From Danish healthcare to Qatari geopolitics, this year’s Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards revealed the eclectic nature of corporate film.

At the Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards last night, an audience of filmmakers and brand storytellers instinctively reached for their iPhones, framing the sunset like a shot list in progress. For a festival that celebrates craft in corporate film, the evening opening drinks reception (sponsored by Swissfilm Association) was a reminder that every story begins with the right image.

This is the 16th edition of the awards and it had attracted entries from 50 different countries. Denmark’s “The Broken Heart”, produced for Novo Nordisk, took the Grand Prix for Corporate Media. Al Jazeera’s “Qatar Gaza” secured the Grand Prix for Documentary, underlining the breadth of work recognised — from healthcare to geopolitical reporting.

Elsewhere in the awards programme, the honours highlighted not only the global pull but the influence of production specialists. Copenhagen-based thomasfink.dk was named Production Company of the Year, while Hungary’s Lounge Group took Agency of the Year. Al Jazeera Media Network collected TV or Streaming Network of the Year, reinforcing its profile beyond news.

The film clips shown during the gala dinner revealed recurring themes. Energy companies, in particular, featured prominently — often against a backdrop of sweeping drone shots of wind farms. Possibly highlighting a sector embracing sustainability narratives, or perhaps reflecting the absence of more critical perspectives. It wasnt all turbine blades. The winners’ list showed the eclectic nature of corporate film today. A Swiss bank, a Japanese manufacturer and a German logistics group all featured among the Gold Award recipients. Documentary winners ranged from French medical research institutions to Emirati women’s foundations and Singaporean science broadcasters.

The takeaway from Cannes was clear. For in-house teams, film making is increasingly central to reputation, and for agencies and productions companies the bar for craft and credibility continues to rise.