When you say Dunja Ivana Ballon, you’ve said it all about the Croatian communications industry. And not just Croatian. Her name resonates throughout the entire region and beyond – all the way to Cannes.
For the few who may not yet know, Dunja is the Director of HURA (Croatian Association of Communications Agencies), Director of IAB Croatia, and Director of DK Festival… She is the first and, so far, the only woman in the region to be awarded the Woman.Comm of the Year recognition by the Woman.Comm Club. Truly well deserved!
The DK Festival 2025, held in Rovinj from May 15 to 18, was the best communication festival so far – and not just in Croatia. We gave Dunja 25 days to take in the impressions, settle accounts, and get some rest before asking her to talk to the Media Marketing portal.
MM: This was the best DK Festival to date. Can you give us some key numbers that indicate success: number of registered participants, submitted works, quality of speakers and lectures, media coverage…?
Dunja Ivana Ballon: Of course, numbers are key to knowing where we are and where we’re headed, but what we felt most this year – and what matters most to us – was the incredible atmosphere and energy our participants brought to Rovinj. Thanks to them, DK became more than just a festival: it was a place for sharing ideas, knowledge, energy, and unity.
But if I must highlight some figures, I’m proud to say we had a record-breaking 730 submitted projects competing for awards, with over 125 jury members involved in the selection process. The program included more than 200 experts from Croatia and around the world, with content delivered across seven stages, including the brand-new Poolside stage, which wowed everyone with both its content and ambiance. The festival hosted around 3,000 participants, was supported by over 130 partners and sponsors, and garnered thousands of media mentions.
This combination of participant enthusiasm and the outstanding professionalism of everyone involved created a unique energy and experience that will resonate in our industry for a long time. It’s this synergy and togetherness that make each edition a major step forward, and this one was undoubtedly among the most significant and inspiring yet.
MM: Are you satisfied with the jury’s decisions? Do you think there was another campaign that deserved an award?
Dunja Ivana Ballon: I can truly say that nothing this year was left to chance. New regulations, new procedures, and new organizing boards were among our top priorities this competition season. They brought stricter, clearer, and fully transparent rules for project selection, along with jury training to elevate all five competitions to a whole new level of quality.
But let’s be realistic – changes alone don’t guarantee success. That’s why I’m especially happy that this season, with over 700 submitted projects (a 30% increase!), was such a great success. And when local creativity is recognized internationally – whether through jury invitations or awards in Cannes – those are moments of pride not just for us, but for the entire industry and the country. Those are the moments that make all the effort worth it.
MM: When you look back, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? What will you remember most from this year’s DK?
Dunja Ivana Ballon: I’ll certainly always remember the visit of the President of the Republic of Croatia and his delegation, one of a kind in domestic appearances, mostly because of the interesting and new challenge it posed for us. We’ve never had to align everything with the President’s protocol, SOA (security agency), police, etc., while organizing an event for 3,000 people. Definitely a new chapter in organization, but also an enormous recognition for the festival and the industry.
A real throwback moment for me was seeing David Shing again – my favorite futurist, whose appearance at the festival ten years ago marked a turning point in my DK journey.
And then of course, the festival vibe – absolutely irreplaceable. Beachside enjoyment, knowledge in streams, parties until morning, unfiltered laughter, a stress-free team – that’s how others feel all the time, and for us, it’s our favorite Saturday at DK (the only day we’re “allowed” to stay out late).
MM: Is there anything you regret missing, or something you’re particularly proud of?
Dunja Ivana Ballon: My biggest regret is missing Dietmar Dahmen’s show and lecture, because fire and flames in the hall with a call for disruption and the sounds of Prodigy’s “Firestarter” – that’s so me. And my greatest pride is the entire program, with its carefully selected themes and speakers that had substance and didn’t play it safe.
MM: With so many responsibilities, how much of the program were you able to follow? Who left the strongest impression on you?
Dunja Ivana Ballon: Less than ever this year. Fernando Machado – the world’s most innovative CMO – was outstanding, as was the eccentric digital philosopher and mega-personality David Shing. And for my soul, I absolutely loved Amber Case, the cyber anthropologist researching calm tech. For the industry, the visit of Blair Enns – the world’s number one expert on pricing creative services – was incredibly important. And the domestic program this year was brilliant too! I honestly can’t choose…
MM: How did the sponsors react? Are you satisfied?
Dunja Ivana Ballon: It’s not easy to back ideas that aren’t fully developed or plans that are still evolving. A huge thank you to you and Media Marketing for your unwavering support, and to all our sponsors, partners, and friends of DK – you believed in us before the spectacle of the stage, the glitter of the awards, the beachside chats or the late-night club vibes.
We’re beyond grateful for collaborations that crushed it in their internal activations and metrics, meant more than sponsorship on paper in our eyes, and enabled a truly memorable festival for the whole industry. Thank you!
MM: Who would you like to thank specifically for their help and support in organizing the event?
Dunja Ivana Ballon: I especially want to thank the amazing team behind the festival: Helena Fuker, Barbara Tolić Aušić, Marin Vlainić, Eva Trstenjak, Monika Bogdanić, Katarina Osmak, Barbara Zorić, Karla Drašković, Marin Eckhel, Ema Gulija, and Lara Stolnik – my applause and thanks are never big enough. They’re not in it for the recognition, but they deserve it.
I’m also incredibly happy to have the best Organizing Committee who truly understand the festival – thank you Damir Ciglar, Davor Bruketa, Anđela Buljan Šiber, and Jelena Fiškuš.
Big thanks as well go to Damir Stupnišek, Sven Sorić, Jelena Babić, Iva Dugandžija, Ivana Delalić, Dalibor Franjković, and all the volunteers, technicians, and production crew. You may not see them on stage, but everything on and around it is their work – and that deserves a big thank you!
MM: What ideas have you noted down for the next DK? Where do you think improvements can be made – if any?
Dunja Ivana Ballon: We’re still riding the wave of fresh emotions and impressions, so we’re reflecting on some things and collecting feedback. But we’ve already started working on some big new initiatives that will mark 2026 and have a strong impact on the industry. That’s all I’ll say for now – I don’t want to spoil the surprise. But rest assured, we plan to keep working in the best interest of the industry and move it forward – openly and uncompromisingly, just like always.
