The expert juries of BalCannes, the regional creativity competition, have recognized those who stood out with their creative achievements and granted them finalist status!
Who made it to the finals? From March 10, 2025, new finalist projects will be revealed daily – Monday to Friday – on the Media Marketing portal and BalCannes’ Facebook page, continuing until April! Since much of our lives have moved online, this year’s BalCannes project showcase will also take place on social media – leading up to our gathering at the Days of Communication.
Please note that finalists will be announced in alphabetical order by project name, so don’t miss the daily updates!
PROJECT NAME: A Soup to Remember
SUBMITTER: Bruketa&Žinić&Grey
CLIENT: Marodi
COUNTRY: Croatia
CATEGORIES:
- I. Market Mosaic: 1. Food
- II. Design Mosaic: Low-Volume Packaging Design (<10,000 units)
- III. Positive Change Mosaic: Community Care
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
In Croatia, „Popevka“ – Međimurje folk songs are protected by UNESCO under one condition: the status only remains if people continue singing them. Marodi is a local pasta manufacturer and they want to contribute to the local community through a new initiative, aligning with their social responsibility and business goals. We turned one of Marodi’s products, Alphabet soup pasta, into an intergenerational tool for passing on the songs. We made a campaign about local folk songs needing protection on a higher level, to implant love for them in young children because they will pass on the tradition further. We created the book as a tool for intergenerational transfer of heritage, to end up in the most logical place – at the family table. The book became media itself, sparking the dialogue and enabling action that led authorities to proclaim the annual Day of Popevka and for generations at home to connect.
PROJECT NAME: Barcaffè
SUBMITTER: Agencija 101|
CLIENT: Atlantic Grupa
COUNTRY: Croatia
CATEGORIES: I. Market Mosaic: 3. Non-Alcoholic Beverages.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Barcaffé, a popular Turkish coffee brand, has blended the ancient tradition of coffee fortune telling with modern technology to create an AI-powered fortune-telling tool. With this tool, users simply take a photo of the coffee grounds in their cup, ask a question, and receive a prophecy within moments—making fortune telling both simple and personal.Now, enjoying Barcaffé Turkish coffee doesn’t end with the last sip; instead, that final sip unlocks a whole new digital experience—one that users have clearly embraced. By the time we submitted this application, Barcaffé’s digital activation had received 231,025 submitted questions from users in Slovenia and Croatia, without any prizes incentivizing participation. On average, users asked up to seven questions per visit, while the most engaged individuals asked over 100. Even after the advertising campaign officially ended, the activation remains highly active, organically receiving nearly 800 questions each day.
PROJECT NAME: Bjana Quatro
SUBMITTER: Futura DDB d.o.o.
CLIENT: Vinska hiša Bjana
COUNTRY: Slovenija
CATEGORIES: II. Design Mosaic: Low-Volume Packaging Design (< 10.000 komada).
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Background:
Task: Create packaging that reflects Bjana Quatro’s exclusivity and heritage, emphasizing its unique blend from four vineyards.
Challenge: Design a premium yet functional solution that enhances brand prestige while offering practical benefits for storage and presentation.
Idea:
Inspired by the four vineyards, the square label reinforces the wine’s identity and encourages optimal horizontal storage. The elegant box set of four bottles enhances the concept, creating a refined, collectible presentation. This packaging merges aesthetics with practicality, elevating brand perception and making it easier for wine enthusiasts to store their bottles.
Results:
The innovative packaging communicated Bjana Quatro’s story while offering a functional storage solution. Its premium box design enhanced exclusivity, making it stand out in a competitive market. Selling out within two months, it proved its strong appeal among wine connoisseurs.
Watch the video summaries of past finalists here: #godinazanama; #starifrendovi.
Congratulations to the finalists! Only the very best among them will earn the BalCannes awards and will be announced at the grand award ceremony during the new edition of the Days of Communication, taking place from May 15 to 18, 2025.
See you in Rovinj!
