Ahead of a fresh competition season, the BalCannes Expert Council is back and ready for the planning and organization of this regional competition for the communications industry. Its core mission? Keep BalCannes laser-aligned with what the industry and markets actually need across participating countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia).
This year’s Council is built from the top-ranked agencies in each country in 2025. Say hello to the lineup:
Brankica Janković (Aquarius Group, BiH), Amna Džambić Branković (Via Media, BiH), Ejub Kučuk (MITA Group, BiH), Davor Bruketa (Bruketa&Žinić&Grey, HR), Darko Bosnar (Imago Ogilvy, HR), Luka Duboković (BBDO Zagreb, HR), Nataša Bojanić (Leo Burnett Belgrade, SRB), Žarko Veljković (Jazavac i Utorak, SRB), Maja Radak (Fullhouse Ogilvy, SRB), Marko Vičič (Futura DDB, SLO), Vanja Kmet Žižmond (Povem, SLO), Žiga Anžlovar (McCann Ljubljana, SLO), Sofija Semenpeeva (Effectiva agency, MKD), Bojan Kočovski (McCann Skopje, MKD), Jelena Ivanovic (New Moment Skopje, MKD) and Dejan Spirkoski (Saatchi&Saatchi Skopje, MKD).
What will they tackle? The categories and groupings, the jury process and all the other nitty-gritty that make a competition run like a dream. The kick-off meeting is already in the books: the Organising Committee shared last season’s highlights and next year’s roadmap, while the Council dropped razor-sharp feedback, suggestions and ideas to keep BalCannes moving and winning.
Before the new creative season kicks off, reps from the agencies that topped their national rankings last year (and now sit on the Council) spell out why BalCannes is where the real value of ideas gets measured, standards get set and visibility blasts far beyond the region:
Creativity is a habit, a way of living. We constantly find ourselves in pursuit of inspiration and opportunities to preserve creativity as a habit. BalCannes is an excellent place to foster this great habit of ours.
– Brankica Janković, Aquarius Group (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
BalCannes is a stage bigger than our local one, yet not so big that you get lost on it.
– Davor Bruketa, Bruketa&Žinić&Grey (Croatia)
It’s about joining a larger creative circle, sharing ideas, giving inspiration and taking it back home.
– Nataša Bojanić, Leo Burnett Belgrade (Serbia)
After the winners took the Rovinj stage at DK Festival, we dropped the BalCannes Report. The latest annual edition – BALCANNES: THE MOSAIC OF CREATIVITY – rounds up regional rankings of the best projects, advertisers and agencies across the region and within each participating country.
BalCannes celebrates the creative pulse of our region – it’s where Slovenia’s finest ideas meet the sharpest regional talent. It’s not just a stage, it’s a mirror of how far our creativity can reach.
– Marko Vičič, Futura DDB (Slovenia)
BalCannes is so much more than a festival – it’s the stage where you truly see where you stand, but also where you get that spark of inspiration to be bolder, crazier and more creative every single day.
– Sofija Semenpeeva, Effectiva agency (North Macedonia)
Macedonia is a small advertising market, but creativity knows no boundaries and BalCannes is easily the perfect ground to test our exotic local insights. It is a very important festival, because it highlights local campaigns which can achieve regional and later even global recognition.
– Bojan Kočovski, McCann Skopje (North Macedonia)
Want the spotlight? You know what to do. At the next edition, you can once again chase gold, silver, or bronze – and show the region what your work is really made of. Entries open this autumn, and winners will be crowned at DK Festival, 7–10 May 2026.
Bring the work. Bring the heat. We’ll bring the stage.