Cannes Lions Case Study

• Onsite Sign Language Interpreting Services: Coverage included all requested sessions on the main stages as well as ad-hoc and networking requests.
• Onsite Coordination: Managed scheduling, supported interpreters, and served as a direct point of contact for Deaf attendees.
• Communication Access Real-time Translation (CART) captioning (2025): Real-time captioning provided for all sessions in four languages, along with enhanced visibility through QR codes for easy access to live captions.

How it works: Interpreters listen to speakers and presenters in real time and interpret the spoken content into signed language. During workshops and networking, interpreters also voice for Deaf attendees, ensuring full participation in discussions, Q&A, and relationship-building moments.

"The coolest and most underrated part of Cannes Lions 2025 was the equity. I was part of the networking ASL team and got to see Deaf influencers just... live the experience. Grab a drink on the Terrace, pop into a session for 10 minutes, decide if they wanted to stay or head to the next thing, all without disrupting the ASL stage teams. It's the kind of freedom hearing people don't have to think about. Providing the Deaf community the same experience was everything."

- Maria (ASL Interpreter)

• 2024 service statistics and coverage: A team of 9 sign language interpreters provided general access on 2 main stages as well as ad hoc session requests.
• 2024 attendance notes: Services support all Deaf and hard of hearing attendees, with 1 Deaf participant requesting services at ad-hoc sessions.
• 2025 service statistics and coverage: A team of 14 sign language interpreters provided general access on 4 main stages as well as ad hoc session requests and networking support.
• 2025 attendance notes: Services support all Deaf and hard of hearing attendees, with 3 Deaf participants requesting daily networking support (9am to 5pm).

• Accessible Festival Experience: Deaf and hard-of-hearing attendees had access to both sign language interpretation and CART captioning. This approach supported diverse communication preferences and ensured inclusive access across sessions.
• Deaf Interpreter Expertise: Including Deaf Interpreters within the provider team enhanced communication clarity and cultural nuance. This elevates the quality of access for Deaf attendees and strengthens connections within the community.
• Participation Without Limits: Access was not limited to the main stages. Attendees could choose how they wanted to engage, whether attending ad-hoc sessions or focusing on networking events. This flexible model respected individual preferences.
• Flexible On-site Coordination: A dedicated on-site coordinator was essential for managing service delivery at a large, week-long conference. Real-time scheduling updates, clear communication with staff, and proactive problem-solving ensured consistent access throughout the event.
• Inclusive Industry Branding & Leadership: By prioritizing high-quality communication access across formats and environments, Cannes Lions strengthened its reputation as an inclusive, innovative leader in the global conference space.
• Challenges: Challenges are a natural part of the learning curve. Issues that emerged and the practical solutions recommended for continued improvement are detailed below.
• Scheduling: Challenge: Large interpreter team tours on Monday added stress to an already tight timeline. Solution: Schedule a paid two-hour window on Sunday for the ICS team to tour the venue, meet stage managers, and pick up badges in advance. This will ensure a smoother Monday.
• Registration: Challenge: An email sent by the Cannes Lions team to an interested Deaf attendee was unintentionally worded in a way that discouraged participation. Solution: To prevent miscommunication, ICS recommends a memo or response template for staff, outlining clear, welcoming language when responding to ASL or CART inquiries.
• Lighting: Challenge: Lighting shifts during video playback caused interpreters to go dark, leaving audiences without access to spoken content. Additionally, captions were not projected on-screen during video segments, further limiting accessibility. Solution: ICS strongly recommends that all session videos be pre-captioned in advance. Alternatively, coordinators should work closely with the Audio/Visual (AV) team to ensure interpreters remain visibly lit during video playback, maintaining consistent visual access.
• Improvement made in 2025: CART captioning: Recommendation: Provide CART captioning to support hard-of-hearing and non-signing attendees. Service improvement: CART captioning added in four languages.
• Improvement made in 2025: interpreter team size: Recommendation: Expand the interpreting provider team to ensure sufficient coverage. Service improvement: Two additional stages were made accessible by expanding the interpreting team.
• Improvement made in 2025: language range: Service improvement: While primarily requested for ASL, the interpreting team was purposefully selected to include providers fluent in IS (International Sign), BSL (British Sign Language), KSL (Korean Sign Language), and trilingual ASL-Spanish to meet potential language needs.

Connection at Conferences

"My experience at Cannes Lions has reminded me of one big truth: Genuine conversations can take you far. Outside of the bathroom (yup, not the most glamorous spot), someone randomly bumped into me and my team. That quick "hey" turned into a convo about sign language, and it turns out that person had info on a diversity creator program that fits perfectly with what we're building at my agency. We connected instantly but not just because of some pitch, but because it was real.

What also blew me away? The accessibility. I was able to request interpreters when I needed them, and CART was available to read what speakers were saying on stage. That kind of support makes a huge difference. I didn't have to fight for access and it was just there.

A huge thank you to Inclusive Communication Services for making sure both my team and I and others who needed access had interpreters and Deaf interpreters who really cared."

- Patrick McCullen from Inclusify Studios, 2025

The Power of Choice

"Before Cannes Lions, I had never attended a conference. I always thought, what's the point? If I can't understand the speaker or communicate easily with others, it's just a frustrating, inaccessible experience.

So when my first interpreted conference turned out to be a full week in France, I was nervous! But it ended up being unforgettable. I appreciated the access on the main stages for the big-name speakers, yet what truly inspired me were the smaller, ad-hoc sessions featuring lesser-known brands doing powerful work in their communities. The underdogs. As a Deaf professional, those stories hit home.

When Inclusive Communication Services said, build your schedule, send it to us, and we'll make it happen, I did, and they delivered. I'm so grateful."

- Rebecca Hull from Woodstove Studio, 2024

"As a Deaf interpreter, I had an incredible experience at Cannes Lions. ICS really shows up for the Deaf community, they advocate, they listen, and they value my feedback. Everything was explained well, I knew what to expect, and I felt confident going into my assignments to provide quality access."

- Heather (Deaf ASL Interpreter)