Excitement is drumming up for Cannes next week, and our Monks are attending in both judges’ robes and diplomatic attire.

MediaMonks Founder and COO Wesley ter Haar will help identify the year’s most ground-breaking work on the Titanium Lions judging panel, while Digital Creative Director Sophie te Pas will serve on the Mobile Lions Jury. We spoke to both about their experiences and insights as jurors, but not without getting a sneak peek at what to expect from this year’s diplomatically themed MassiveMusicxMediaMonks party: the MMMMbassy, where creatives will be recognized as diplomats from unique, new nations.

Wesley ter Haar, MediaMonks Founder and Titanium Lions Juror

Which trends are defining the Titanium Lions this year?

Titanium is an interesting mix. We’re looking for great work (duh), but what all Titanium contenders must have is a certain unique element — one that makes them both hard to categorize or to forget — that shows the industry the way forward. So yeah, simple stuff.

Trend-wise, we’ll see. More than most categories, I think Titanium will see robust discussion in the room help shape the outcome.

Which metrics wow you in a case study, and which ones don’t?

In my mind, metrics don’t make a winner — great work does. But metrics can definitely limit how far a case will go. In the end, you’re looking for a great idea, a concept that’s been executed to perfection, at scale and with real-world impact. In that specific order.

Which cases are going to collect more Titanium Lions than ever?

Ah, not getting tricked into that one! Cannes’ jury guidelines might be lengthy, but I know better than to share info on potential winners.

You’re visiting the MMMMbassy this year. Which fellow representatives are you looking forward to meeting most?

For me, this is all about celebrating and commiserating with our clients and colleagues depending on the results of the week. It’s also a great place to run into random friends and frenemies for a beer and a high-five.

Lastly, when have you ever wished you had diplomatic immunity to do whatever you wanted to do?

My only reason for diplomatic immunity is to get to use the special lane at the airports… imagine the time saved.

Sophie te Pas, Digital Creative Director and Juror of Mobile Lions

What does it mean to you to be a jury member for Cannes?

We all know perfectly well how much blood, sweat and tears go into creating and producing a digital campaign. Wanting to respect that, I definitely feel the weight of the responsibility that comes with the job (insert Uncle Ben meme). But that doesn’t stop me from feeling incredibly proud to judge the world’s best work with some of the industry’s most innovative minds.

Which campaigns are going to collect more Mobile Lions than ever this year?

I can’t name names, but I believe in campaigns that serve a purpose, manage to connect with the brand, have meaning and put the consumer first by using technology to enhance the user experience rather than making use of it to win awards. Creating a good campaign takes courage and bravery from everyone involved.

What do you expect to learn from judging?

As a creative on several MassiveMusic x MediaMonks parties of festivals past, I’ve seen my fair share of promenades and parties. But this year, attending Cannes as a juror, it’s different. What I’m looking forward to the most is sharing passionate discussions about the work and gathering insights and different perspectives from my fellow judges’ creative minds.

You’re visiting the MMMMbassy this year. Which fellow diplomats are you looking forward to meeting?

For me, the party is less about meeting high-profiled peers, and more about those completely irrational, passionate stories with beautiful strangers and pulling some awkward dance moves for the greater good. Plus, if you’re not just in it for Insta-fame, you’re a winner in my book.

Lastly, when have you ever wished you had diplomatic immunity to do whatever you wanted?

Free Your MMMMind. I faintly remember wishing for a helicopter to pick me up and transport me to a nearby rooftop pool the day after.

The Dutch Digital Design collective (an initiative to unite, celebrate and create awareness on digital design from The Netherlands) compiled a series of video interviews from this year’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity,

Below we’ve included their interview with our founder Wesley ter Har, amongst others, as well as a wrap-up article published on The Drum –

In advance of taking part in the fourth ‘Embassy of Dutch Creativity’ trade mission to this year’s Cannes Lions, the Dutch Digital Design collective of agencies has released a series of video interviews with a selection of the Netherland’s key digital players.

Exploring topics such as Dutch influence on digital design globally, the advantage of a Dutch outlook to digital production and the coming of “a new Dutch Golden Age”, the video series features figures including Wesley ter Haar, founder of MediaMonks, Dick Buschman, founder of Achtung! mcgarrybowen, and Bert Hagendoorn, the founder of the Dutch Digital Design initiative.

Watch all seven of the Dutch Digital Design collective’s interviews.

ter Haar of MediaMonks, a digital production agency with offices around the world, believes the Dutch mentality is particularly well-suited to digital creativity: “There is a practicality and creativity to it, but we also don’t take ourselves too seriously. If you look at the Internet – or digital in general – it is about not taking yourself too seriously. The weirdest things work online.”

In his video interview, Buschman of digital agency Achtung! mcgarrybowen, also discusses the Dutch character as being an important factor in the nation’s digital design output. He says: “The Dutch are Calvinistic, maybe a little bit, so they cut all the unnecessary things off. That can lead to digital solutions being very functional, but I think what a lot of Dutch agencies also bring is that they add a subtle something to it, that takes it from functional to something more likeable.”

Hagendoorn of Dutch Digital Design expands: “The Dutch are very focused on putting the user first. The other thing is we dare to experiment and explore boundaries, to come up with innovative ideas. And the Dutch accustomed to working with different cultures and disciplines. We do not only care about the aesthetics, but also how it works, making it effective.”

To watch all the interviews and read The Drum’s full recap of the series, click here.