Emerging talent crowned

News Limited has announced the three winning teams across the Print, Cyber and Media categories of the 2010 Young Lions Competition.

Maura Tuohy from UM and Eb Yusuf from OMD led the competition in the second round 24-hour brief challenge to take first place in the Media category.

Jim Curtis and Erwin Santoso from DDB beat 24 other finalists to take the top spot in the Print category while Nicholas Kelly and Calvin Teoh from Clemenger BBDO Melbourne won the Cyber category.

All three briefs for the final round of competition were for the ReachOut brand asking entrants to develop a response within 24 hours addressing the issue of binge drinking among young people.

Winning teams will represent Australia at the 2010 Young Lions Competition in Cannes held between June 20 to June 26, and will compete against an international field of Young Lions from around the world.

The News Limited sponsored Young Lions will receive return flights to Nice, accommodation and a Young Lions registration to the Cannes Festival with access to all the seminars, awards ceremonies, showcases and the Young Lions party.

News Limited group director of marketing: advertising and integration Garth Agius said, "This years Young Lions entries moved to a new level and resulted in a team of six strong creative minds going to Cannes. The quality of submission across each category rises every year and we're delighted the program can play a role to promote and recognise great creative talent throughout the industry."

To be crowned winners, teams in each category competed in two rounds of competition with the second round format of a 24-hour brief challenge simulating the Cannes Young Lions format.

With over 50 judges involved in assessing the entries it was a process designed to find the strongest teams nationally across all three categories and best prepare them for their experience in Cannes.

Brett Dawson of Ikon Communications said the standard of entries in the Media category overall was excellent, but there could be only one winner.

"We awarded Maura and Eb for a big idea grounded in a true insight, brilliantly articulated. They're in for an amazing ride, we wish them luck in Cannes and have full confidence in them doing the Australian media industry proud."

Dejan Rasic, executive creative director of Colman Rasic was involved in the judging of the Print category and commented on the winning submission from DDB.

"Overall, there was a good level of thinking this year, however it was difficult to go past this campaign. It nailed a compelling truth about the consequences of binge drinking and was brought to life with a visual that communicated that message very efficiently. Congratulations to the winners and best of luck in Cannes."

The winning submissions in the Print and Cyber categories along with the finalist entries can be viewed on the OzCannes website at www.ozcannes.com.au.