The Gerety VIP BBQ returned to Cannes this year and proved, once again, why it’s one of the most anticipated—and flavorful—industry events during Lions week.
Hosted at a new villa with sweeping views of the French Riviera, this year’s edition brought together past and present jury members, friends of the Gerety Awards, and industry leaders for an evening of celebration, community, and a little culinary flair. The atmosphere was electric: Latin beats, juicy grilled fare, and those signature Gerety vibes kept the party buzzing well into the night.
While the BBQ always brings good energy, this year it also delivered two exclusive prizes, awarded to attendees who wore the “lucky brooch” handed out at the door. The brooch, a subtle tribute to Frances Gerety—the woman behind the iconic slogan “A Diamond is Forever”—has become a charming annual tradition.
Spotlight on the Prizes
ATM Virtual, a state-of-the-art virtual production studio based in Warsaw, Poland, awarded a major prize: €20,000 in virtual production services, including LED stage access, a full pre-lighting day, and expert technical support to help a visionary filmmaker bring their ideas to life.
Radosława Bardes, CEO of ATM Virtual, shared, “Through our partnership with the Gerety Awards, we’re proud to unlock and uplift promising, tech-forward storytelling.”
Meanwhile, Cinema Mobile made waves with the launch of its revolutionary mobile filmmaking system. Born from an 18-month collaboration between Ingrid Bragemann’s Tusk and ShiftCam, the company offers a professional cinema rig designed for smartphones—giving creators Hollywood-grade results with mobile freedom.
Their Cinema Mobile Trailblazer Kit was awarded to one deserving filmmaker. Sangita Verma, Managing Director of Cinema Mobile, stated, “We are deeply inspired by the Gerety mission to shine a light on the contributions of women in the film and advertising industries. Being a woman, I know what it means to forge new paths, to dream bigger, and to create opportunities where none existed before—because we must. That’s the heart of Cinema Mobile: giving filmmakers the power, freedom, and tools to break barriers and bring their creative visions to life. We are thrilled to support this incredible community by awarding our Cinema Mobile Trailblazer Kit to a deserving filmmaker. Her vision, her voice, her story—this is what inspires us. And we can’t wait to see what she creates.”
A Word from Tantor Films
Ingrid Bragemann, Founder and Partner at Tantorfilms and Tusk Content, shared this message with attendees: “This year, Tantorfilms wishes to share a special message. We all know that things are changing rapidly. Artificial intelligence and virtual worlds are becoming ever more present in every aspect of our lives.”
She added, “We do not deny progress — in fact, we embrace it — but as a production service company working for people, and as developers and mentors of young talent, we believe it is vital to keep communities connected and protect what is truly essential: the heart of every person in this world. We will continue to dedicate ourselves fully to the projects entrusted to us, but today more than ever, we are committed to promoting the spirit of unity and joy that defines us. Because without humans behind things, there is no love — and without love, there is no life”.
Brought to Life by Key Partners
This year’s Gerety BBQ was made possible by the support of Tantor Films, Ketchum, VML, Mastercard, and The Industry Club. Guests got a hands-on look at Ketchum’s shortlisted campaign “Liming with Gran” (yes, dominoes were played), and we also sat down with Jo-ann Robertson, CEO, Global Markets, for a candid conversation. Take a look at some photos below:
What Comes Next
Want to know what went into the Jury’s picks? You can watch the Jury Insight Panels now on-demand, featuring executive jury members from around the globe—New York to Southeast Asia, Brazil to Spain.
The Grand Jury is currently reviewing the shortlist to select this year’s winners, set to be revealed in September. Check out the complete 2025 Gerety Awards Shortlist at www.geretyawards.com
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