On the festival's first day, I started meeting people the minute I got there and was excited to meet more people in the advertising and public relations industry. I met President Susan Howe, who offered me an internship opportunity at Weber Shandwick, a PR firm in New York! She and her team won the Grand Prix Cannes Lions award, and I saw them get their award on award night.
I was able to see speakers like John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, Elon Musk, Kenan Thompson, and so many more amazing speakers. Even companies like Mattel were there and after the speakers were finished they gave out Barbie dolls! One thing I loved was that there was always something to do. If I wasn’t interested in that many speakers having conversations in the theaters, then I could always go to different venues or yachts and meet people there. Even after the day ended the nightlife in Cannes was just as eventful.
Being in Cannes at night was my favorite part of the experience. I was able to see concerts, like Tyla’s and the Chainsmokers, go to parties, see fireworks and a drone show, and enjoy the beach with a friend or two. I had so much fun meeting up with one of the judges, Phillip Youmans, who I'd known from our hometown New Orleans. While hanging out with him we happened to run into Andre 3000! He, Phillip, and my close friend Gerald who I met on the trip, were some of the people who made Cannes an unforgettable experience for me.
Overall and simply put, the Cannes Lion Film Festival was awesome!!!