Good, and above all, quality results require time. Even successes that seem to have come overnight are far from being the result of short-term efforts. On the contrary, they are the result of years of hard work, investment, small steps, and patience. This is precisely what we chronically lack amidst an abundance of opportunities, initiatives, projects, and obligations. At SEMPL, the regional media trends conference, to be held at the Grand Hotel Bernardin in Portorož on November 14-15 this year, the focus will be on finding answers to how brands can better attract their audience by understanding and adapting to the era of impatience to achieve more efficient results. A 10-member jury, chaired this time by Nermina Mašala Kelić, Executive Director of the UM Sarajevo media agency, will judge who is the best at this in the Adriatic region.
The spirit of this year’s central theme of the conference is visually captured in the image of a pearl shell. A pearl is the result of continuous, gradual work by nature and serves as a reminder that the best things in life are worth waiting for. After last year’s extremely successful comeback after a multi-year hiatus, this year’s SEMPL will present an even more diverse lineup of international speakers who will provide insights into how to attract (and retain) the most difficult and, at the same time, most important aspect of target audiences – attention and time.
Submissions open until mid-October
The submission system for entries is open until October 15, 2024. Entries can be submitted in 11 categories, and the entire application process is available at www.sempl.si. The Adriatic region is a melting pot of innovative ideas that result in numerous impressive campaigns each year. It propels society forward and accelerates progress, making it only right to reward the most outstanding work. When submitting four entries, the fifth entry is free. The registration fee for each entry is €390 (+22% VAT). This year, three types of registration are available: FULL PASS and AWARD CEREMONY + FRIDAY (award ceremony on Thursday with a party, lectures, and networking events on Friday). The full registration fee is €520 + VAT, while the fee for AWARD CEREMONY + FRIDAY is €300 + VAT. For those primarily interested in who will win the awards, a special NIGHT PEARL registration is available this year for €70 + VAT. Another novelty this year is that when purchasing six registrations at once, the cheapest one is free.
This time, a woman leads the jury
The chair of the jury for the Sempler award, Nermina Mašala Kelić, will evaluate the best media campaigns in the Balkan region together with nine other media and marketing experts, including: Aleš Muhič, Marketing Director of Pro Plus media house, Gregor Draksler, Director of Advertising and Marketing and Marketing Manager for the Emil Frey Group at P Automobil Import, Sanja Garaj Miloš, Corporate Marketing Manager of Podravka Group from Croatia, Jelena Milinković, Marketing Manager for category and brand development at Atlantic Group, Mair Oruč, Director of the LUNA\TBWA Sarajevo agency, Barbara Pagon, Media Director at Futura DDB agency, Viktorija Radojević Mavrič, Marketing Director of Mercator, Dragana Todorović, Head of Media and Sales Marketing at A1 Serbia, and Tamma Žbontar, Media Director of Pristop agency.
For Balkan agencies, budget constraints can either stifle creativity or give it an extra boost: “Limited available resources create a kind of rebellion in people and the need to make the most out of little. As someone who spent much of their childhood in a war environment, I dare to draw a parallel. Some of the best creative solutions in various areas of life were born in such war conditions. This climate is fertile for ideas that arise from a lack of resources,” says jury president Nermina Mašala Kelić, who will pay particular attention to ensuring that the campaigns tell stories with which the audience can personally identify, evoke emotions, and remain etched in our memory.
