Bear Meets Eagle On Fire with +61 and Revolver take out the Cannes Film Craft Grand Prix for Telstra ‘Better on a Better Network’

Australia has made a strong showing in Film Craft at Cannes Lions, led by Bear Meets Eagle On Fire with +61 and Revolver, which has claimed the coveted Grand Prix for Telstra ‘Better on a Better Network’.

In total, Australia walked away with the Film Craft Grand Prix, five Gold Lions, two Silver Lions and three Bronze Lions.

Bear Meets Eagle On Fire with +61 and Revolver earned both the Grand Prix and a Gold Lion for Telstra ‘Better on a Better Network’, while Revolver, Bear Meets Eagle On Fire with +61 were awarded a Gold Lion and a Silver Lion for Telstra ‘Donkey’. Revolver, Bear Meets Eagle On Fire with +61 also picked up a Bronze Lion for Telstra ‘The Shoemaker’.

It was a huge night for Revolver, with several of its international campaigns also taking home metal. Channel 4’s ‘Paris Paralympics 2024: Considering What?’, created in collaboration with Biscuit Filmworks and 4Creative, won two Gold Lions and a Bronze. Meanwhile, ‘A Tale As Old As Websites’ for Squarespace, created with Biscuit Filmworks and Bodacious Dublin, earned a Gold, a Silver, and a Bronze Lion. Both campaigns were directed by Australia’s Steve Rogers.

Telstra’s Grand Prix winning ‘Better on a Better Network’ campaign featured 26 stop-motion films, each of which focused on a specific location around Australia and the uniquely idiosyncratic characters who live there and benefit from better coverage. The result is an undeniably Australian series of spots built around the idea that everywhere is better on a better network.

Cast from a wide variety of authentic Australians from all over the country, the campaign brought to life everyone from father-and-son krill and blokey wattle flowers to larping Tasmanian devils and teenage goth cockatoos.

To bring this series to life, BMEOF and +61 partnered with award winning director Jeff Low at Revolver. Low brought on acclaimed animation director Tobias Fouracre, whose experience on Isle of Dogs and Fantastic Mr Fox made the duo perfectly suited to bring the unique production to life.

Says President of the Jury Ali Ali, Co-Founder and Film Director, Good People Films: “Before we could vote, the Grand Prix revealed itself slowly, like great work often does. In a year dominated by AI and digital gloss, Telstra’s Better on a Better Network felt like a breath of fresh air. Tactile, intimate, and deeply human. It reminded us why we fell in love with this industry. Fifty-six unique puppets animating 42 voices from regional Australians, across 26 stop-motion gems. All simple, all funny, all full of soul. Measured writing, inspired characters – and yes, a bird flying backwards. In a fast-content era, ‘Better on a Better Network’ felt like a warm, slow-cooked meal.”

Download the Film Craft Lions Winners List