BENlabs

The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival is shaping up to be a game-changer. With the first post-strike Cannes seeing a flood of submissions, competition is fierce—especially among American auteurs: ?? Spike Lee – Highest 2 Lowest (starring Denzel Washington) ?? Wes Anderson – The Phoenician Scheme (A-list ensemble) ?? Ari Aster – Eddington (Western black comedy with Emma Stone) ?? Richard Linklater – Nouvelle Vague (French-language drama) ?? Kristen Stewart – The Chronology of Water (her directorial debut) So far, Jim Jarmusch’s Father Mother Sister Brother is the only confirmed entry, but insiders say pressure is high with so many contenders vying for limited slots. Cannes’ growing influence on Oscar outcomes is undeniable. Last year’s Palme d’Or winner, Anora, went on to claim Best Picture at the Academy Awards—proof that the Cannes-to-Oscar pipeline is stronger than ever. As the Academy continues to diversify globally, films that captivate European audiences are finding greater recognition stateside. This aligns with what we at BENlabs have been saying all along: independent films are winning big. The era of Cannes as an essential Oscar scouting ground is here—because in today's industry, prestige and visibility go hand in hand. Are you keeping an eye on Cannes' impact on awards season? #Cannes2025 #FilmIndustry #Oscars #IndependentFilm https://lnkd.in/gFWm3zNq

How do you get consumers to embrace plant-based classics without sacrificing taste or comfort? For ?????????? ??????????, the challenge was clear: introduce NotMac&Cheese and NotMayo in a way that resonated with both health-conscious eaters and comfort food lovers. Enter BENlabs. Using AI-driven audience mapping and strategic creator partnerships, we: ? Identified ?????? ???????????????? ???????????????? to ensure authentic messaging ? Leveraged ?????????????????????? ?????????????? like blind taste tests & recipe integrations ? Conducted ?????????? ???????? ?????????????? to optimize impact The result? ? ??.???? ?????????? ? ??.???? ?????????????????????? ? +????% ???????? ???? ???????????????? ???????????? See how data-driven creator partnerships helped Kraft Heinz turn consumer curiosity into conversions: https://lnkd.in/gGTVnjN4 #InfluencerMarketing #KraftHeinz #BENlabs

Mariana has said it better than I could so i'm stealing her post to use as my own. A day I will never forget and one I am so incredibly proud of. It is a rare thing to have a single moment where over a year of vision and many months of intense planning comes to fruition so perfectly. It's not just the incredible metrics (although CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE METRICS!?), it's the sentiment among our amazing creator partners and their audiences and the momentum it gives us for Siege X heading into launch this June. Shout outs obviously to team Ubi. The brand team, the creator team, the events team, the comms team, the prod team, the comdev team; it takes a VERY large village. Shout out to my team Alex and Monica killed it every step of the way. And of course to Mariana and her team at BENLabs who has been with us on Siege from day 1.

BENlabs’ ?????????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ??????????????, Aaron Frank, was recently featured in Modern Retail discussing ???????? ??????’?? ?????????? ?????????????????? ?????????????? ?????????????????????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ?????? ????????????????. As brands continue to embrace the power of influencers, Best Buy’s move signals a shift toward a more ??????????????????-?????????? ???????????????? ???? ??-????????????????, recognizing the ?????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????. Aaron shared his perspective on why this is a smart and strategic move, emphasizing that it reflects an understanding of how ?????????????????????? ???????? ?????????? ???????????????????? ???? ??????????’?? ??????????????????????. With ???????????????????? ?????????????????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????? $???? ?????????????? ???? ????????, the retail landscape is evolving fast. Best Buy's program has the potential to create a direct link between social engagement and e-commerce, especially among tech, gaming, and lifestyle creators. Read more about Aaron’s insights in Modern Retail:?https://lnkd.in/gyvPEjjE #InfluencerMarketing #Ecommerce #BestBuy #MarketingStrategy #BENlabs

The ???????? ?????????????? ???????????? were a celebration of storytelling at its finest—complete with historic wins and show-stopping moments. One of the biggest takeaways? ?????????????????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????. More than half of this year’s Best Picture nominees started as independent projects, proving that great stories will always find their audience. ?????? ????????????, ???????? ???????????????? ?? ???????????? ??????????????????????. Investing in independent films early isn’t just about product placement—it’s about helping bring compelling stories to life. When these films secure distribution, ???????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ??????????????????, ???????????????????? ???????????????? ???? ?????????????? ???????????? ??????????????????. Want to know how brands can partner to shape the future of entertainment? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ????????: https://lnkd.in/dcxHSfRY A big thank you to Will Park for his insights in this piece. #Oscars2025 #IndependentFilm #BrandMarketing #EntertainmentMarketing #BENlabs

Launching a new product in a competitive market is no easy feat. With their new plant-based line, NotChicken, ?????????? needed to stand out among established plant-based brands and capture consumer attention. How did they do it? BENlabs' AI-driven audience mapping uncovered two key untapped personas: “Casual Health Conscious” and “Cheat Day Experts.” 25 creators developed 39 pieces of content, from blind taste tests to recipe integrations. Strategic content timing maximized organic engagement and complemented paid media efforts. The impact? ? +??????% ???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????????????????? ? ??.???? ?????????????????????? ? ??.???? ?????????? See how NotCo turned awareness into action—read the full case study here:?https://lnkd.in/gYfGSk46 #InfluencerMarketing #BrandGrowth #MarketingStrategy?

When the right talent meets the right brand, impact follows. Maidenform wanted to refresh its “M” collection and connect with a younger, style-conscious audience. Enter Victoria Monét—Grammy-winning artist, cultural trendsetter, and the perfect voice to bring the brand to life. Using data-driven insights and strategic talent alignment, BENlabs helped Maidenform craft an authentic campaign featuring Monét in key moments of her daily life—prepping for awards shows, rehearsing in the studio, and winding down at home. The results? ? 1.43M organic views ? 100,000 engagements ? +17-point lift in purchase consideration ? +10-point lift in purchase intent By seamlessly integrating Maidenform’s products into Monét’s world, BENlabs transformed brand perception and drove real business impact. Want to see how this campaign came to life? Read the full case study here:?https://lnkd.in/dzJtBTk3 #InfluencerMarketing #BrandPartnerships #Hanes #Maidenform #BENlabs #AuthenticStorytelling

???Unwrapping the Impact of Product Placement in Holiday Movies & TV??? The holiday season isn’t just about twinkling lights and festive cheer—it’s a golden opportunity for brands to seamlessly integrate into the stories audiences love. Strategic product placement in holiday films and TV shows goes beyond traditional advertising, creating lasting connections with viewers. ??The Power of Context?– When a product appears in a feel-good holiday movie, it’s associated with warmth, nostalgia, and tradition, reinforcing positive brand perception. ???Staying Top of Mind?– Audiences rewatch holiday favorites year after year, giving brands repeated exposure and long-term brand affinity. A well-placed product doesn’t just show up for the season—it becomes part of a lasting tradition. ??Plan Ahead?– It’s never too early to start planning your holiday entertainment strategy.? Securing the right placements takes time, and the best opportunities go fast! This holiday season, BENlabs continues to help brands find their perfect scene. Ready to make your product part of the story? #ProductPlacement #MarketingStrategy #BrandVisibility #BENlabs #HolidayMovies #EntertainmentMarketing ? https://lnkd.in/gt_7RVhr ?

I am probably one of the least active individuals on LinkedIn, but it’s been on my to do’s to become a bit more engaged (kind of like I said about TikTok, but let’s be real, that’s never gonna happen). I recently celebrated 11 years working at BENlabs and no, we are not a medical facility (common question I receive, along with, “who’s Ben?”). While I reluctantly turned in my public relations hat to develop a new craft, product placement, I’ve spent the past decade learning from the best to truly enjoy making magic happen for our clients on-screen.?When I was a kid/teenager/yesterday, I had dreams of becoming an actor, starring in silly character roles – never desired to be the lead, I always wanted to be the drunk best friend who randomly gets electrocuted by a toaster oven. But as you all are aware, and it states in my LinkedIn profile, my dreams in Hollywood turned into something a bit different – first walking celebs down a red carpet and now, securing brands, like Frito-Lay, into some of the top TV shows and films (you know, the titles I should have starred in). So, to become a bit more engaged on the platform, get Linked-In, I thought I’d show off a handful of integrations from the past year that I’ve worked on with my stellar medical team at BENlabs. Social media is all about showing off and while I have my IG shirtless workout posts on lock, time to bring in a little professional side, of me.

?? Netflix's Bold Move into the Creator Economy & Why BENlabs Saw It Coming First Netflix is reportedly eyeing the booming video podcast market, a move that could reshape digital content monetization and creator opportunities. As the streaming giant with 300M+ subscribers, this pivot offers a low-cost, high-engagement way to keep audiences engaged between major series releases. ?? Why This Matters: * Always-On Engagement: Unlike traditional Netflix shows, podcasts keep subscribers returning, reducing churn. * Leveraging IP: Imagine a Friends rewatch podcast or Breaking Bad deep-dives—keeping iconic series relevant and binge-worthy. * Ad & Revenue Expansion: Netflix’s entry into podcasts expands its ad inventory while giving creators more control over monetization. * Premium Distribution & Production: The platform’s infrastructure could provide unmatched visibility & quality for top-tier content creators. Our team at BENlabs was ahead of the curve and we've long understood the convergence of Hollywood and digital creators. We’ve built a foundation on deep industry relationships, strategic partnerships, and hands-on execution, ensuring that brands integrate seamlessly into evolving content ecosystems. From on-screen product placement in Hollywood to scalable virtual integrations in digital-first content, we enable brands to thrive across both worlds—a necessity in today’s fragmented media landscape. Netflix’s move validates what we’ve known for years: the future of entertainment isn’t either traditional or digital—it’s BOTH. What do you think—will Netflix’s podcast push redefine how creators monetize content? Let’s discuss. ?#CreatorEconomy #Netflix #Marketing #Streaming #BENlabs https://lnkd.in/g-mgNn8C