The regional creative industry will once again have the opportunity to participate more directly in preparations for the next season of BalCannes. The new composition of the Expert Council of this regional competition will bring together representatives of the top-ranked agencies from five participating countries, with its first session scheduled for 16 September.
The Council is designed as a body that becomes involved already in the planning and organization phase of the competition, with the aim of continuously aligning BalCannes with the needs of the industry and the markets of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia. Its members will participate in shaping key elements of the competition, from groups and categories to the judging process and other activities related to its development and implementation.
The new composition was formed based on results achieved in 2026. Bosnia and Herzegovina will be represented by Amna Džambić Branković from Via Media and Brankica Janković from Aquarius Group. Croatia will be represented on the Council by Davor Bruketa from Bruketa&, Sean Poropat from Studio Sonda and Darko Bosnar from Imago Ogilvy.
North Macedonia will be represented by Goran Dimovski from McCann Skopje and Sofija Semenpeeva from Effectiva agency, while Serbia will be represented by Jana Savić Rastovac from McCann Beograd, Milica Radović from Friday Finally and Milja Šijakinić from Žiška. The Slovenian members of the Council are Marko Vičić from Futura DDB, Dino Zupančić from Agencija 101 and Dunja Bibianko Marovt from AV STUDIO.
At the first session, the Organizing Committee will present a review of the previous season and plans for the coming year, after which Council members will contribute to the further development of the competition through their proposals, experience and perspectives.
One of the topics particularly highlighted by members of the new Council is the visibility of creative work beyond the market in which it was created.
“Work deserves a chance to be seen. You never know, it might just be the spark for someone’s next big idea,” says Amna Džambić Branković.
Davor Bruketa also emphasizes the business dimension of regional visibility: “Good work deserves to be seen beyond the borders of the market it was created for. BalCannes is a great place to present your work to clients and potential clients, show what you can do and see how it ranks among the best work in the region.”
Goran Dimovski also points to the opportunity for mutual learning: “BalCannes allows us to cross the borders of our own market, discover the best work from across the region, learn from one another and inspire each other to be even better every next time.”
Jana Savić Rastovac sums up the shared regional space with the words: “We share the same air, language and culture, so why wouldn’t we also share the work we are proud of?”
For Marko Vičić, regional exchange has potential beyond mutual comparison: “Great work should not remain within the borders of a single market. BalCannes gives the best ideas from our region the stage they deserve and the opportunity to show that Balkan creativity can do more than compete on equal terms with the best. It can set standards.”
Entries for the new edition of BalCannes will open soon, while the winners will traditionally be announced at Dani komunikacija. The best work will be awarded gold, silver and bronze.
