The VOWSS showcase is an initiative by SheSays and The Voice of a Woman (VOW), which features the work of filmmakers, creative leaders and risk-takers from around the world.

On June 21 at this year’s Cannes Lions, The VOWSS will screen a selection of the best short films – commercials, branded content, dramas, documentaries, art/experimental-films and music-videos – created by women internationally. The event will then be part of Cannes Lions Festival every year.

Submissions are open now for any piece of work directed or creatively directed by a woman until the deadline of May 11 2017. There is no cost to submit an entry.

Independent London creative agency, Mr. President; media group, Rise, and Facebook Creative Shop are its lead sponsors and supporters. Additional support is coming from WAVE Studios and Digital Doughnut.

And it matters to a group of industries that have to triumph over their diversity problems to be relevant.

The VOWSS Jury, which includes Colleen DeCourcy, chief creative officer at Wieden + Kennedy and Sarah Watson, global chief strategy officer at BBH, will award one woman for her work.

Five new directors, selected by the jury, will also be screened during Lions Entertainment during the Cannes Lions Festival.

Laura Jordan Bambach, founder of SheSays and chief creative officer of Mr. President, explained, “We created The VOWSS as a forum to celebrate incredible creative work led and directed by women. We believe that women need to be seen as creative superstars as much as agents of change. There’s more to senior women’s voices than talking about women in the industry or the way they are represented in advertising. We’re done just talking about the issues, now we want to show off the great creative work we make too.”

The jury includes rock stars of advertising and leaders in film, virtual reality (VR) and Hollywood:

• Maureen Bryan, US/UK, Founder at The Voice of a Woman
• Colleen DeCourcy, Chief Creative Officer at Wieden + Kennedy
• Laura Gregory, Founder & CEO of Great Guns
• Lizi Hamer, Creative Director, Octagon
• Laura Jordan Bambach, Chief Creative Officer at Mr President and Co-founder SheSays
• Nils Leonard, former Chairman/CCO, Grey
• Charney Magri, Founder, RISE
• Katie Puris, Facebook Creative Shop
• Fernanda Romano, Strategy and Creative Partner, Malagueta Group
• Andy Sandoz, past president D&AD and former ECD Havas
• Tista Sen, Senior Vice President & National CD at JWT
• Resh Sidhu, Virtual Reality Creative Director, Framestore
• Sarah Watson, Global Chief Strategy Officer, BBH

Maureen A. Bryan, founder of The Voice of A Woman, commented, “Of the top 250 grossing films in 2016, only 9% of directors were women. Since 2009, The Voice of A Woman has celebrated authentic voices of women rarely seen in the mainstream. We’re proud to partner with SheSays to feature the works of women internationally, works rarely seen or acknowledged, and work with She Says globally to help to develop and nurture new and emerging voices within the communications sector.”

Colleen DeCourcy, chief creative officer of Wieden + Kennedy, added: “We can talk about gender equity in our business and how important it is to promote women, but creativity is a proof-based business.  Equity is never going to happen until we promote the WORK of women. If you want to see great work by women in Cannes, en masse, that’ll blow your mind and make you wish you didn’t have a penis, you’ll want to find time for The VOWSS this year.”

The VOWSS takes place from 2:00-6:00pm local time on 21 June 2017 at Cinema Les Arcades in Cannes, France. Film screenings will be followed by live interviews and panel discussions. The award for the best work of an individual or team will presented at the launch party.

On 22 June 2017, The VOWSS will present a showcase of new directors’ work at 1:00-1:30pm local time at Lions Entertainment event at Cannes Lions.