audio Lions jury.

Mavhungu’s love for ideas led her to work on accounts such as Nando’s, Mini Cooper, 1st for Women, FNB, Hyundai and OLX to name a few. Along her journey she also collected numerous awards such as a Cannes Lion, a couple of Loeries including the coveted Loerie Grand Prix, several Pendorings, Creative Circle Ad of the Year, and she’s a One Show finalist!

When she isn’t making ads, Lufuno enjoys writing short stories and flash fiction, and hiking. Lufuno lives by the ideology that great insights create great ideas, which then creates impactful work that resonates with people.

Cannes Lions 2021 jury members announced

13 Apr 2021

Here, Mavhungu shares what she’s most looking forward to from this year’s judging, sharing a few of her Cannes Lions-related highlights over the years and what SA judges bring to the global creative mix…

Tell us more about yourself and why you believe you were selected – your judging experience and so on.

I’m a creative director/copywriter who has had over 10 years of experience in the advertising industry. I believe I was selected because of all the things I have achieved in my career. I also have some judging experience, which includes being on the jury for the Non-English Radio and Young Creatives & Instagram categories for the Loeries in 2020.

Where were you when you found out you'd be one of this year's Cannes Lions jurors, and what was your reaction to the news?

I was at home, working. I went through a range of emotions from disbelief to nervous, to excitement.

Following the postponement of last year's awards, the juries will be judging both years' of work and awarding Lions for 2020 and 2021. Firstly, how did you respond to the news of the postponement and how do you feel about judging two-years’ worth of work?

I think the postponement was a difficult moment for everybody in the industry, but one that I feel was necessary. The world no longer works in ways we are used to, and many awards festivals had to be sensitive to that. However, I am glad that no one is losing an opportunity to showcase their work.

Share a few of your favourite Cannes Lions-related moments over the years – either from attending personally or agency winning work-related.

I attended the Festival in 2012, which feels like a lifetime ago. The highlight was winning my first Cannes Lion – a Bronze Lion for our Nando’s Dictator campaign.

What do you believe SA creatives bring to the global Cannes Lions judging mix?

I really believe that South Africa has some of the most talented creatives in the world. We bring so much to the table. A fresh perspective and an understanding of rule-breaking work, craft and storytelling.

Give us a glimpse of the specific criteria you’re looking for in judging this year's entries.

Radio & Audio is one of those categories that keeps evolving. So, I’ll be looking out for the groundbreaking use of audio to tell stories.

Any predictions of trends that are likely to stand out at Cannes Lions 2021?

It will be interesting to see how the work differs since we have two years’ worth of entries. I think we will see audio being taken into interesting spaces, and not being used in a traditional manner.

Lastly, what are you most looking forward to from Cannes Lions 2021?

I’m really looking forward to being blown away by great creative work. I’m looking to be inspired by brilliant minds from all over the world. Plus, as a first-time Cannes judge, I am looking forward to learning more about creativity.

The winners will be announced during Cannes Lions Live, a fully digital experience, running from 21 to 25 June 2021. Visit our Cannes Lions special section for the latest updates!

For more:

• Cannes Lions special section and search
• More info: Google News, Cannes Lions Twitter
• Official site: http://www.canneslions.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

As media partner to the Creative Circle SA, we’re proud to publish exclusive daily snapshot updates from Cannes. Don’t miss the first Diary of Creative Circle at Cannes from the SA cohort on the ground in Cannes, every day from 19-24 June! Also Book Now for The Full Circle event, brought to you by the Creative Circle - an inspiring showcase of the top trends, insights and award winning work from the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.