Last year, we brought Indie Agency News to Cannes Lions for the first time.
No big announcement. No splashy launch. Just a couple of mics, a borrowed balcony, and a belief that the global creative conversation could use a lot more independent voices.
We showed up to shine a light on indie work and indie people—from sun-soaked interviews to hard-earned Lions. We asked real questions, skipped the jargon, and had actual conversations with agency leaders who don’t usually get center stage. We published the only post-festival breakdown focused on how independent agencies performed. And we covered some amazing Indie Agency News member accomplishments.
It wasn’t glossy. It wasn’t overproduced. But it landed. Because indie creativity deserves its own spotlight—and its own platform.
This year, we’re back for Cannes Lions 2025 with even more momentum.
We’re bringing more interviews, more editorial, a real-time liveblog to track indie momentum during the week, and a new edition of Indies By the Numbers. And we’re keeping the conversation going after the festival with a post-Cannes livestream series.
We’re also bringing Kyle O’Brien to the Croisette for the first time. After years of covering Cannes remotely, he’s finally seeing it up close—with a press pass, a notebook, and the slightly unnerving ability to quote old Mel Brooks interviews from memory.
We’re still doing this indie-style. No velvet ropes. No corporate fluff. No panels moderated by someone with six titles and no creative credits. Just sharp storytelling, good people, and a lot of admiration for the folks building something outside the holding company system.
If you’re looking for spreadsheets and shareholder value, we’re probably not your crew. But if you believe in creativity over consolidation, we’ll see you in Cannes. Or at least in your feed.
Heading on over? Fill out the form below.
Interested in Cannes Lions sponsorship? Bop on over here.
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Doug Zanger is the founder and editor-in-chief of Indie Agency News. He is also the founder of the Creative Bohemian consultancy, lives in the Pacific Northwest and is insufferable about it.
