Well folks, after last year's cakewalk in predicting that Honda "Grrr" would win the biggie, we're back to a good old-fashioned jousting match. OK, maybe that's a bit dramatic, but we're looking to spice things up here. That's why we tapped some top CDs to tell us like they think it is. Thankfully for the bookmakers, there's not the same degree of unanimity amongst our luminaries as last year, but there still is a clear favorite emerging from the pack. "Darwin, is there a Charles Darwin in the room?" And it appears with Honda, it's possible to have too much of a good thing as many expect the carmaker's top-notch work to cannibalize itself. Come now, surely we've evolved beyond that!

Mark Tutssel
Chief Creative Officer, Leo Burnett Worldwide
The world's greatest sporting event is fast approaching and international football teams from around the world will soon assemble in Germany for the World Cup Finals.

But prior to this, the global advertising industry will gather in the South of France for their own tournament, the International Cannes Lions.

Which countries will win?

The UK, the tournament favorite, goes into this competition with an amazing array of work. Guinness "noitulovE", Sony Bravia "Balls", Teenage Road Safety "Cameraphone", Stella Artois "Ice Skating Priests", Orange "Blackout", FiveDVD.com "Cow", "Horses", "Pig", Honda "Choir" and "Impossible Dream". They will all return home with trophies.

Thailand also has a formidable selection of work destined to score big. Bangkok Insurance "Robbery", "Twister", "Tyre" and Smooth E will all make it to the stage.

The Australians come to France match-fit with a very funny body of work, Carlton Draught "Big Ad" and Lynx "Lynxjet". Humor always plays well at Cannes and this work will return Down Under with awards.

Italy looks set to strike Gold with the brilliant Ariston Aqualtis spot "Underwater World" from Leo Burnett.

The USA has some strong contenders. The Ameriquest campaign, Microsoft Xbox "Jump Rope", Nike "Kid Tiger" and Skittles "Beard" should perform well.

Latin America comes to the competition with good work from Argentina, for MTV "Father & Daughter" and Sprite "Desgracia", "Wanna" and "Insultos". Brazil holds the record for most goals scored at the World Cup with 191.

But this year, at the advertising World Cup, the most Golds will go to the team with three lions on their shirt, England.

Mark Waites
Creative Director, Mother, London
A country's likelihood of winning the Cannes Grand Prix is in reverse proportion to their likelihood of winning the World Cup - maybe. Australia has their best chance in years with the Big Ad but can forget about lifting the Big One (sorry, Dave). Japan is in with a shout thanks to the Ne-O-directed Toyota spot, but is only in Germany to make up the numbers. For the first time in a long while I can't see the Grand Prix coming from the USA. However, with the country ranked fifth in the FIFA rankings, anything's possible at the Super Bowl of Soccer Ball. Argentina? Not this year, not where the ads are concerned, but with a player like Riquelme they could go all the way. Brazil? The home of the beautiful game, but not the beautiful advert. Then there's England. You have no idea of the pain and misery to be endured following the England team. Our captain won't actually touch the ball as the nation can't afford the image rights, our best player's already injured and stand-by for a tie with Trinidad and Tobago - but we do have Balls.

Al Wyatt
Group Creative Director
Energy BBDO, Chicago

I think the two top competitors for the Cannes Grand Prix are spots that are literally going in different directions: Honda's "Impossible Dream" and "noitulovE" by Guinness.

"Impossible Dream" is beautifully shot by Ivan Zacharias with just enough quirkiness in the casting to give it some humanity. While I feel like this is swimming in the same waters as the Mercedes "Falling In Love" spot from a few years ago, it is still enjoyable. And without much information to impart - basically Honda makes a lot of motor vehicles - there isn't much to say against it. But is there enough to make it truly deserving?

The Guinness spot works in reverse. Helmed by Daniel Kleinman, the spot carries on the rich tradition of stellar, epic work for Ireland's finest. Through spellbinding visual effects created by Framestore, the suggestion that the three fellows we see at the beginning of the spot had to wait millions of years to finally enjoy a pint of the black is a smart, delicious delivery of the campaign thought: Good things come to those who wait.

I think the nod, and the Big Kitty, goes to AMV.BBDO for Guinness.

Now for some quick hits.

I like the Coke work shot by Dante Ariola ("Parade", "First Taste") - really nice stuff from a brand that has been in need of some attention-getting work.

I think the confections area is where a lot of the funnier stuff is being created. Starburst, Skittles - "Ernie" is hilarious while the singing rabbit ("Trade") annoys me - and Juicy Fruit "Ant"* are all challenging the idea that kids/teen advertising can't be great. None will win the Big Prize because they aren't "arty" enough, but will likely pick up some hardware.

(*Yes this spot comes from my agency, but it can hang with the best of them, so screw modesty...)

Andrew Simon
VP, Creative Director
DDB Canada, Toronto
Dear Film Judges,
Best to leave the sunblock at home. You see, I have some rather unfortunate news to share - 2006 looks nothing like 2005 (otherwise known as the year of the "Grrr"). Rather than soaking in the warm rays of the Cote d'Azur, you'll be spending countless hours bathing in the glow of fluorescent lights as you hotly debate the one spot worthy of the Grand Prix.

So who's got a shot? Well, consideration will certainly be given to the visually arresting Sony Bravia work from Fallon, the Honda trifecta ("Choir", "Impossible Dream" and if the judges are feeling overly generous, "Dreams"), Guinness, Carlton Draught (oh, so Middleditch), and for purity of idea, the Vodafone campaign ("Gay", "Son", "Wedding") from JWT, London.

Also sure to medal are TBWA Paris' AIDES spot, Bangkok Insurance work from Creative Juice\GI ("Twister", "Robbery", "Tyre"), Ameriquest revisited from DDB LA ("Doctor"), BBDO's FedEx "Stick", a VW spot or two from both DDB London and Crispin and in the category of best one-two product punch, the hilarious Skittles and Combos work from TBWA\Chiat\Day, NY.

For what it's worth, my money's on Guinness "noitulovE" to take the big salami. Daniel Kleinman and team did a masterful job breathing new life into the "good things come to those who wait" proposition. Then again, I thought that by now Bush would be peddling grillmasters on the Shopping Channel, so what the hell do I know?

Adam Chasnow
Creative Director, 180 Amsterdam
I think Sony "Balls" will win the Grand Prix and Honda "Choir" could have a chance, too. "Impossible Dream" could surprise us, though. It has its big fans out there.

The Sony spot has few detractors, but I think its childlike feel and softness in the sell department ranks it high. I don't think Guinness "noitulouvE" will win it.

Other highlights this year include the insane Skittles work from the USA and some always funny American FedEx work, which unfortunately don't always play/translate with the international judges. This was the case at the Clios. Of course, I hope the feel-good Adidas work from our agency does well for the same reason as the Sony work. It will be a kinder, gentler Cannes, I believe.

Gastón Bigio
Executive Creative Director
Del Campo Nazca Saatchi & Saatchi
Guinness "noitulovE": In my opinion, the best. Through the years, Guinness has maintained the same concept and this execution is absolutely incredible, as is the production.

Honda "Choir" and "Impossible Dreams": With these very fresh ideas Honda is re-inventing the car category.

Sony Bravia "Balls": It's new, it's artistic and it's beautiful.

Carlton Draught "Big Ad": A spot that laughs at all big spots.

Lynx Viral "Ravenstoke": Clients always want the demos to be "bigger than life"; this is an example of how attractive it can be.

Arno Lindemann
Chief Creative Officer, Jung Von Matt, Hamburg
Guinness "noitulovE": No surprise! We see 500,000 years in 50 seconds of brilliant post-production. Guess it cost a lot of beers to produce this and I thank the brand manager for spending it on this commercial. All other brand managers out there - go and take a look and then go back and force your advertising company to do something as big as this!

Virgin Digital "Exercise Your Music Muscle": Advertising has to be simple and fast, doesn't it? No, it could be a riddle.

Honda "Impossible Dream": We would die in Germany to get such a budget and time for a commercial. Whether or not we would produce such brilliant pictures and story is another question.

And from Germany, Renault "Crashtest" made by Nordpol: It won Gold at the German ADC already and it will definitely convince the international jury as well, even if the Japanese, German and Swedish judges might feel a bit worried about it. What I like about it is that it doesn't feel German at all.

Zak Mroueh
Creative Director, TAXI, Toronto
I'm a big fan of the Honda campaign and specifically "Choir", but I know that international juries this year have been split over which spot is their favorite. Many European jurors like the soft sell of "Impossible Dream", whereas North American jurors lean towards "Choir" because it's more literal with its product demo.

At this year's Clios we made a bold move and awarded the entire campaign. We just felt the entire Honda brand should be applauded, plus the jury was divided on which spot to award. Since you can only vote for one Grand Prix, I think both of these spots will probably cancel each other out in Cannes. My bet is that Honda wins two Golds in the automotive category.

Some people have suggested that Carlton Draught's "Big Ad" could win the Grand Prix, but I don't think it will. While it's brilliantly executed and is taking the piss out of "big ads", it won't be seen as a spot that pushes the industry forward. It, too, will win Gold.

That said, I predict Guinness will benefit from the Honda split vote and win the Grand Prix. "noitulovE" is currently building momentum and as more juries see it, it's clearly becoming the frontrunner.

And for posterity...

Paul Malmstrom
creative director, Mother, new york
The top spot of 2006 is the clear choice for both TV and the interactive third screen web. It's the only spot that takes the print angle, while putting the fun back into on-demand technology. Does it stay true to the spirit of the downloadable interactive viral film?

Well, that's the question. We say yes. So, if "Subservient Sony Chicken Balls" doesn't win, we will be very surprised.