YOUNG LIONS

Celebrated with

Are you a professional creative team under 30, passionate about all things communication, talented enough to perform with ease under a 24 h deadline pressure and ambitious enough to aim for the international stage? If the answer is yes, read more about this super-duper career accelerator: Young Lions is an international competition between the best of the best national teams from around the world, happening in a sort of global championship, during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

What?
There are 7 categories

In Romania, The Alternative School is organizing the Young Lions Competitions since 2015 - local intensive training programs with cool speakers – mix of local and international awarded talents crafting legendary brands and reshaping society. The enrolled young talent teams work on real briefs, with real challenges, from real brands. Best teams are selected by a reputed jury and go into the international competition, with more than 5000 Euros expenses covered.

To win & To evolve
Romanian Young Talent performing on the global stage

Design - gold, Cyber – gold, Print - bronze & Young Clients – Honorable Mention are the awards won over the years by the Romanian Young Lions. You have no idea what joy those trophies brought home: for Romanians to be the best in the world, out of very talented nations is remarkable. Don’t get us wrong, we love as much the ones that didn’t win on the spot. Their journey to the “creative hunger games” and their learning and networking experience with top international talents worldwide paid off later on. To see the latest competition opening and its latest details subscribe to our newsletter & follow us on the school blog and social media.

2014

Gold Design Young Lions

Razvan Ghilencea
Bianca Dumitrascu
2013

Gold Design Young Lions

Alex Haidamac
Natalia Sfetcu
2008

Order of Merit Young Clients

Iulia Groves
Corina Vladau
2007

Bronze Print Young Lions

Alexandru Strimbeanu
Gabriel Gherca
Why?
Better ask our alumni
  • Ioana Halunga

    "Before attending The Alternative School I tought the “copyrighter” was a guy who deals with copyrights. One year later, I was studying Graphic Design in Milan and winning Gold at Cannes Lions’ Roger Hatchuel Academy"

  • Andrei Lacatus

    "The Alternative School is the place where I took my shoes off and started walking into the advertising world with my bare feet."

  • Alex Strimbeanu

    "Imagine a smaller Internet especially created for Communication people: valuable and diverse know-how, a social network full of virtuous people and most of all, unlimited possibilities to make a buzz. All in all, the experience is not only promised, but also delivered at The Alternative School."

  • Raluca Ciubotaru

    "I like to be challenged! At the Alternative School, every brief was a new challenge. I learned that if I want out of the box ideas, I need an out of the box lifestyle. So I’ve started a different way of life, not based on common sense, with a very good filter."

  • Razvan Pascu

    "After a busy day, the alternative classes were the perfect energizer. I was always thinking of improving my work applying things I learned there. I had the freedom to be as creative as I wanted, with focus on mindblowing ideas and expressive graphic implementations. It seemed like serious play."

  • Lia Bira

    "It’s an interesting mix between two sides. The competitive one where each team has its own objectives, and the team bit, in which every participant follows the purpose of learning innovative things."

  • Ionut Radulescu

    "Traditional school is not enough. The Alternative School taught me to be curious & stay out of my comfort zone. It inspired me to be playful and to have a visionary spirit in what I do."

  • Alma Popan

    "The Alternative School made me sharpen my senses to feel what a great idea can do to you: it can make you feel both a headache and a heartache. It literally hits you. Kaboom!"

  • Alex Haidamac

    "The Alternative School is like a trampoline. It gives you the chance to jump high at the top of the communication industry and then it’s up to you to stay there. I’ll always remember that behind every memorable communication campaign is a fairytale. So, the focus is on the way you choose to speak."

  • Ana Maria Vasilache

    "The Alternative School is so absolutely inspiring. It’s the mother of creative evolution. IT REALLY IS."

  • Miki Mihai

    "Masters of Marketing and Advertising live and teach happily together in an Alternative School for Creative Thinking, which, as stated in its name, challenges, teaches, and squeuzes ideas out of you with a supernatural force. You can join in their new semester and discover the supernatural story yourself!"

  • Alice Mihalache

    "The Alternative School is driving you crazily CREATIVE."

  • Natalia Sfetcu

    "Full of life, enthusiasm, creativity and passion plus a link to the best creatives worldwide, in the perimeters of this school everything seems possible. Here I’ve learned what it means to be a professional and not being afraid to think and live beyond limits."

  • Ioana Halunga

    "Before attending The Alternative School I tought the “copyrighter” was a guy who deals with copyrights. One year later, I was studying Graphic Design in Milan and winning Gold at Cannes Lions’ Roger Hatchuel Academy"

  • Andrei Lacatus

    "The Alternative School is the place where I took my shoes off and started walking into the advertising world with my bare feet."

  • Alex Strimbeanu

    "Imagine a smaller Internet especially created for Communication people: valuable and diverse know-how, a social network full of virtuous people and most of all, unlimited possibilities to make a buzz. All in all, the experience is not only promised, but also delivered at The Alternative School."

  • Raluca Ciubotaru

    "I like to be challenged! At the Alternative School, every brief was a new challenge. I learned that if I want out of the box ideas, I need an out of the box lifestyle. So I’ve started a different way of life, not based on common sense, with a very good filter."

  • Razvan Pascu

    "After a busy day, the alternative classes were the perfect energizer. I was always thinking of improving my work applying things I learned there. I had the freedom to be as creative as I wanted, with focus on mindblowing ideas and expressive graphic implementations. It seemed like serious play."

  • Lia Bira

    "It’s an interesting mix between two sides. The competitive one where each team has its own objectives, and the team bit, in which every participant follows the purpose of learning innovative things."

  • Ionut Radulescu

    "Traditional school is not enough. The Alternative School taught me to be curious & stay out of my comfort zone. It inspired me to be playful and to have a visionary spirit in what I do."

  • Alma Popan

    "The Alternative School made me sharpen my senses to feel what a great idea can do to you: it can make you feel both a headache and a heartache. It literally hits you. Kaboom!"

  • Alex Haidamac

    "The Alternative School is like a trampoline. It gives you the chance to jump high at the top of the communication industry and then it’s up to you to stay there. I’ll always remember that behind every memorable communication campaign is a fairytale. So, the focus is on the way you choose to speak."

  • Ana Maria Vasilache

    "The Alternative School is so absolutely inspiring. It’s the mother of creative evolution. IT REALLY IS."

  • Miki Mihai

    "Masters of Marketing and Advertising live and teach happily together in an Alternative School for Creative Thinking, which, as stated in its name, challenges, teaches, and squeuzes ideas out of you with a supernatural force. You can join in their new semester and discover the supernatural story yourself!"

  • Alice Mihalache

    "The Alternative School is driving you crazily CREATIVE."

  • Natalia Sfetcu

    "Full of life, enthusiasm, creativity and passion plus a link to the best creatives worldwide, in the perimeters of this school everything seems possible. Here I’ve learned what it means to be a professional and not being afraid to think and live beyond limits."

Ask them about the
Eurobest competition
Alumni's life path
Gratefuly yours

OUR EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS

Make your mama proud:

Make your mama proud:

Whatsapp : +40 744 105 015

Subscribe to the newsletter

All rights reserved ©2026

Whatsapp : +40 744 105 015

Subscribe to the newsletter

All rights reserved ©2026

Whatsapp : +40 744 105 015

Subscribe to the newsletter

All rights reserved ©2026