Cannes Contenders: South Africa

KFC - Beyond the Sea

This is such a great, evocative, feel-good story about the lengths we will go for the taste of KFC; the heaviness of longing when you’re far away, even for chicken, is palpable. 

Directed by Kim Geldenhuys and produced by 0307 Films, the ad is set on Marion Island Antarctic Research Facility which is 2000km of choppy ocean away from the mainland and the nearest KFC, you’re desperately rooting for our two unlikely heroes as their determination grows and their plan comes alive. Set to the music of Comin’ Home Baby. 

Nedbank Youth - Class of 76

This is a stand-out, spine-tingling and powerful piece of storytelling from Zee Ntuli at Darling Films in tribute to the students who fought for freedom during the 1976 Soweto Uprising, told through mesmerising imagery as signwriter Mangaliso Ngcobo writes the name of a fallen student. 

Chicken Licken - Piki Piki Mabelane

Giant Films' Director Karien Cherry’s brilliance and empathy as a storyteller is front and centre as we follow our lovable, debilitatingly indecisive hero through the nightmare of daily choices; our relief, and joy, at the end are real when he doesn’t have to make a choice.

KFC - Bottomless Bucket

This is a craft gem from Zee Ntuli at Darling Films. We loved the way the tension builds, the mix of sci-fi, thriller, and comedy; the true understanding of how seriously we take our chicken. Every character depiction is perfect, from the aunties to granny tucking in to the chicken to the hero himself as he tries to escape with the now legendary bottomless bucket.

Chicken Licken - Waste-Paper Basket / Quiz Show

The belief that “It’s the little things that satisfy us most” is at the core of this campaign that focuses on deeply personal and utterly relatable moments of triumph; from scoring the ball of paper into the wastepaper bin to getting the quiz show question right. Romance Films' Greg Gray’s depiction of the understated “win” at the end of each ad is so on point it’s another craft masterpiece.