HILL & KNOWLTON AND ANGRY BIRDS PARTNER FOR CANNES LIONS 2011
Bangkok, 27 May 2011 - Hill & Knowlton is partnering with Angry Birds creators, Rovio Mobile, to host a seminar at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, on what brands can learn from the phenomenally successful game.
Hill & Knowlton’s seminar will feature Peter Vesterbacka, the ‘Mighty Eagle’ at Rovio Mobile, makers of Angry Birds. Peter will tell the story behind the hugely popular game and talk about the changing landscape of mobile. The seminar will investigate whether gamification can turn work into play and thereby increase brand engagement.
“This is a great honour”, said Tony Burgess-Webb, chief marketing officer of Hill & Knowlton. “Creativity is fundamental to effective communications and Cannes Lions is the epi-centre for creativity in communications. By getting actively involved, we have tried to set a lead for the PR industry worldwide.”
The seminar will take place on Tuesday 21 June at 17:30 in the Debussy Theatre in the Palais des Festivals, and will include a Q&A via Twitter moderated by H&K’s Global Strategy Director, Amanda Groty. Use #HKCannes and follow @HillandKnowlton to join in the conversation in advance and during the festival.
Speaking about the event, Candace Kuss, Lead Counsel, Planning & Interactive Strategy said: "Every year, H&K brings a speaker to Cannes that is outside the marketing agency microcosm, but represents a disruptive or inspirational interactive force. We had Biz Stone of Twitter in 2009 and Charlie Todd of Improv Everywhere in 2010. 2011 is when Angry Birds went from casual game to cultural giant. We think festival goers will enjoy learning from Rovio's insights into addiction."
The Cannes Lions learning programme features 57 world-class seminars across seven days inside the Palais des Festivals. Thought-leaders and experts in all forms of communications and creative thinking come together from across the world to share ideas, inspire and debate at the Festival.