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 30 March 2026, new finalist projects will be revealed daily – Monday to Friday – on the Media Marketing portal and BalCannes’ Facebook page, continuing until April. This year’s BalCannes project showcase will again take place on social media – leading up to our gathering at DK2026.
Please note that finalists will be announced in alphabetical order by project name, so don’t miss the daily updates!
PROJECT NAME: Nature’s most beautiful story | ENTRANT: CTA komunikacije | CLIENT: Cetina | STRATEGIC PARTNERS: Vertigo Media, Domagoj Kunić, 2Dizajnera, FAKAT, DD Video Lab, Naturalis | COUNTRY: Croatia | CATEGORIES: I. Best on Market: 03. Non-Alcoholic Beverages; II. Best in Channel: 01. Best TV Spot & Film
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The objective of the “Nature’s most beautiful story” campaign was to increase awareness of the Cetina brand.
The challenge was differentiation in a saturated market filled with similar brand messages.
To achieve this, we conveyed the authentic experience of the natural environment where Cetina originates.
Using only authentic ASMR sounds recorded in the Dinara Nature Park.
Seemingly simple content carried a powerful emotional and physiological impact.
By talking less, we communicated more.
Their function was not only figurative, but also psychological.
The messages were not only communicated, but shaped the formats, execution and content.
Subtle yet powerful, the sensory content evoked emotional and physical responses, reminding audiences of genuine connection with nature. The essence of Cetina’s story.
In just three months Cetina reached 61,000 Croatians previously unaware of the brand and gained 5% of new users. The number of people buying Cetina has increased by more than 12%.
PROJECT NAME: NO!CAP Granola – Every NO counts! | ENTRANT: Studio Sonda | CLIENT: NoCap | COUNTRY: Croatia | CATEGORIES: II. Best in Channel: 09. Best High-Volume Packaging Design; III. Best of Branding & Rebranding: 01. Best Branding
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The challenge was to launch a new granola brand in a market saturated with exaggerated health claims and decorative design that often obscures ingredient quality. NO!CAP was created to make healthy eating an honest, accessible choice by building trust through transparency, quality ingredients, and clear communication.
The brand name NO!CAP (slang for “no lies”) became the foundation of the entire identity. Every “NO” calls out what the product refuses to compromise on, turning negation into a powerful affirmation of quality, natural ingredients, and ethical production. This principle drives both the verbal and visual language of the brand.
Instead of idealized food imagery and vague promises, nutritional facts are placed front and center. A stripped-back, utilitarian typography and clean color palette reinforce the brand’s directness, while bold “NO” statements form a recognizable system across products. NO!CAP enters the category as a brand built on clarity, confidence, and honesty.
PROJECT NAME: Panda’s Swear Jar | ENTRANT: Bruketa&Žinić&Grey | CLIENT: WWF Adria | STRATEGIC PARTNERS: Go2Digital, Division, Lauba, Yammat FM, KEKS Pay, Kristijan Iličić, Menart, TBF, LET 3 | COUNTRY: Croatia | CATEGORY: I. Best on Market: 15. Miscellaneous
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The campaign was sparked by WWF publishing a detailed report on the state of Planet Earth. After a quick read, we thought, “Holy s***, nature is really going to hell!” and that became the trigger for the idea. In Croatia, swearing is part of everyday language, and we often reach for animal names when we do. So we built that insight into a behaviour-led idea that turns reflexes into action: WWF Panda’s Swear Jar. The principle is simple, every time a swear slips out, you donate €1 to nature via KEKS Pay. CTA-driven key visuals made the idea visible across social media and DOOH. Then the audio side of the campaign took over: in partnership with Yammat FM we aired a 30” explanatory jingle, and boosted awareness further by teaming up with Let 3 and TBF to censor their well-known tracks packed with swear words, turning every ”bird chirping” into a cue to donate.
Find video summaries of past finalists on BalCannes’ Facebook page.
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 DK2026, taking place from 7 to 10 May 2026. See you in Rovinj!
