Cannes Isn’t Where Ideas End, It’s Also Where They Start

Speaker

Sonita AlizadehHuman Rights Activist | Music and Advocacy

About this talk

What happens when an artist stands on one of the world’s biggest stages and admits she’s afraid? In 2025, Sonita did exactly that. Her unscripted plea, “I am alone, and I need your help”, didn’t just move an audience, it moved people to act. This session traces what followed: a cross-sector collaboration between an artist, a brand and an NGO that turned a moment of raw vulnerability into Donate Your Voice, a global initiative raising awareness and funds for Afghan women. From recording a chorus to launching an open call for voices worldwide, to weaving those contributions into a finished piece of work, the session unpacks the strategic and creative decisions that transformed discomfort into momentum and momentum into measurable impact aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The lesson isn’t about Cannes Lions. It’s about what courage on a stage can unlock in the real world, and why the most powerful creative collaborations often begin in the places we least expect them to.