Jolbors Festival goes global and invites agencies from Mongolia

Advertising Journal
Aug 5
3 min read

The 14th season of Jolbors Festival, Central Asia’s leading, most prestigious creative festival and award, is just around the corner.

And this year it takes a major step forward: the festival goes international and invites agencies, brands, creatives, and strategists from across the globe to join the competition. The festival will be held on September 27-28 in Tashkent this year. The deadline for submitting entries is September 4.

The First to Believe in the Region

Founded in 2012, Jolbors was the first festival to actively develop the creative industry in Central Asia. Long before the region gained international attention, Jolbors gave professionals the stage, structure, and support to grow and connect.

“Few people know that our case “The National Sport of Kazakhstan” won Kazakhstan’s first-ever Cannes Lions award thanks to the Jolbors Festival. There is no doubt that this festival has played a key and significant role in the development of the entire region’s creative and marketing industry, becoming the highlight of the year and something you prepare for and look forward to. It’s also a great source of motivation”, - says Yevgeniy Kostylev, Executive Creative Director at GForce Grey, and one of Central Asia’s most awarded creatives.

Many agencies across the region trace their first international success back to Jolbors. Thanks to the festival’s focus on transparency, professional growth, and international benchmarking, a new generation of creatives emerged – more confident, more visible, and more globally competitive.

Quality Over Quantity

Jolbors stands for strong, clear, and bold ideas. Each year, hundreds of projects are submitted, but only a select few are awarded. The average award rate is just 13%, a testament to the festival’s strict evaluation process and international-level criteria. All cases are judged by a strong international jury.

Go Higher: The Spirit of Jolbors

Jolbors was built to support those who dare to grow – professionally, creatively, and personally. Its mission has always been to help participants go higher and stronger: reach new milestones in their careers, gain recognition within the global community, and connect with like-minded professionals.

The festival is more than a competition – it’s a springboard. A moment to showcase your best work, to engage with diverse voices, and to be part of the cultural and creative transformation of one of the most dynamic regions in the world.

What to expect in 2025: International Standards, Global Minds

Jolbors 2025 brings together a stellar lineup of creatives, strategists, and marketers from Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Belgium, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Hungary, Bulgaria, Latvia, Russia, Belarus, and Central Asia – many of whom are holders of top industry honors, including Cannes Lions Grand Prix, D&AD, Clio, Effie, Pentawards, and more.

Among the jury:

Miguel Bemfica – Jury Chairman. Partner and CCO at Twise (Spain), former CCO at VMLY&R and McCann. Holder of Cannes Lions Grand Prix, D&AD, Clio, and more.
Serena Abi Aad — Creative Director and Film Director, former Creative Director at Havas Middle East, Abu Dhabi/Barcelona.
Tom Theys — Independent Strategy Director, Ex Global Strategy Director at FCB, Belgium.
Kavi Rajapaksha — Marketing Director at Sunshine Consumer Lanka Ltd, Sri Lanka.Thabang Lehobye — Art Director, Ex Art Director and Designer at M&C Saatchi, Africa.
Sergio Spaccavento — Independent Creative Director, Italy.Monika Schulze — Strategy Director at TrendOne. Former Vice President of Brand Development at Unilever. One of the most influential marketing directors according to Forbes, Germany.
Andrei Gubaidullin — Co-owner and Creative Director at Voskhod for Peace Agency, Russia.
Andzej Gavriss — Film Director, Latvia.
Andrei Paukov — Co-founder and Creative Producer at Zebra Hero, Russia.
Kristina Denina — Creative Director at Contrapunto, Russia.
Istvan Bracsok — Managing Partner at White Rabbit Budapest, Hungary.
Thomas Kim — CCO and Partner at Paulus, former Creative Director at Cheil, South Korea.
Yevgeniy Kostylev — Executive Creative Director at GForce Grey and CCO at DASM, Kazakhstan.
Farrukh Sharif — Creative Director at Synthesis, Uzbekistan.
Dmitry Apolenis — Creative Director at Aida Pioneer, Belarus.
Georgi Zlatkov — Co-founder and Creative Director at Kombina, Bulgaria.
Miriam Frescura — Associate Creative Director at Auge Design, Florence.
Alina Shcherbinina — Brand Strategy and Development Expert, former CMO at PepsiCo and P&G.

The full jury list is available on jolbors.com.

Call for Entries

You can still submit your cases in over 30 categories. Entries will be accepted until 4th of September. Participation is open to agencies, brands, studios, and young creators from all markets.

Submit your entries. Join the movement. Go Higher.

🔗 All details, deadlines, and submission guidelines are available at jolbors.com.

General partner: Ipak Yuli Bank

Official partner: SAG

Partner: BI Group