Kansas City ad agency VML wins big at Cannes festival

This past February, while the Denver Broncos were beating the Carolina Panthers, Gatorade ran one of the more popular Super Bowl ads.

But it wasn’t on TV.

The ad was on Snapchat. A sponsored lens allowed users to virtually douse themselves with Gatorade. Created by Kansas City-based marketing agency VML, the Gatorade ad won five awards at the Cannes International Festival of Creativity held last week in Cannes, France.

VML took home 11 awards, or Cannes Lions. It’s the international ad agency’s best showing at the festival. Overall, 10 of VML’s clients received recognition.

“As we reflect on the wins, it’s great to see the breadth of categories VML is winning across — from film to cyber to print,” said Debbi Vandeven, VML’s global chief creative officer, in a news release. “Our unique balance of creativity and technology is shining through.”

PASSOP, a South Africa-based nonprofit focused on human rights, won gold and bronze lions for campaigns created by VML.

PASSOP ran an “I am Muslim” campaign in the wake of the Brussels attack. According to a video about the campaign, the goal was to “remind the world that being Muslim doesn’t make someone a terrorist.”

VML also helped the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development create a website focusing on vacationing in the Volunteer State. The website won silver and bronze lions.

This story was originally published June 29, 2016 at 5:46 PM with the headline "Kansas City ad agency VML wins big at Cannes festival."