News / featured

THE SCENE IS SET FOR ONE OF THE DEBATES OF THE YEAR: “WILL RESPONSIBILITY KILL CREATiVITY?”

09 November 2018

That’s the question clients, agencies and journalists will be asking at the Epica Awards Creative Circle, which will take place in Amsterdam on November 15. The setting is the magnificent KIT Royal Tropical Institute, one of the city’s most remarkable buildings.

A BIT MORE IRRESPONSIBILITY WILL ENHANCE CREATIVITY

09 November 2018

Some brands should adopt political incorrectness (again) as their tone of voice, says opinion maker Frank Pynenburg.

DESIGN PLUS:
ROCKING WITH BAUHAUS

07 November 2018

Centenary celebrations for the revered German art and design school have already begun. Here’s a personal take on its influence, inspired by an Adobe project.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
TROY HITCH (UNITED STATES)

05 November 2018

Troy Hitch recently became Global Chief Innovation Officer of Proxmity Worldwide. We chatted to him about what his title means, where the industry is going, and the things that are currently inspiring him. We also discovered that he's rather witty...

PEOPLE WANT PRODUCTS TO REPRESENT WHAT THEY STAND FOR

05 November 2018

Consumer psychologist Dr. Cathrine Jansson-Boyd will be one of the speakers during Creative Circles at the Epica Awards in Amsterdam.

MARK TUTSSEL RECEIVES CREATIVE LEADERS TRIBUTE

22 October 2018

A new award honouring outstanding contribution to creativity goes to the Executive Chairman of Leo Burnett Worldwide.

Nathalie Lam (Philips): ‘I hope the diversity discussion will be irrelevant in ten years’

19 October 2018

The EpicaAwards, the international prize for creative campaigns, will be returning to the Netherlands, as an interactive conference, this November. The theme is ‘Will responsibility (eventually) kill creativity?’ concerning the purpose campaigns that are becoming increasingly more common. Frank.news spoke to organizer Kyra Roest (Embassy of Dutch Creativity, Adbusiness.Amsterdam) and Nathalie Lam (Philips) about the event and the theme.

DESIGN PLUS: THE STORY OF THE PINK RIBBON

15 October 2018

During "pink October" the breast cancer awareness ribbon is ubiquitous. But what's the history of design, and what role does a certain beauty brand have in its evolution? Our article goes behind the scenes of an iconic symbol.

CREATIVE CITIES: PARIS

11 October 2018

Take a tour of Paris, one of the world's favourite destinations, with our creative guide Severine Viguier-Goenaga, creative director and managing director of Inouï, the consumer branding sister company of design agency Curius.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS: CHELSEA STEIGER (UNITED STATES)

09 October 2018

We posed some questions to Chelsea Steiger, newly installed as creative director of FF LA – the latest chapter in a career that has already embraced some of the industry’s most respected agencies.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: THIS IS YOUR PRIZE

04 October 2018

Good news for the production community! Our dedicated award is back, along with a 100 euro discount for all production companies who enter.

DESIGN PLUS:
AN AGENCY CALLED CURIUS

02 October 2018

No, that's not a spelling error. Curius is a French branding design agency driven by curiosity. We chat with its founder, Pascal Viguier.

TOTALLY UNEXPECTED DEADLINE EXTENSION: OCTOBER 15

01 October 2018

We get it. Lots of awards, lots of work, and lots on your plate. Nevertheless, we’d still love to show the fruits of your creativity to our unique jury of journalists, which will meet in Amsterdam in a few weeks’ time.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
BETC ETOILE ROUGE (FRANCE)

27 September 2018

A fusion of two agencies has created an intriguing new unit specialising in luxury brands. We chat to Brune Buonomano (centre), one of the trio of talents leading BETC Etoile Rouge.

CREATIVE CITIES: BUENOS AIRES

27 September 2018

Our Creative City guides are penned by the journalists on our jury and friends of the Epica family. For this edition Matías Stetson, founder and editor-in-chief of Insider Latam, takes us on a quick stroll around Buenos Aires.

Fact or Fiction: Nike is a ‘good’ brand

26 September 2018

The international Epica Awards are back in the Netherlands. The goal of the interactive conference, with participants and partners such as Philips, PwC and Euronews, is to answer the question: Will responsibility (eventually) kill creativity?

EPICA CREATES NEW TOPICAL AND REAL TIME ADVERTISING CATEGORY

13 September 2018

Celebrating work that reflects the news as it happens.

EPICA AWARDS WORLD CUP CATEGORY KICKS OFF AGAIN

10 September 2018

The hugely popular soccer tournament also attracts the cream of creativity.

DESIGN PLUS:
EMOTIONAL LONDON

05 September 2018

The British have a reputation for concealing their true emotions - usually with humour - but the theme of the second London Design Biennale is "Emotional States". Here's a quick look at the award-winning installations.

EPICA CREATES A NEW GRAND PRIX TO CELEBRATE PRINT

23 August 2018

The Epica Awards has merged its Press and Poster prizes into a single Print Grand Prix.

JENNIFER LARKIN JOINS EPICA AS NORTH AMERICAN AWARDS DIRECTOR

21 August 2018

She brings her experience from the ADC Annual Awards as well as solid production credentials.

EPICA CREATES ALTERNATIVE MEDIA GRAND PRIX

21 August 2018

This year’s Epica Awards on November 15 will include a Grand Prix for non-traditional work.

EPICA DOUBLES DOWN ON AMSTERDAM WITH TWO EVENTS

17 August 2018

On November 14-15 the city will host the Epica Creative Circle – under the theme “Will responsibility kill creativity?” – and the Epica Awards ceremony.

HUMOUR IN ADVERTISING:
THE LAUGHTER EXPERT

16 August 2018

Italian ad man and scriptwriter Sergio Spaccavento's talks on the use of humour in advertising are always a hit at conferences. As he isn’t a journalist, he can’t join the Epica jury to weigh in on our Humour category. But we asked him for a few tips, instead.

DESIGN PLUS: BOHEMIA VS. IKEA

09 August 2018

From late style guru Christopher Gibbs to a reissued collection of Ikea furniture, design news is currently infused with nostalgia for the Swinging Sixties.

CREATIVE CITIES: KIEV

08 August 2018

For our Creative Cities guides, we ask Epica jurors and friends to pick the most inspiring hotspots in their home towns. Here, Maksym Lazebnik, CEO of the All-Ukranian Advertising Coaliton - and journalist for Sostav UA - takes us to Kiev.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
TONY CHAMBERS, WALLPAPER (EPICA JURY PRESIDENT 2018)

06 August 2018

"If you're going to do something, you must do it properly." This year's Epica Awards jury president is Tony Chambers, brand and content director of iconic design magazine Wallpaper*. Here he talks about the pursuit of excellence and the timeless power of human ideas.

THE EARLIER THE EPICA

01 August 2018

The Epica Awards are open for entries and until August 31 there’s an Early Bird discount of 100 euros.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS: CHACHO PUEBLA (SPAIN)

10 July 2018

Chacho Puebla, the Argentinian chief creative officer of LOLA MullenLowe, is skilled at bringing a breath of fresh air to agencies with unrealised potential. We caught him in the midst of a one-month experiment at the network's Paris office.

Epica cuts through with Wieden + Kennedy

03 July 2018

The Epica Awards 2018 "call for entries" campaign, designed by Wieden + Kennedy Amsterdam, uses striking graphic images to get to the heart of what makes Epica's press jury different.

DESIGN PLUS:
FRAGRANCE CENTRAL

02 July 2018

French luxury house Louis Vuitton has produced its first men’s fragrances. Vuitton may be located in Paris, but the soul of these scents lies in the south.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS: JAMES YEATS SMITH (NETHERLANDS)

27 June 2018

Brands should think harder before they speak, according to James Yeats Smith (also known as JYS), a South African creative based in Amsterdam. Here he chats with Dutch journalist Nils Adriaans, a member of the Epica Awards jury.

CREATIVE CITIES: CANNES

04 June 2018

So you think you know Cannes? Well take a look at our insider's guide by French journalist Nawal Bonnefoy, who was born and raised there and regularly returns. You may find you have some new spots to check out.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
MAXI MADDALENA (ARGENTINA)

31 May 2018

Argentina is a reliable source of great advertising. This month's headline maker is Ogilvy Argentina ECD Maxi Maddalena, who explains how even the country's economic crises have fuelled its creative culture. 

DESIGN PLUS: THE ENDURING BRILLIANCE OF NEON

30 May 2018

The inventor of neon died 60 years ago this month. But his legacy lives on as a new generation warms to the glowing signs. We delve into the world of neo-neon.

CREATIVE CITIES: AMSTERDAM

14 May 2018

In a new series, we ask Epica’s network of journalists and experts to pick the most creative and inspiring places in their home towns. The first is a joint contribution from journalist Nils Adriaans of Dutch magazine Adformatie and his film-maker (and commercials director) pal Ruben van Leer.

DESIGN PLUS: IN SEARCH OF STYLISH AIRPORTS

30 April 2018

As Heathrow Airport auctions off the entire contents of Terminal 1, we take a look at airport design and feel nostalgic for the jet age.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
RUXANDRA PAPUC (ROMANIA)

25 April 2018

This month's Headline Maker sprung out of an encounter at the jury of the Hipnózis awards in Budapest. Click here to meet Ruxandra Papuc, group creative director of McCann Bucharest, a fearless young talent with exacting standards.

SHOWCASE 2018: Amsterdam

16 April 2018

A special edition of the showcase compared Dutch and German creativity, with panelists and journalists from both markets.

SHOWCASE 2018: Buenos Aires

31 March 2018

The second edition of the Epica Showcase in Buenos Aires took place last Thursday in the HQ of creative production company Mediamonks. Guests from the world of advertising and journalism had the chance to see the winning cases from Argentinian agencies and learn about the behind the scenes of the campaigns from the creatives that created them.

DESIGN PLUS:
THE ART OF THE MOVIE SET

26 March 2018

An exhibition of Wes Anderson movie sets in London provokes thoughts on the role of production design in cinema. 

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
DIANA AGUDELO HERNANDEZ (NETHERLANDS)

21 March 2018

Diane Agudelo Hernandez of Booking.com says she has travel in her DNA. Here she describes how data and a personal observation inspired the platform's latest campaign: an invitation to the people of the world to get out there and see the rest of it. 

SHOWCASE 2018: Paris

19 March 2018

The Epica Awards Paris Showcase took place in the appropriate surroundings of a leading ad school, just around the corner from the Eiffel Tower.

SHOWCASE 2018: NEW YORK

08 March 2018

Epica’s recent private showcase in New York was attended by leading names in advertising and journalism.

SHOWCASE 2018: MILAN

01 March 2018

The third edition of Advertising Takes The Stage, featuring the Epica Awards 2017 Film Winners’ Showcase, took place in Milan on Friday February 23.

DESIGN PLUS: RISE OF THE BOOKSTAGRAMMERS

21 February 2018

Print books are not dead. In fact, they've found a new home and inspired an entire subculture on Instagram. Meet the "bookstagrammers" and find out how they're influencing the publishing industry.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS: KRISTA TEIVĀNE (LATVIA)

20 February 2018

We meet the co-founder of Dingo&Schwarz, a new agency offering smart solutions from “a small country”. Read on to discover why Latvia may be the new Scandinavia.

SHOWCASE 2018: LONDON

08 February 2018

DESIGN PLUS:
MUJI INVITES YOU TO STAY

29 January 2018

Japanese brand Muji is the latest in the list of retailers who've translated their "lifestyle" into a hotel. So why should you choose it when you next visit Shenzen?

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
ULRIK FELDSKOV JUUL
(DENMARK)

25 January 2018

Lego creative director Ulrik Feldskov Juul has spent five years helping to build the famous brick brand and finding smart yet respectful ways of reaching out to kids.

EPICA AWARDS ANNOUNCES RESPONSIBILITY GRAND PRIX

16 January 2018

The creative prize judged by journalists extends partnership with ACT Responsible to launch a specific Grand Prix for good causes.

GEOGRAPHICAL FOCUS 2017

15 January 2018

Holding company of the Year: OMNICOM
Brand of the Year: Nike
Production company of the Year: Great Guns
Network of the Year: McCann Worldgroup with 42 awards including a Grand Prix and 11 Golds.
Agency of the Year: BBDO New York with 27 awards including a Grand Prix and 6 Golds.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
LES ARGENTINS
(BUENOS AIRES & PARIS)

04 December 2017

Advertising from Argentina is often great. So great, in fact, that agencies in other parts of the world want a slice of it. Meet Les Argentins (The Argentines), the duo bringing ad genius from Buenos Aires to your doorstep. 

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS: ARTEM SINYAVSKIY (RUSSIA)

01 November 2017

Artem Sinyavskiy of Russian agency Marvelous tells us how he transformed a talent for organising parties into an agency that thrives on unexpected solutions.

HEADLINE MAKERS:
HARRY TRACOSAS (GLOBAL PRODUCTION NETWORK)

10 October 2017

GPN is the sponsor of Epica’s new Production Company of the Year award. The network may reach every corner of the globe, but founder Harry Tracosas is a firm believer in the personal touch.

DESIGN PLUS: HOW WALLPAPER* BEATS THE CROWD

04 October 2017

While other magazines struggle, Wallpaper* is in fine fettle, celebrating its 21st birthday with double digit advertising growth, higher quality paper stock and its biggest issue ever. So what are the secrets of its success? Read on to find out.

MEET THE PRESIDENT:
Spencer Baim, Vice Media

18 September 2017

Spencer Baim, chief strategic officer of Vice Media, has a consummate understanding of the relationship between advertising, content and journalism. Which is why he's the perfect president of this year's Epica Awards jury. Click here to find out more.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS: STÉPHANE WARGNIER, PETIT BATEAU (FRANCE)

06 September 2017

French kidswear brand Petit Bateau is in the news with a hopping spot that makes a star out of a sweatshirt. We talk to image and communications director Stéphane Wargnier about the ad and his collaboration with the agency BETC.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
LAWRENCE RIBEIRO (INTERNATIONAL MAN OF ACTION)

23 August 2017

Canadian film-maker Lawrence Ribeiro specialises in the kind of action sequences that bring you out in a cold sweat. Here the director tells us why more brands should emulate his "attraction to risk".

DESIGN PLUS: PRODUCTMAN (FRANCE)

16 August 2017

After Buzzman, the ground-breaking French agency, comes its spin-off unit Productman. Why has the agency turned its attention to design? We chat to vice-president Thomas Granger.

OPENING FOR EARLY BIRD ENTRIES

01 August 2017

The only global creative awards judged by journalists who are specialists in their field, the Epica Awards allow agencies to show their work to a unique group of people who can spread the word about their creative talent. The awards cover advertising, design, PR and digital.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
ALEX PASINI, SID LEE (FRANCE)

03 July 2017

The Paris outpost of Canadian agency Sid Lee has always been considered something of an outlier in the French advertising landscape. Here Alex Pasini, SVP Global Alliances, explains its evolution into a force to be reckoned with.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
BECK'S AND SERVICEPLAN (GERMANY)

13 June 2017

Putting the consumer at the core: Beck's and its agency Serviceplan talk about the process that led to the brand's youth-oriented campaign, "You make it legendary."

SPECIAL REPORT:
STOP FUNDING HATE

08 June 2017

Stop Funding Hate co-founder Richard Wilson will speak at the Epica Creative Circle in Berlin this November. Here he explains how social media, viral video and crowd funding are pursuading advertisers to stop supporting newspapers that incite hatred against minority groups.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
SANDRINE HUIJGEN (NETHERLANDS)

30 May 2017

Cloudfactory's Sandrine Huijgen made an unusual journey from client to creative, and from storyteller to "story doer". Click here to find out how she and her team are helping brands make a positive contribution.

DESIGN PLUS:
THE FUTURE VOYAGERS

15 May 2017

Travelling should be about new people and places rather than stress and hassle. With this in mind, Buenos Aires start-up Bluesmart is creating "smart luggage". These connected cases can make at least part of your journey less painful.

EPICA ON TOUR: BERLIN

03 May 2017

The Epica Creative Showcase arrived in Berlin on May 3rd, together with a round table discussion about the influence of the workplace on creativity. The event was sponsored by Adobe and hosted by WeWork at its brand new collaborative space in Potsdamer Platz.

EPICA ON TOUR: PARIS

29 April 2017

The Epica Creative Showcase in Paris on April 18 was preceded by a fascinating round table debate about the influence of the workplace on creativity. The event was sponsored by Adobe Stock and hosted by WeWork at its brand new collaborative space in rue La Fayette.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS: HUNGRY AND FOOLISH (FRANCE)

24 April 2017

Hungry and Foolish are the latest in a wave of agencies who are shaking up the French ad scene. Here they tell us how they reinvented their business by thinking outside the box. Don't groan - this time we mean it literally. Click here to read their story.

EPICA ON TOUR: COPENHAGEN

10 April 2017

The latest in our series of global showcases was hosted by the Danish School of Media and Journalism in Copenhagen on Thursday April 6.

EPICA ON TOUR: BUENOS AIRES

10 April 2017

Guests from the worlds of advertising and journalism mingled at the Epica Awards Buenos Aires Showcase on Monday evening (April 3). The event was hosted by global creative production partner Mediamonks at its brand new headquarters in the trendy district of Palermo Soho.

DID YOU GET AN EPICA JURY REJECTION MAIL?

10 April 2017

How we created engagement with a fake email reply and a rapid follow-up.

DESIGN PLUS: VINCENT LAMMERS, ANIMATION AMBASSADOR

28 March 2017

"My job is basically about zooming in and zooming out." This month's design column features Vincent Lammers, head of design and animation at Ambassadors in Amsterdam. He shares some career highlights and talks us through the creative process from brief to polished project.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
TAHAAB RAIS (DUBAI)

21 March 2017

This month's Headline Maker is a strategist, but one with considerable creative flair. Tahaab Rais, regional head of strategic planning (MENA) at FP7/McCann and regional director (MENA), McCann Truth Central, talks about the relationship between maths and imagination and tells us why taxi drivers know best.

EPICA ON TOUR: MILAN

28 February 2017

The second edition of Advertising Takes The Stage, featuring the Epica Awards 2016 Film Winners’ Showcase, took place in Milan on Friday February 24. The event at the Ariosto Spazio cinema was organized by our Italian partner Pubblicità Italia/TVN Media Group.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
PEDRO BEXIGA AND MARCELO LOURENÇO, FUEL (PORTUGAL)

21 February 2017

This month’s Headline Makers are the creative directors of Fuel, Lisbon. Pedro Bexiga and Marcelo Lourenço are applying the rules of the golden age of Portuguese advertising to the digital era – and coming up with ads that connect.

CREATIVITY AND CRISIS:
AN ADFORMATIE/EPICA
ROUND TABLE

14 February 2017

What role can advertising play when the world is falling apart? Shortly after Donald Trump’s election – and in the midst of judging for the Epica awards – NILS ADRIAANS of Dutch magazine Adformatie talked to three advertising journalists, an advertising strategist and an advertising thinker to find out. 

DESIGN PLUS:
CLAIRE BRIDGES AND THE ELEMENTS OF CREATIVITY

14 February 2017

Claire Bridges is the author of In Your Creative Element, a book that delivers "a formula for creative success in business". Here Claire shares some of her secrets for unlocking creativity.

EPICA ON TOUR: NEW YORK

03 February 2017

DESIGN PLUS:
JONES & BONE

30 January 2017

Blending design, branding and social strategy, small but nimble new outfit Jones & Bone is the perfect example of a 21st century agency. Read on to find out why the London-based duo prefer the term "creative boutique".

EPICA ON TOUR: LONDON

27 January 2017

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
ROSIE BARDALES (UK)

10 January 2017

Having travelled the world, Texas-born Rosie Bardales is at home as ECD of a French agency’s London office. Here she talks about the city's magnetic pull and the impact of cosmopolitan surroundings on creativity.

DESIGN PLUS:
DISCOVER SIX THINGS

20 December 2016

Six Things is a young design and branding agency with its roots in the digital world and an instinctive understanding of the millennial mindset.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
KATIE KEITH (UK)

08 December 2016

It's the first time we've put somebody from a production company in the Headline Makers slot. But it makes sense that our chosen candidate is Katie Keith, "first lady" of London's Rattling Stick, whose directors have worked on projects ranging from Barnardo's to Bond. Click here to find out how Katie juggles her impressive workload.

DESIGN PLUS:
ILLUSTRATING SAFETY

09 November 2016

If you can’t find a safety card in the seat pocket in front of you, it may be because a collector has already snapped it up. Inspired by the Paris metro’s mock airline safety card campaign, we examine an aviation sub-culture.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
CHRISTOPH BECKER (US)

08 November 2016

This month's headline maker is Christoph Becker, CEO and chief creative officer of Gyro. Becker and his network are transforming perceptions of B2B advertising. To find out how, read on.

OUR 2016 PARTNERS

03 November 2016

Epica is proud to present its partners and sponsors for this year's awards season. Click to find out more about them - and how they're supporting us.

DESIGN PLUS: TRISTAN MACHEREL
LANDOR PARIS

24 October 2016

This month's Design Plus is a profile of Tristan Macherel, executive creative director of Landor Paris. He talks about Landor's extraordinary history, his own career journey, and the relationship between creativity and strategy.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
CAROLINE DURET (FRANCE)

12 October 2016

In this month's Headline Makers column, Caroline Duret of RadiumOne's Paris office not only demistyfies the new metier of "data-driven marketing" for us, but makes it sound like an exciting career option.

NGAd Club to award special prize at Epica

03 October 2016

In partnership with ACT Responsible, Epica has invited NGAd Club members to vote for the best charity work entered in the awards this year. The NGAd Club brings together more than 40 communications directors of major NGOs, with the objective of creating a closer bond between agencies and the non-profit world.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
MARK FORGAN & JAMIE STANDEN (FRANCE via NEW ZEALAND)

22 September 2016

Each month we profile a creative talent in the news. This time we have two guests: Mark Forgan and Jamie Standen, who travelled all the way from New Zealand to make their mark on France. At Rosapark, they're working on some of the country's best-known brands.

DESIGN PLUS:
CREATIVE SUBURBIA

22 September 2016

French agency BETC's move to an iconic building in the suburbs of Paris may reflect a shift in the city's creative landscape. And it could even indicate a global trend. Read this month's design column to find out why urban innovators are moving out of town.

Time Inc.'s Norman Pearlstine named President of the 2016 Epica Awards jury

21 September 2016

Highly respected Vice-Chairman of US media giant to weigh in on the year’s best creative work

Epica is delighted to announce that Norman Pearlstine, Vice-Chairman of Time Inc., will be President of the jury this year.

The Second Lürzer’s Archive/Epica Advertising Photography Award

17 September 2016

The Epica Awards have once again joined forces with Lürzer’s Archive, the creative resource for advertising professionals, for our joint photography prize: The Lürzer’s Archive/Epica Advertising Photography Award.

JUROR INTERVIEW: TAREK CHEMALY (LEBANON)

13 September 2016

Launching an occasional series of conversations between Epica’s editorial director Mark Tungate and the journalists on our jury. To kick off the series, meet Tarek Chemaly, editor-at-large of ArabAd.  

EPICA LAUNCHES DESIGN GRAND PRIX

06 September 2016

Inspired by conversations with design and traditional agencies, Epica has created a Design Grand Prix. The new prize comes as The Epica Awards celebrate their 30th birthday.

The winner will be chosen from one of Epica’s four existing design categories.

DESIGN PLUS: SPACE TOURISM

05 September 2016

A series of retro-futuristic posters created by NASA inspired us to take a look at the wild world of space tourism. Click here to blast off.

EPICA’S OLYMPIC CHALLENGE

01 September 2016

As the long sprint to the prize-giving ceremony begins, the Epica Awards have launched an Olympic Games category, open to all work inspired by the 2016 Games in Rio. Film, outdoor, press, digital, case films – all are welcome.

HUNGRY FOR FAME?
ENTER THE 30TH EPICA AWARDS TODAY

30 August 2016

The 2016 Epica Awards are now open for entries until September 30.

Here’s a chance to grab yet more glory before the end of the year.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
CHRISTINE REMOVILLE (FRANCE)

25 August 2016

Continuing our series of interviews with ad folk in the news. This time we head slightly out of our comfort zone to meet Christine Removille of Accenture Interactive, which was billed by Advertising Age as "the world's largest and digital agency". Find out why traditional agencies are keeping a wary eye on it.

Out now: Epica Book 29

24 August 2016

The 29th edition of the Epica Book is now available.

From prestigious London publisher Bloomsbury, the Epica Book represents 400 pages of creative inspiration. All the winners and selected high scoring entries are featured, plus exclusive interviews with the grand prix winners – taking you behind the scenes of the creative process.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
MATT EDWARDS (UK)

16 August 2016

Every month, we feature an ad industry talent who's making headlines. A storied British agency with global reach, WCRS has come roaring back to relevancy. Chief executive Matt Edwards tells us how it was done – with an aside about football.

DESIGN PLUS:
WRITE FIRST, DRINK LATER

29 July 2016

Two new venues in Paris and Milan combine branding with luxuriating. Find out how Moleskine and Johnnie Walker are encouraging customers to sit down and spend some quality time with them.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
DMITRY TUTKOV (RUSSIA)

19 July 2016

Every month we interview a creative talent making headlines in their home market. This month it's the turn of Dmitry Tutkov, co-founder of Russian agency TutkovBudkov, which helped to create the jaw-dropping zero gravity video by rock band OK Go and S7 Airlines.

Epica Partner Profile: Screenvision Media

18 July 2016

In 2016, Screenvision Media became an Epica partner and sponsor of our Direction & Cinematography category. Here we chat to CEO John Partilla about advertising on the big screen and the allure of the "preshow".

Open for entries: be Epic in advance

06 July 2016

Want to get ahead of the crowd? The 30th edition of the Epica Awards is now open for entries – with an Early Bird Discount of €100 until August 24.

Emily Isovitsch joins Epica Awards

06 July 2016

A true awards expert has joined Epica in the role of North American Sales Director. Emily Isovitsch was previously executive director of the CLIO Awards and spent nine years as managing director of The One Club.

DESIGN PLUS: MAGAZINES WITH GALLERY SPACES

30 June 2016

Creative magazines have begun expanding beyond print and opening exhibition spaces. Click here to read about Kinfolk's new Copenhagen gallery and other publications with a public presence in the world.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
BALAZS POCZE (HUNGARY)

29 June 2016

Every month, we profile a creative talent making headlines in their home market. We bumped into Balázs Pőcze, co-founder and creative director of Mito, while judging the Hipnózis Awards, run by Kreatív magazine in Hungary.

Balázs explained, among other things, how to run a risky 24-hour campaign when there's no guarantee that things will go your way...

EPICA UNVEILS PROVOCATIVE AD CAMPAIGN

28 June 2016

The Epica Awards has launched a cheeky new advertising campaign created by Paris-based agency Altmann+Pacreau.

The press and banner campaign stresses the fact that Epica is judged by journalists and is therefore the most objective competition in the awards landscape. 

EPICA 30th BIRTHDAY

23 June 2016

The Epica Awards officially kicked off its 30th anniversary celebrations this week with news of an ever-growing international jury, social and traditional media campaigns and additional categories.

EPICA ON TOUR 2016: THE FULL REPORT

01 June 2016

Epica travelled the world this spring, screening its Film Winners’ Showcase in nine cities, starting in Milan and ending in Kiev. Each Epica on Tour showcase was attended by a selection of agency creatives and clients, as well as many of the journalists on our jury.

See the full report.

DESIGN PLUS: HANDKERCHIEF MAGAZINE SCORES EUROPEAN DESIGN AWARD

31 May 2016

The Italian anti-homophobia magazine Handkerchief won a top prize at the European Design Awards in Vienna, while Swiss agency Raffinerie was Agency of the Year. Read on for more details.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
PAUL GREGSON & JONO FLANNERY (AUSTRALIA)

30 May 2016

Following a recent visit to Australia for our Epica Awards Showcase, we were told of a creative duo who save people from sharks and bring unsung heroes into the spotlight. They had to be worth interviewing, right?

Click here to meet art director Paul Gregson and copywriter Jono Flannery of M&C Saatchi Australia.

EPICA ON TOUR: KIEV

27 May 2016

The Epica World Tour made its way to Kiev on Thursday 26th May.

The Epica film winners were showcased to a packed audience on the 26th and 27th at the Kiev International Advertising Festival. 

EPICA ON TOUR: NEW YORK

24 May 2016

Presented in association with cinema advertising network Screenvision Media, the Epica on Tour Film Winners’ Showcase in New York took place at the Chelsea Bowtie Theatre (260 West 23rd Street in Chelsea) on May 24, from 6.30pm, followed by cocktails.

EPICA ON TOUR: COPENHAGEN

20 May 2016

The night of Friday May 20 saw the Danish advertising community gather at the home of production house Bacon, our hosts for the Copenhagen chapter of the Epica on Tour film winners' Showcase. 

DESIGN PLUS: HIGH FLYERS AND CULTURE VULTURES

10 May 2016

It's all about the logo: our regular column takes a look at rebranding efforts on each side of the Atlantic, for Paris Airports and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Which was the most successful? Click here to find out.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
MIKE NICHOLSON (UK)

02 May 2016

Every month, Epica - the only global creative awards judged by the specialist press - interviews a creative talent who's making headlines.

After a career that has embraced the biggest traditional agencies and racy independents, Mike Nicholson has been appointed ECD of Brave - the feisty UK agency whose blend might be the perfect foil for his talents.

EPICA ON TOUR: MINSK

15 April 2016

The Epica World Tour visited Minsk on April 15th with the White Square festival of creativity, one of the major events in marketing and advertising industry of Eastern Europe, annually held in Belarus. 

EPICA ON TOUR: PARIS

15 April 2016

The Epica Film Winners' Showcase in France was hosted by Havas and Groupe Bolloré at the Mac-Mahon cinema in the heart of Paris. The event was introduced by Epica editorial director Mark Tungate, with a speech by Yannick Bolloré and Jacques Séguéla, from Havas.

EPICA ON TOUR: MOSCOW

13 April 2016

The Epica Awards showcase returned to Moscow on April 13th, thanks to our hosts AKAR, who are Russia's Communication Agency Association, and Russian jury member Sostav.ru which is the leading trade press for the advertising industry for Russia.

IRISH INTERNATIONAL BBDO: HOW TO SHOOT A SECOND

13 April 2016

Euronews is currently screening Irish International BBDO’s "Anatomy of a Split Second" road safety spot as part of its partnership with the Epica Awards. In this article we go behind the scenes to find out how the fatal second reached the screen.

EPICA ON TOUR: STOCKHOLM

11 April 2016

The Epica Film Winners' Showcase in Sweden was hosted by production house Acne at its beautiful offices in the heart of Stockholm. The event was introduced by Epica editorial director Mark Tungate, with a speech by Johan Sathe, editor-in-chief of local jury partner Resumé.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
JOANNA MONTEIRO (BRAZIL)

30 March 2016

Our regular column features creative stars who are making headlines. In this edition we chat to Joanna Monteiro, the chief creative officer of FCB Brasil. Among other things, she shares her thoughts on the challenges facing women in advertising.

DESIGN PLUS: HOW TO REDESIGN A MAGAZINE

24 March 2016

Being based in Paris, we couldn't help but notice the redesign of iconic French news magazine L'Express. And when we discovered that the art director behind the new look was London-based Mark Porter, an interview seemed obligatory. Click here to find out how to give a magazine a makeover.

EPICA ON TOUR: SYDNEY

23 March 2016

The Golden Age Cinema in Surrey Hills, Sydney, was the venue for the Australian leg of the Epica World Tour. A screening of the 2015 Epica Film Winners was hosted by our local partner Campaign Brief and World Wide Mind.

EPICA ON TOUR: MILAN

21 March 2016

The Epica world tour stopped off in Milan recently with a showcase screening introduced by our global press manager Lucía Ongay. The event was hosted by Epica's local jury partner Pubblicità Italia. 

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
ADELA KUDRNOVA (CZECH REPUBLIC)

02 March 2016

An unusual Czech design magazine has launched a matchmaking service for creative talents and brands. Meanwhile, the magazine’s editor, Adéla Kudrnová, makes a strong case for the renaissance of print. 

DESIGN PLUS: THE EURO CODE

29 February 2016

With the "Brexit" poll looming and the European flag fraying at the edges, we set out to find out who designed the logo of Europe. Our investigations unearthed controversy – and perhaps even a conspiracy. 

EPICA ON TOUR 2016

24 February 2016

Epica On Tour, our worldwide showcase of creativity, is set to travel to cities across the globe between March and May 2016.

And the even better news is that you're invited!  Click here to find out how you can attend one of our screening and networking events.

EPICA ON TOUR: NETHERLANDS AND PRAGUE

15 February 2016

The worlds of journalism and advertising are growing closer together. But what does that mean for both industries? Epica's editorial director Mark Tungate, who is also a journalist and copywriter, was talking about "brand journalism" at events in the Netherlands and Prague. Click now for details.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
JUAN PABLO VALENCIA (KAZAKHSTAN)

01 February 2016

Our regular column features creative stars who are making headlines. In this edition we meet Juan Pablo Valencia. Hailing from Chile, Juan Pablo recently became ECD of Cheil Kazakhstan. But he has spent several years putting the country on the creative map.

DESIGN PLUS: CREATIVE SPACES

28 January 2016

In a new series of articles, Epica highlights creativity in the design field. This inaugural piece looks at the impact of the working environment on creative talents. Its author, Mark Tungate, finds that easing collaboration is the aim of many new agency office designs.

Image: Cloud Nine, Sweden

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
LEVAN LEPSVERIDZE (GEORGIA)

17 December 2015

Every month we profile a creative star making headlines in their home market. This month, meet Levan Lepsveridze, co-founder and creative director of Leavingstone in Tbilisi, Georgia.

We caught up with Levan at the Epica Days event in Tbilisi, a three-day showcase of Epica winners and local creative work.

EPICA ON TOUR: TBILISI, GEORGIA

16 December 2015

Epica's editorial director Mark Tungate was the keynote speaker at the Epica Days in Tbilisi, Georgia. The three-day event celebrated local and international creativity.

EPICA ON TOUR: ARGENTINA

01 December 2015

To celebrate the end of the year and Argentina's two Gold winners at the Epica Awards, we came to Buenos Aires for a cocktail party and prize-giving on December 16, 2015.

EURONEWS' REPORT ABOUT THE 2015 EPICA CEREMONY IN BERLIN

20 November 2015

If you didn't have the chance to join us in Berlin for the 2015 Epica Awards ceremony, you may enjoy watching this!

HORNBACH RECEIVES EPICA 2015 BRAND TRIBUTE AWARD

18 November 2015

Epica has awarded its annual Brand Tribute to leading German home improvements brand Hornbach. The award was created to recognize brands that are committed to supporting innovative work and have inspired outstanding creativity over the years.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
MARKO ROMCEVIC (SERBIA)

28 October 2015

Every month we interview a creative talent who's making headlines. Meet Marko Romcevic from Belgrade, who with his partner Dusan Adamovic is giving his ideas away...for a good cause, naturally. 

Their project is #CrazyEnoughToChangeTheWorld

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
NICOLAS CRESCI (ARGENTINA)

14 October 2015

Every month we profile a creative star making headlines in their home market. This time we meet Nicolás Cresci, who (with his business partner at the agency iURL) has just launched the first virtual reality studio in Latin America.

PHOTOGRAPHER ALISON JACKSON JOINS EPICA CREATIVE CIRCLE

13 October 2015

Leading British photographer Alison Jackson has joined the line-up of speakers at the Epica Creative Circle conference in Berlin on November 19.

Alison is famous for her uncannily accurate "lookalike" photos of Royals and celebrities. Whether shocking or satirical, they are designed to provoke a debate about the power of image and society's obsession with celebrity.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
KAYLI VEE LEVITAN (SOUTH AFRICA)

30 September 2015

Each month, Epica profiles a creative star recommended by one of the journals or websites on our jury. Mark Lives in South Africa nominated Kayli Vee Levitan, copywriter at M&C Saatchi Able in Cape Town and co-founder of The Street Store - a local charity initiative that became a global phenomenon.

HOW TO MAKE HUMOUR TRAVEL

29 September 2015

So you want to win Epica's new Humour category. But can humour cross borders? How can you be sure that your ad will make an international audience - or jury - laugh rather than remain blank? Here's a brief and unscientific guide to comedic effectiveness.

VIRTUAL REALITY AND US

23 September 2015

Epica is the first major global creative awards to launch a specific virtual reality category. In this article, Epica's editorial director Mark Tungate explains why - and presents some of the latest VR work. Click here to read on.

THE EPICA CREATIVE CIRCLE

22 September 2015

Epica's ceremony in Berlin on November 19th will be preceded by our Creative Circle conference.

Held at the Platoon Kunsthalle, its theme is The New Scope of Creativity. Key subjects will be virtual reality, photography, graphic design and the impact of urban living on creativity.

Click here for more details of speakers.

OLIVIER DE MONTCHENU OF EURONEWS NAMED EPICA 2015 JURY PRESIDENT

15 September 2015

The Epica Awards is delighted to announce that Olivier de Montchenu, Managing Director of Euronews Sales, will be President of the jury this year. Olivier brings to the role his years of experience in dealing with the channel’s creative partners. 

MARK LIVES IN SOUTH AFRICA JOINS EPICA JURY

07 September 2015

Epica is proud to welcome its new jury partner for South Africa, the advertising, design and media site MarkLives.com. Founded by Herman Manson, it provides industry news, opinion, analysis, case studies, profiles and marketing innovations.

EPICA ON TOUR: CROATIA

02 September 2015

Epica editorial director Mark Tungate presented the Epica Showcase at the Weekend Media Festvial in Rovinj, Croatia on September 26. The event brought together communications experts and brands from across South East Europe, primarily the Balkans. Mark was also talking about the importance of creativity to brand owners and the elements that go into winning work.

EPICA ON TOUR: SWEDEN

26 August 2015

Epica business development manager Joe Brooks presented the Epica Showcase - our 45 minute compilation of film and branded content winners - at a meeting of the Sveriges Annonsörer, the Swedish Advertising Association, in Stockholm on August 25, 2015.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
MICHAL KOBIERZEWSKI (POLAND)

24 August 2015

Each month, we profile a creative star making headlines in their home market. This month's candidate is Michał Kobierzewski, Creative Director of The Digitals in Warsaw. We first met Michał at a digital advertising conference in Warsaw organised by our Estonian jury member Best Marketing.

INTRODUCING THE LÜRZER'S ARCHIVE / EPICA PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD

07 August 2015

The Epica Awards has joined forces with iconic creative resource Lürzer's Archive to celebrate the art of photography. Epica's Advertising Photography category is now the Lürzer's Archive/Epica Photography Award.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
RODRIGO TARQUINO (COLOMBIA)

27 July 2015

Every month, Epica profiles a creative star making headlines at one of the magazines on our jury. This month P&M in Colombia nominates Rodrigo Tarquino, Chief Creative Officer of Publicis Colombia.

ADWEEK'S DAVID GRINER JOINS EPICA JURY

23 July 2015

Epica is delighted to welcome David Griner, Adweek's Digital Managing Editor, to the Epica jury. David will join us in Berlin later this year for the jury meeting and awards show (16-19 November). David oversees the New York-based publication's online news team and the popular Adweek Blog Network. 

OUT NOW: EPICA BOOK 28

22 July 2015

The 28th edition of The Epica Book launched in August. Published by Bloomsbury in London, it features more than 1000 colour images and over 400 sumptuous pages of award winning work and high-scoring entries. Plus behind-the-scenes interviews with leading names from Leo Burnett, Adam & Eve DDB, BBDO New York, Publicis, 72andSunny and Google, among others. The introduction is by Tor Myhren, Worldwide Chief Creative Officer of Grey and President of Grey New York. Click here to find out more.

EPICA ON TOUR: SOUTH AFRICA

20 July 2015

Epica editorial director Mark Tungate teamed up once again  with Hando Sinisalu, founder & president of Estonia's Best Marketing International, for a digital marketing roadshow, this time in Johannesburg and Stellenbosch (on August 19 & 20).

NEW JURY MEMBERS IN LATIN AMERICA, ASIA

29 June 2015

Epica has announced four new jury partners in Latin America and one in Asia. Neo Magazine (Mexico), Publicidad & Mercadeo (Colombia), Bulb (Chile) and Codigo (Peru) all join the team. Marketing Magazine (Indonesia) has also come on board.

NEW JURY MEMBERS IN EUROPE

26 June 2015

Two new European members have joined Epica's global jury of creative industry trade magazines. Ironically, they have similar names. Welcome aboard Media & Marketing (Bosnia) and MM: Media & Marketing (Belgium)!

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
ROMAN FIRAINER (RUSSIA)

15 June 2015

Each month, Epica profiles a creative star making headlines at one of the magazines on our jury. This month, Sostav in Russia nominates Roman Firainer, Executive Creative Director at Instinct.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
ANDRE TOLEDO SALVADOR (SPAIN)

27 May 2015

Each month, Epica profiles a creative star making headlines at one of the magazines on our jury. This month, Codigo magazine in Peru nominates André Toledo Salvador, a Peruvian copywriter at Lola in Madrid.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
ALJOSA BAGOLA (SLOVENIA)

24 April 2015

Each month, Epica profiles a creative making headlines at one of the magazines on our jury. This time we take a look at the work of Aljoša Bagola, Executive Creative Director of Pristop in Slovenia, nominated by Marketing Magazin.

EPICA ON TOUR: RUSSIA

16 April 2015

Epica business development manager Joe Brooks presented the new Epica showcase reel (45 minutes of our film and digital Grand Prix and gold winners) at the Reklama & Design Exhibiiton in Moscow on April 15.

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
MERLEE JAYME (PHILIPPINES)

19 March 2015

Each month, Epica profiles a creative star making headlines at one of the magazines on our international jury. Adobo in the Philippines nominates Merlee Jayme, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer at DM9 Jayme Syfu, Manila.

EPICA ON TOUR: JAKARTA AND MANILA

26 February 2015

Epica Editorial Director Mark Tungate was talking about storytelling, creativity and fashion advertising at events in Malaysia and the Philippines on March 11 and 12. Mark was onstage at the Indonesia Brand Summit in Jakarta and the Fashion Forward conference in Manila.

EPICA 2015 Calendar

13 February 2015

Call for entries will open in July 2015

Entry deadline: 30 September 2015

Awards ceremony: 19 November 2015

GLOBAL HEADLINE MAKERS:
CAN FAGA (TURKEY)

10 February 2015

Each month, Epica profiles a creative star making headlines at one of the magazines on our international jury. Marketing Türkiye nominates Can Faga, Chief Creative Officer at Lowe Istanbul.

The crowd pleasers

01 January 2015

Ben Priest, co-founder and Executive Creative Director Adam&eveDDB, interviewed by Mark Tungate, Editorial Director, Epica Awards

Humanity always wins

01 January 2015

Mark Tutssel, Worldwide Chief Creative Officer, Leo Burnett

Interviewed by Mark Tungate, Editorial Director, Epica Awards

Photo finish in Amsterdam

24 November 2014

A 17th century former church in the middle of Amsterdam – the Koepelkerk – became a temple of creativity for one night during the Epica Awards ceremony. Many competition entrants, along with Epica’s jury of journalists and the local creative community, showed up to watch the winners collect their prizes.

MONTBLANC SPONSORS EPICA AWARDS COPYWRITING & STORYTELLING CATEGORY

13 October 2014

PARIS – October 13. The luxury maison Montblanc has once again underlined its support for the art of writing by sponsoring Epica’s new Copywriting & Storytelling category.

EPICA ON TOUR: ITALY

06 October 2014

Epica editorial director Mark Tungate spoke about the blurring borders between journalism and advertising at the IF (Italians Festival) in Milan last week.

Epica rebranding

11 August 2014

This summer the Epica Awards introduced a new logo and website design as part of an extensive rebranding of the competition, which was founded in 1987. It follows the acquisition of Epica by Maydream – owner of the AdForum archive – two years ago.

EPICA ON TOUR: MALAYSIA, SHANGHAI & SOUTH KOREA

07 April 2014

Epica editorial director Mark Tungate teamed up with our Estonian parter Hando Sinisalu, president & founder of Best Marketing International, for an Asian speaking tour embracing Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai and Seoul.