At this year’s edition of the region’s leading communications festival, participants will dive deep into the creative process — from raw imagination to business-building ideas. From global recognition to regional creativity with soul, DK2025 dares to ask the big questions about the value of creativity, the power of awards, the role of brands — and the ideas that go far beyond advertising.
Because creativity, sunshine and the sea are an unbeatable combo, on 15 — 18 May, Rovinj will once again gather agencies, brands, media, and all those working alongside them — the people building the world of communications.
You will be able to attend a record 75 program sessions across five festival stages, running morning to night, featuring over 180 speakers and themes essential to the creative industry. It’s an unmatched opportunity to push creative potential — and the entire industry — forward, said Dunja Ivana Ballon, Festival and Program Director.
DK2025 sets the stage for real, bold, sometimes uncomfortable conversations — those that stretch creativity across the worlds of business, culture, economics, markets and authenticity. Highlights include:
ON THE ROLE OF CREATIVITY TODAY
A chef, an architect, a fashion designer, an Oscar nominee, a curator and a creative director walk into a discussion… No, it’s not a joke. It’s a DK2025 discussion tackling one question: in a world that measures everything, can creativity still shock us, challenge norms and shape culture — or is it expected to simply behave and pay off?
The conversation, moderated by Croatia’s most awarded female creative director and HURA President Jelena Fiškuš (Studio Sonda), will feature creative talents from vastly different fields: Oscar-nominated director and Visionary of the Year Nebojša Slijepčević, Michelin-starred chef Mario Mandarić (Noel), curator and president of Nomad – Croatian Office for Contemporary Art Vanja Žanko, world-renowned fashion designer Juraj Zigman and leading Croatian architect and senior partner at 3LHD Marko Dabrović.
GLOBAL RECOGNITION: HOW CROATIAN BRANDS CONQUER THE WORLD powered by KONČAR
What does it take for a Croatian brand to break out of a small market and win on the world stage? Is it luck, timing — or the guts to play by different rules?
Moderated by Ivana Galić Baksa (Marketing, PR and corporate communication director, Nova TV and United Media), this session brings together industry leaders who know what it takes: Vlatka Kamenić Jagodić (Marketing and Corporate Communications Director, KONČAR Group), Filip Ivanišević (Group Manager – Partner Marketing, Infobip), Daniel Ackermann (CEO, Luppa & Degordian, Member of HURA & IAB Croatia), and Sanja Garaj Miloš (Head of Corporate Marketing, Podravka). Expect stories of brands that made it big not by waiting for stars to align — but by taking bold, strategic risks.
CREATIVITY: THE BUSINESS OF IDEAS II
Why do creatives always have to justify their ideas to numbers — and never the other way around? Building on Rory Sutherland’s DK2023 thesis about the asymmetry between creative and rational thinking, this session asks: can creativity and profit finally become equal partners?
Moderated by Đorđe Janković (Managing Partner & Creative Director, Friday Finally), the discussion brings together top agency leaders from across the region: Aleksandra Dilevska (CEO, Publicis Groupe Croatia & North Macedonia; COO, Publicis Groupe Adriatic), Tine Lugarič (Co-founder & Creative director, Trampolin, Slovenia) and Vesna Beganović (Founder & Partner, Via Media, Bosnia and Herzegovina). Together, they’ll explore the friction — or synergy — between creative ambition and business success.
PPP: WHY AWARDS BUILD CAREERS powered by Ožujsko pivo
Are awards about building markets, agencies and careers — or just inflating egos? If you ask the winners, they’re priceless. If you’re not one of them, they might seem pointless.
Led by Cannes Lion-winning creative Nikola Žinić (Chief Creative Officer, Bruketa&Žinić&Grey, Member of HURA & IAB Croatia), the session brings together the jury presidents of all DK competitions: Kristina Hustić (Effie Awards Croatia / Marketing Director, PIK Vrbovec), Marin Ostojić (IdejaX / Creative Director, ZOO agency, Member of HURA & IAB Croatia), Nela Fegić Moguljak (MIXX Awards / Executive Director & Head of Digital, Imago Ogilvy, Member of HURA & IAB Croatia), Sean Poropat (Young Lions / Creative Director & Co-founder, Studio Sonda, Member of HURA & IAB Croatia), Žarko Veljković (BalCannes / Creative Director & Co-founder, Jazavac & Utorak / Jury President for Agencies) and Sandra Babić (BalCannes / Editor, Journalist & Head of New Product Development, Lider Media, Member of IAB Croatia / Jury President for Media).
MEET YOUR NEIGHBOURS: THE BALKAN… OOPS, WE MEAN CEE MARKETS SNAPSHOT
What’s the real state of communications in our region? No sugar-coating, no filters — just honest insight. In five rapid-fire presentations, top professionals will break down the trends and truths shaping five neighbouring markets.
You’ll hear from Irena Miličević Vukoja (CEO, Prefix & No Limit BH Festival; Founder & Director, Woman.Comm Club) for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Luka Duboković (CEO, BBDO, Member of HURA & IAB Croatia) for Croatia, Elena Božinova (Head of Creative, IDEA Plus 360° Communications) for North Macedonia, Luka Bajs (Executive Creative Director, SHIFT) for Slovenia, and Nataša Bojanić Brukner (Executive Director, Leo Burnett) for Serbia.
From the state of creativity today to where it might be headed tomorrow, every session offers a pulse check on the industry — and a call to action. And this is just the start. Other program highlights will include: Nothing is Punk Anymore, Zagreb I Love You. What’s Next? by HDD and The Seduction of Storytelling by HUKI.
Featured photo: Emica Elvedji/PIXSELL
