White Square International Creativity Festival, recognized by the professional community worldwide, will close its call for entries on April 28. The festival is open to all project formats in the fields of creativity, marketing, and communications, annually expanding and updating its nominations according to current trends and developments. Entries are accepted online on the Festival website in nine contests and 290 nominations: Creative, Branding & Design, Digital, Media, Marketing Services, Marketing Effectiveness, Craft, Mass Media Contest and Efforts & Achievements.
Every year, White Square Festival attracts over 1500 entries from various countries, including Europe, North and Latin America, the MENA region, Asia, and others, inspiring participants to seek professional recognition through evaluation by an international jury at the highest global level. This year, entries will be evaluated by eight jury line-ups: Creative, Branding, Marketing & Digital, Craft, Media, Mass Media Jury, Clients Jury, and Grand Jury, which will be formed from the Chairmen of all jury line-ups and will determine the Festival’s Grand Prix. The White Square jury line-ups are composed of the most prominent representatives of the communications industry from over 45 countries, with international recognition and awards from the world’s largest festivals in creativity and effectiveness.
As the deadline approaches, participants typically ask for guidance on which nominations to submit their projects to. The Entry Kit includes a detailed description of the categories and nominations, evaluation criteria, requirements for submitted materials, and recommendations for completing the entry form. The Entry Kit allows participants to accurately identify the most relevant category and properly showcase their entries to the international jury.
The Creative Contest holds a special place at the Festival, and this is not surprising as the main mission of White Square is to promote creativity and bold, innovative ideas that serve as effective marketing tools and contribute to the development of the industry. The Creative category includes 79 nominations across eleven categories: Film, Print, Radio & Audio, Outdoor, Integrated, Branded Content & Entertainment, Creative Use of Media, Film Sectors, Print Sectors, Outdoor Sectors, and Creative B2B. When evaluating entries, the creative idea and its execution are the primary considerations. In the Creative Use of Media, the creative use of media solutions will be the primary evaluation factor. In the Integrated, the evaluation criteria are: idea 30%, strategy 20%, execution 30%, results 20%. In addition to the main category, creative projects can be submitted in the Mass Media Contest and Efforts & Achievements Contest, in the following nominations: Film, Print & Outdoor, Radio & Audio, Branded Content, Use of Humor in Advertising, Omni-channel Campaign, Brand Launch / Re-launch Campaign, Brand Loyalty Campaign, Breakthrough on a Budget, Collaboration of Brands.
At White Square Festival, branding is considered a strategic asset that determines a brand’s sustainability and long-term goals. Projects in the field of branding may be submitted to various categories of the Branding & Design Contest, depending on the strategic scope of the project and the team’s most significant achievements. The Branding & Design Contest includes 28 nominations across six categories: Communication Design, Packaging Design, Digital & Interactive Design, Product Design, Brand Environment Design, and Branding. Projects in the field of branding and design may also be submitted to the Digital Contest — Branded Tech and Innovations, UX/UI nominations; to the Craft Contest — Art Direction, Illustration, and Visual Effects nominations; in the Mass Media Contest — the Communication Design and Packaging Design nominations; and in the Efforts & Achievements Contest — the Creating of Brand Platform, Branding Strategy, Naming, Communication Design, Packaging Design nominations.
An important part of the contest program is the Marketing Services Contest, which is dedicated to strategic and activation solutions aimed at building sustainable engagement with the audience. This contest includes six categories: Brand Experience & Activation, PR, Direct, Campaigns: Sectors, Innovations, and Creativity Driven Transformation. Entries may also be submitted in the Brand Experience & Activation, PR, and Direct nominations in the Mass Media Contest and Efforts & Achievements Contest.
The Digital Contest reflects the rapid advancement of digitalization and the transformation of communications in the age of technological innovation. Entries in this contest are intended to demonstrate how digital tools, data, artificial intelligence, interactive mechanics, and other technologies come together in innovative formats, platforms, and ecosystems capable of enhancing engagement, personalization, and the scalability of communications. The Digital Contest includes four categories that recognize innovative digital solutions: Digital, Mobile, Social & Influencer, and Creative Data. In addition to the main contest, entries in the digital sphere can be submitted for consideration by other jury teams, which may increase the chances of winning. The Digital & Mobile Platforms and Digital Campaign nominations in the Creative Contest. The Digital Platforms and Mobile nominations in the Media Contest. The Digital Tools, Mobile Tools, Digital & Mobile Campaign, and Social & Influencer Campaign nominations in the Mass Media Contest and Efforts & Achievements Contest.
Projects demonstrating not only a creative approach to media usage but also a high level of effectiveness, strategic thinking, and impact on business metrics can be submitted to the Media Contest that includes 23 nominations in three categories: Channels, Excellence in Media, and Media Campaign. This contest reflects the rapid development of the communications industry and focuses on the effective use of channels, technologies, and creative solutions that enable brands to build meaningful connections with their audience. Particular focus is placed on innovation, strategic precision, and measurable results. The evaluation criteria are: insight and idea (30%), strategy (20%), execution (20%), and results (30%).
The Craft Contest focuses on the execution of ideas, attention to detail, and high standards of craftsmanship. This is where works are recognized in which a creative concept is enhanced by outstanding production quality and craftsmanship. This contest includes 14 nominations in three categories: Film Craft, Print & Outdoor Craft, and Excellence in Radio & Audio. The primary evaluation criterion is the execution of the idea.
The Marketing Effectiveness Contest reflects the global trend toward creative effectiveness—the connection between creative solutions and measurable results for brands and businesses. The focus is on projects where strategic thinking, deep insights, and a strong creative idea enable the achievement of tangible marketing and commercial results. The evaluation criteria are: idea 25%, strategy 25%, results 50%.
In addition to the main categories, creative projects can be submitted for consideration by other jury panels, which may increase the chances of winning. For the first time at the Festival, entries in the Efforts & Achievements Contest will be evaluated by the Clients Jury — prominent representatives of local and international brands. Entries in the Mass Media Contest will be judged by founders and editors-in-chief of specialized media outlets in the marketing and advertising sectors from various countries.
Annually, White Square Festival supports and promotes campaigns by commercial and non-profit brands in the field of socially responsible marketing. In this regard, Mass Media Contest places special emphasis on the Change for Good. Brands and Change for Good. Non-Profit, Charity, Government nominations, which recognize creative projects that change the world for the better. In projects submitted to the social nominations, alongside the main criteria, the significance for society, positive impact on the environment, and other aspirations for change for the better will be evaluated.
For those who have already decided on the entries and nominations, here is a simple guide that systematizes your actions to submit the entries.
1. Register on the festival website
Already registered? Log in to your personal account.
2. In your personal cabinet, choose the contest, category and nomination
3. Check the requirements for entries for the nomination you have chosen in the “Contests” section
4. Fill in the entry form in your personal account
5. Request documents for payment for participation in your personal account
Each year, White Square Festival participants receive inspiration for development in the creative industry and professional evaluation by an international jury, and the winning entries are published in the industrial media worldwide.