Cannes Jury Spotlight: Javier Rodriguez

At Cannes Lions, the world’s premier festival recognizing creative excellence, thousands of entries pour in from countries worldwide. Behind the scenes, a carefully selected panel of judges reviews the work that will ultimately take home a coveted Cannes Lion.

Joining the ranks of the industry’s most recognized and respected creative professionals, Javier Rodriguez, ECD at VMLY&R Spain, is serving as a juror for Health & Wellness Lions.

Javier started working in 2000 for clients such as the Healthcare and Social Policy Ministry of Spain, Amirall, Pfizer, Roche, AstraZeneca, GSK, Abbott, Schering-Plough, Novartis, and MSD, among others. He has worked at Grey, Publicis Healthcare Communications Group, MK Media and Global Healthcare.

In 2010, Javier started working as executive creative director at Sudler Spain (now VMLY&Rx). He has been on the jury at the El Sol, Eurobest and Aspid awards. He is the winner of several awards such as the Global Awards, El Sol, and Aspids, and was a finalist in the New York Festivals Advertising Awards.

Describe creativity during the pandemic in one sentence.

I thought there would be many entries on this topic because it was the health section, but it was a surprise that there wasn’t.

Is there anything you are looking for in the entries of the category you are judging?

Creativity and things that, through creativity, really change people’s lives.    

What makes you passionate about the category you were nominated to judge?

The possibility of changing people’s lives by drawing the attention of the public (medical or general public) through unique creativity.

What do you hope to take away from judging at Cannes?

Not original or boring ideas. Things that don’t move people to act, to change the world.