Four Dentsu Creative Talents Claim Young Lions China Championship

Last week in Beijing, the Cannes 2025 Young Lions China competition came alive, celebrating talent and creativity as champions, runners-up, and third-place winners emerged from seven categories: Digital, Media, Story Design, Print, Film, Marketers, and PR.

Dentsu Creative has made a splash this year with nine teams nominated across six categories, each showcasing their creative prowess in the final round. Among the standout performances, Danni Liu & Biko Lin emerged as champions in the Digital category, while Pu Li and Jody Guo clinched victory in Film. Additionally, a special accolade goes to Suzy Su and Zhanghan Jin, who attained third place in the Story Design category with their impressive presentation.

This June, Dentsu Creative’s champions will represent China’s next wave of creative talent at the prestigious global competition in Cannes, France. Remarkably, this marks the third consecutive year since 2023 that Dentsu Creative China has brought extraordinary young creatives into the international spotlight.

Danni Liu, senior copywriter said, “Our time in this competitive arena has been a treasure trove of insights! In our everyday roles, we often juggle multiple facets of a brief, but on the competition stage, honing in on a single core idea becomes essential. When it comes to storytelling, even subtle techniques can create significant impact—whether it’s posing a question to build suspense or weaving in a dramatic twist to ignite curiosity. With judges sifting through numerous entries in a limited timeframe, lengthy introductions can be a burden. What truly makes you stand out? Clear insights, a powerful and direct concept, and a confident delivery - that’s the formula for leaving a lasting impression.”

Biko (Yuhang) Lin, designer said “Personally, the greatest takeaway for me was a newfound confidence. While I’ve participated in competitions before, I’ve never clinched a win (ouch!), so this victory truly energised me. However, those earlier experiences taught me the importance of remaining calm and collected during the pitch and Q&A this time around. I was also inspired by the brilliant visual ideas from my teammates, fuelling my determination to keep learning and evolving. I'm grateful for every opportunity to grow—Cannes, here we come!”

DANNI LIU & BIKO (YUHANG) LIN - CHAMPIONS IN DIGITAL

Pu Li, video producer said, “The thrill of excitement mixed with a dash of nerves was absolutely real! I’m immensely grateful for the opportunity to embrace a bigger stage for my personal growth and learning. I owe a huge thank you to the company, the Young Lions, my incredible colleagues, my wonderful partner Jody—and most importantly, to myself for taking this leap.”

Jody (Qiudi) Guo, planner said, “Inside the venue, I was immersed in a fascinating tapestry of ideas—some sparked memories of my own initial ‘drafts,’ while others were concepts I had discarded in doubt. Some immediately captivated me with their profound insight, while others introduced perspectives I’d never considered. Witnessing the myriad ways a brief can evolve was nothing short of inspiring, urging me to continuously seek fresh angles in my work.”

PU LI & JODY (QIUDI) GUO - CHAMPIONS IN FILM

Suzy (Xiaoqing) Su, copywriter said, “Talented young creatives from all over the country have dazzled with their limitless imagination and visionary insights, crafting ideas that truly stand out. From breaking conventional storytelling boundaries to blending aesthetic beauty with commercial appeal, they’ve continually reshaped my view of what creativity can be. The experience has been incredibly rewarding, while also sharpening my focus on the path ahead for further growth.”

Zhanghan Jin, designer said, “Young Lions felt like stepping into a workshop of wild ideas and sharp minds. I watched brilliant teams bring briefs to life in ways I hadn’t imagined, and along the way, I picked up new ways of thinking from across different perspectives. For me, the biggest breakthrough wasn’t just creative - it was personal: I finally faced down my fear of public speaking. Huge thanks to my teammate, who helped shape our thoughts into clear, compelling language and taught me so much in the process. If I get the chance to return next year, I hope to enter with an even wider lens—thinking in more angles, digging deeper into culture, and bringing ideas that speak louder, think sharper, and land stronger.”

SUZY (XIAOQING) SU & ZHANGHAN JIN - THIRD PLACE IN STORY DESIGN

ZOE (WENYUE) ZUO, MEDIA PLANNER FROM CARAT and YINAN ZHANG, PLANNER - FINALISTS IN MEDIA

DANI (DANDAN) YANG, SENIOR COPYWRITER and STELLA (YUXIN) WU, COPYWRITER - FINALISTS IN FILM & DIGITAL

FAN BAI, SENIOR COPYWRITER and OLIVER (ZITANG) WU, GROUP HEAD - FINALISTS IN FILM

ECOL (KE) YU, ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR and ING (YING) LIANG, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE - FINALISTS IN PRINT

DAISY (WEIXUAN) DENG, SENIOR COPYWRITER and LUNA (XIAOFANG) NONG, ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR - FINALISTS IN FILM

BUER (JIUWEI) LI, COPY DIRECTOR and JASON (JIAN) MA, ACCOUNT MANAGER - FINALISTS IN PR