National CineMedia Announces Top 25 US Young Lions Competition Finalist Teams
- NCM
- 1 day ago
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Introduces Webinar Series for Young Lions Community from PMCI (Publicis Media Content & Innovation), 2026 Competition Title Sponsor
NEW YORK – March 23, 2026 – National CineMedia (NASDAQ:NCMI) (“NCM”), the largest cinema advertising platform in the US and the US Representative of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, today announced this year’s US Young Lions competition finalists. The 25 finalist teams include:
Digital Finalists:
Jonathan Arias, Rebecca Weinstein; FleishmanHillard
Olivia Hur; Jacques, Patricia Fawcett; Havas Lynx
Andrew Grechko, Clem Mark; Jacque Madison
Kristin Flanigan, Lauren Cooper; RemedyEdge
Kate Nations, Shruti Ashok; JellyFish
Film Finalists:
Corinne Baker, Lorianna Logan; Area 23
Catarina Barcala Gosende; VML Commerce, Palak Kapadia; Amazon Brand Innovation Lab
Christopher Rosenbalm; Creative Circle, Truman Florence; Mischief
Michele Manco, Quynh Tran; Goodby, Silverstein & Partners
Andrew Rhee; Google Creative Lab, Dillon Hansen; BBH USA
Media Finalists:
Lilly Kate Hollis, Sophia Hemsey; Digitas
Casey Wolk, Justin Lauture; Mediahub
Jessica Conway, Riley Myles; PHD Media
Lauren Waldrop; Spark Foundry, Marina DiAntonio; VML
Mignon Daly, Stephanie Collins; GSD&M
PR Finalists:
Florencia Luna, Vishwa Patel; Burson Global
June Hernandez, Valiant Freeman; Weber Shandwick
Hannah Dodds, Sydney Maxwell; VML Health
Krysten Wagner, TreVaughn Allison; THE·TEAM
Moira Bullock, Treston Espada; Burson Global
Print Finalists:
Lexey Watson, Meredyth Staunch; Digitas
Julia Muell; Wieden & Kennedy, Megan Lange; TBWA/Chiat/Day
Ashlyn Elggren, Blythe Broadbin; Johannes Leonardo
Aubrie Cardon; BBH, Kendelle Cragun; Crispin
Nicole Framm, Sophie Knochenhauer; FCB NY (BBDO)
This year’s brief challenged competitors to reimagine the annual fundraising efforts of Save The Music, the nonprofit partner for the 2026 US Young Lions competition, with the goal of engaging a new generation of music lovers.
“This year's finalists showed that creativity and measurable business impact aren't at odds; they're inseparable. The thinking was expansive, the strategies were sharp, and the work was grounded in outcomes that matter. Each category showcased experience planning at its best, and it was a privilege to witness that spirit so strongly reflected in the next generation of talent,” said juror Erin Vogel, EVP/Strategy & Experience Design, Starcom.
As title sponsor for the Young Lions competition, PMCI (Publicis Media Content & Innovation) will host two virtual webinars open to the US Lions Community, both of which are centered on helping young creatives grow and thrive in their industry.
Career Development: Finding Great Roles and Making the Best of Them: April 7, 2026, at 1pm EST
Eric Levin, Chief Creative Officer of Publicis Media, will lead a roundtable discussion on how to engineer the career you want. He will share that no career path is linear and will teach how larger corporations find and nurture great talent in today’s modern workplace.
The Future of Entertainment Through a Marketing Lens: April 8, 2026, at 1pm EST
This webinar will explore how brands can authentically and effectively integrate into culture and content, with a particular focus on the growing impact of women in sports. Attendees will gain insight into strategies that drive meaningful engagement while maximizing efficiency and cultural relevance.
Additionally, PMCI will sponsor the merchandise which TEAM USA will receive and wear on-site at Cannes, including a linen shirt, a hat, sunglasses, and a water bottle. The company will also host the finalist presentation for the Media category of the competition.
“We’re proud to support the US Young Lions program as the first Title Sponsor, allowing us to invest in the next generation of creative and media talent,” said Eric Levin, CCO of PMCI (Publicis Media Content & Innovation). “The work presented this year shows a strong understanding of how brands can show up meaningfully in culture today, and we’re excited to help champion that talent on the global stage.”
For additional information about the US Lions Community, visit:
About National CineMedia, Inc.
National CineMedia, Inc. (NCM, NASDAQ:NCMI) is the largest cinema advertising platform in the U.S. With unparalleled reach and scale, NCM connects brands to sought-after young, diverse audiences through the power of movies and pop culture. A premium video, full-funnel marketing solution for advertisers, NCM enhances marketers' ability to measure and drive results. NCM’s Noovie® Show is presented exclusively in 41 leading national and regional theater circuits including the only three national chains, AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE:AMC), Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CNK) and Regal Entertainment Group (a subsidiary of Cineworld Group PLC). NCM’s cinema advertising platform consists of more than 17,000 screens in over 1,300 theaters in 184 Designated Market Areas® (all of the top 50). NCM is the managing member and owner of 100% of National CineMedia, LLC (NCM LLC). For more information, visit www.ncm.com.
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