Brooklyn, New York – (June 17, 2025) – Director Marc André Debruyne of Open Swim has been honored with a Silver Lion at the 2025 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, alongside three Gold and three Silver Awards at the 2025 Marketing Awards, for his work on Coca-Cola’s “Balikbayan Magic” campaign.
The wins include Gold in Holiday/Seasonal Advertising, Out-of-Home and Experiential/Special Events/Stunts, and Silver in Integrated Campaign, Direct, and Online Video – Long-Form. The campaign was also shortlisted in several additional categories at Cannes.
“These awards mean a lot to me, as this piece was very close to my heart,” shares Debruyne. “I’m bicultural, and one of my cultures is celebrated in this work. It’s rare that a global brand does that. In addition, the star that Rosita shuts off at the end belonged to my late mother, and I see so much of her in this. I’m proud to be sharing such a truthful celebration and grateful to everyone who made this possible and sees the beauty in this work. “
“I’m so honored to collaborate with the people in our pool,” adds Open Swim EP, Amyliz Pera. “They bring such sensitivity to their work. These awards are a testament to a current quest for truth, and this team should be very proud that they’ve achieved that with this.”
About Open Swim:
We make things. Sometimes for you and sometimes for us. We advise, create, and execute as a collective supported by a core team. From strategic creative concepting to finish, we do whatever pieces of the process you need us to take on. We stay until the end and even afterwards to evolve the work from learnings. We really like being streamlined. Less layers. More making.
