New Zealand creatives have taken the top prize in the Direct category of the 57th Annual Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, which opened on Sunday in France.

Of the 1,441 entries submitted in the Direct Lions category, 164 went on to make the shortlist of which 19 Gold, 24 Silver and 31 Bronze Lions were awarded last night. Special Group Auckland in New Zealand won the Grand Prix for their entry ‘Orcon + Iggy Pop’ for Orcon Broadband. 

The Direct Lions Jury of 30 members was chaired by Pablo Alzugaray, CEO of Shackleton. 

The prestigious Direct Agency of the Year award was won by Abbott Mead Vickers, BBDO, London, UK. 

All the Lions winners, along with their credits, can be viewed online here. 

The week-long ad festival is expected to attract 8,000 industry peers.