Twickenham Investment Services backs ‘Yes She Cannes’ on Cannes Lions mission
Twickenham Investment Services (TIS), the financial services and insurance referral business operating alongside Richmond-upon-Thames’ historic Twickenham Film Studios, has stepped up as the sole sponsor for advocacy group Yes She Cannes’ inaugural expansion into the global advertising sector.
The deal sees the London-backed entity funding a high-profile fact-finding mission to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. The move marks a significant bridge between London’s production hub and the Riviera, as traditional film finance increasingly collides with corporate brands and the creator economy.
TIS, an FCA-regulated business, provides a market access concierge service offering alternative insurance quotes through chosen Lloyd’s of London brokers. Its mission is to ensure that British and international productions across film, television, music, and advertising are commercially protected through tailored risk management and insurance support.
The collaboration follows a panel hosted by Yes She Cannes and Screen International at last month’s Cannes Film Festival, which tackled the rapidly shifting landscape of film finance and the growing necessity of alternative insurance avenues. This new mission to Cannes Lions is a direct continuation of that dialogue. With TIS’s backing, the organization is evaluating first-hand whether the advertising festival represents a viable avenue for its community of female creators looking to secure brand commissions and multi-platform revenue streams.
“Our recent panel at the Cannes Film Festival highlighted how rapidly film finance and the creator ecosystem are converging,” said Faith Elizabeth, Founder and CEO of Yes She Cannes. “With the strategic backing of Twickenham Investment Services, we are assessing the Cannes Lions landscape to see exactly how our network can tap into new corporate finance models and brand partnerships.”
The push into the advertising space aligns closely with the leadership at the London studios. Superna Sethi, Managing Director at Twickenham Film Studios and co-founder of TIS, has long championed female-led initiatives that empower women in the creative industries.
“As strong advocates for diversity and inclusion, we are committed to supporting women throughout their careers, fostering meaningful relationships, and helping create opportunities for future generations of female talent,” Sethi said. “Supported by Twickenham Film Studios, we are proud to play a role in driving positive change across the industry.”
TIS co-founder Brinder Bharaj emphasized the shared DNA of the two organizations: “As a female-led business, we are passionate about championing women and helping to create more opportunities across the industry as we build industry connections with brands, agencies, and producers. We look forward to seeing the connections, insights and future possibilities that come from this important first step.“
While attending independently to scout the landscape, Elizabeth and newly appointed Executive Vice President Alida Pantone are scheduled to meet with Laura Brown, Head of Advancing Equitable Access at LIONS, to explore how the festival’s diversity frameworks can intersect with independent film talent. As part of their broader presence during festival week, Elizabeth will also contribute to KLY’s programming, speaking on a panel exploring the ecosystem connecting film talent and corporate brand partners.
The insights gathered from this exploratory scouting trip will ultimately shape the community’s long-term strategy and future presence at creative communications markets in the years ahead.
