UFCJC Study Abroad Program provided French cultural immersion and access to the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity

A cohort of University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) students participated in the summer study abroad program 2026 UF in Cannes: The Cannes Lions Experience. The four-week program, built around the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, the largest branded communication festival in the world, included 23 students from the Advertising, Public Relations and Media Production, Management, and Technology (MPMT) departments.

Students Gator chomp at an event organized by UF alum and Advertising Advisory Board member Jonathan Adams — Event organized by UF alum and Advertising Advisory Board member Jonathan Adams, who is the WPP Global Client Lead working on the Amazon XCM client.

Students with Advertising Advisory Board member Neisha Tweed Bell.

Students and faculty visit Cannes Bastide Rouge’s Production Studios.

Students and faculty visit Les Studios de la Victorine, a historic film production site.

Students with PR faculty member Christine Bucan at the Cannes Lions Festival.

Faculty – Santiago Kember, Kim Fowler, Christine Bucan, Kasey Windels.

The group, led by UFCJC Advertising Associate Professor Kasey Windels and MPMT Lecturer Kim Fowler, spent four weeks online learning about creativity and storytelling followed by 17 days in Cannes, France for cultural immersion and to attend the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity.

During the immersion period, they visited nearby cities such as Nice, Antibes, and Saint-Paul-de-Vence to see museums and film production studios. At Cannes Lions, the students heard talks from top marketers, such as AB InBev Global Chief Marketing Officer Marcel Marcondes, along with CMOs from Kraft Heinz, L’Oréal, McDonald’s and Sephora.

They also learned about the creative strategies for popular brands such as eos and Heineken and viewed presentations from celebrities including Oprah Winfrey and Seth Meyers. A highlight of the event was the opportunity to view the “best in class” creative work across 20 categories, including print, film, design, public relations and health and wellness.

Other faculty members attending the festival were Advertising Lecturer Santiago Kember and Public Relations Professional in Residence Christine Bucan. Advertising Instructional Professor Elizabeth “Lissy” Calienes was there to serve in her role as the dean of the Roger Hatchuel Student Academy, a prestigious program that provides an intense, immersive learning experience during Cannes Lions for 30 selected students from around the world.

Category: College News, Student News
Tagged: Advertising Cannes Lions Festival Christine Bucan Elizabeth "Lissy" Calienes Kasey Windels Kim Fowler MPMT Public Relations
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UFCJC Study Abroad Program provided French cultural immersion and access to the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity

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