Crispin Porter+Bogusky (CP+B), Miami and Boulder, Colo., CumminsNitro in Australia and Publicis, France, were among the 2009 New York Festivals’ Grand Trophy winners for a diverse mix of work.
CP+B scored in the Avant-Garde category for its “Whopper Sacrifice” campaign utilizing social media to determine, “who do you love more, your friends or the Whopper?” The challenge posed to Facebook users was: sacrifice 10 friends and you’ll receive a free Whopper as a reward from Burger King. The sacrificed friend received notice that the Whopper was chosen over their friendship, and was then invited to join the campaign and earn a free Whopper by sacrificing 10 of his or her friends. In only 10 days, 233,906 friends were sacrificed.
CumminsNitro, Australia was awarded the prestigious Grand Trophy in the Digital + Interactive category for the groundbreaking campaign for Tourism Queensland, “Best Job in the World.” The Brisbane-based agency launched a global campaign inviting anyone from around the world to apply for the “Best Job in the World.” The sought after position of island caretaker/blogger featured a $150,000 salary and luxury accommodations on Hamilton island off the coast of Queensland. The website, islandreefjob.com, engaged the international community, tallying 6,849,504 visits and 36,648 applicants from 201 countries. CumminsNitro’s interactive campaign resulted in global media coverage estimated at over $100 million from a budget of $1.2 million.
Meanwhile “Rewind City”, created by Publicis, France, was awarded the Grand Trophy in the TV/Cinema category for a television spot promoting Orange TV’s on demand programs. The 90-second spot opens on a tearful young woman at bus stop in a bustling city in India. A taxi driver notices her tears and calls to the crowd to move back, reversing his taxi. One by one the city scene moves in reverse. Pedestrians, a bicyclist, a barber and even a street sweeper move backwards, until finally the recently departed bus is in full view. The doors open and the woman’s lover steps off the bus and they embrace. “Rewind City” was directed by Ringan Ledwidge of Rattling Stick, London. (Ledwidge is now repped stateside by bicoastal Smuggler).
Jane Schoenbrun Jolts Cannes With Queer Slasher Movie “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma”
"A good electric chair" is how Jane Schoenbrun describes their first Cannes Film Festival premiere.
"I really felt like my body was in a state of convulsion," says Schoenbrun.
The day after the premiere of "Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma," a bold, bloody queer slasher film starring Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson, Schoenbrun and their co-stars were still buzzing from the ecstatic response. The movie, one of the most prominent American films in Cannes this year, gave the festival a gonzo jolt.
For Schoenbrun, the leading trans filmmaker of their generation, the film extends their intensely personal exploration of gender and the movies that defined their youth. But their first two films — 2024's "I Saw the TV Glow" and 2021's "We're All Going to the World's Fair" — were the raw, burning products of Schoenbrun's transition. "Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma," drawn from Schoenbrun's happy, exploratory post-transition life, isn't that.
It's about desire and sex. It's a biting satire of reboot-mad Hollywood. It's a schlocky and subversive slasher movie homage. It's a lot of fun, and quite tender, even when bodies are blood-spurting geysers.
"This is the first movie that feels like it represents the fullness of who I am," Schoenbrun says.
But Wednesday's moment of triumph in Cannes was hard-won. Ten years ago, Schoenbrun, now 39, was working in the film industry in a job they hated.
"The first time I came here, I just felt like, 'Oh my, god. I can't believe I'm in Cannes.' I went to, like, 'The Lobster,' at the Palais in my boy tux. I was like: 'This is it. I've done it,'" says Schoenbrun. "Then the next year I came back and I was so depressed. I decided to quit my job. If I'm depressed at Cannes,... Read More