The Gerety VIP Diamond BBQ brought together past and present jury members, agency leaders, creatives, brand executives and members of the Gerety community to celebrate the 2026 shortlist in Cannes.
The event was held at the Gerety Villa overlooking the French Riviera. It provided an opportunity for guests to reconnect, celebrate the shortlisted work and continue conversations that began during this year’s judging sessions.
The Gerety VIP Diamond BBQ and shortlist celebration was made possible thanks to Tantor Films and the support of Mastercard, SheSays, Insider Latam and The Experience Lab.
Before the BBQ, Gerety Awards spoke with Grand Jury member Polina Vidas, Head of Marketing and Communications Bulgaria at Mastercard.
Guests received the symbolic brooch inspired by Frances Gerety, the copywriter who coined the slogan “A Diamond is Forever,” celebrating the award’s namesake.
This year’s Awards featured more than 260 judges from over 50 countries, with executive jury sessions taking place across 15 locations worldwide. The highest-scoring campaigns selected by the juries were celebrated throughout the week, with several agencies and creative teams hosting internal screenings of the Gerety Shortlist Reel.
Ingrid Bragemann, founder and partner at Tantor Films and Tusk Content, shared a message with guests.
“We all know that things are changing rapidly. Artificial intelligence and virtual worlds are becoming more present in every aspect of our lives. We do not deny progress — in fact, we embrace it — but as a production company working for people, and as developers and mentors of young talent, we believe it is vital to keep communities connected and protect what is truly essential: the human essence behind creativity. Today more than ever, we are committed to promoting the spirit of unity and joy that defines us.”
Deborah Mayer, founder of Iron Dames, owner of Cannes Stars and Iron Lynx Motorsport Lab, and majority shareholder of PREMA Racing, addressed the guests. Speaking to international agency leaders, brand executives and creative decision-makers gathered at the event, Mayer shared her vision behind Iron Dames and her perspective on leadership, opportunity and creating lasting change.
As the only woman leading companies at the highest level of international motorsport, she spoke about becoming a “Builder of Possibility” — turning passion into purpose, challenging accepted assumptions, creating opportunities before success is visible and making the path wider for those who come next.
“I never believed women needed different standards. They just deserved the same opportunity to meet them. And when women are given the chance, they do not simply participate. They win. They lead. They inspire. You do not force excellence. You create the conditions in which excellence can emerge.”
Beyond motorsport, Iron Dames continues to champion female talent and leadership across multiple disciplines. Deborah joined the event thanks to Heather Heller, Founder of The Experience Lab, an experiential and content platform designed to create culturally relevant, data-driven environments where brands, athletes, and audiences connect, with the goal of bringing to life human experiences and human connections.
The Gerety Awards continue to provide a global platform for creative work, judged according to the originality of the idea and the quality of its execution.
