About THE CUP
ICAC, The Intercontinental Advertising Cup was established in 2007 by organizers of the world’s three biggest regional advertising festivals: Asia Pacific’s ADFEST, Ibero-American FIAP and New European Golden Drum. From the first year onwards the ADC*E, Art Director’s Club of Europe, is also a member.
The mission of THE CUP is the affirmation of locally inspired creativity. The purpose of THE CUP is not competition with any other advertising show, but a very new international concept that makes it possible for local creativity to be judged on a global scale by its local merit. It is a natural extension of local festivals with regional judges, who recognize the quality of local creativity and bring a fresh perspective to global judging.
Basic principle of this new advertising competition is that shortlisted entries from participating regional festivals gain exclusive right to enter into the Intercontinental advertising selection judged by the highest level international jurors.
Genius Loci
“Dedicated to GENIUS LOCI” is the leading principle of THE CUP. Genius loci is in Roman mythology a spirit of the place, a friendly spirit safeguarding the integrity of a location’s character. New York and Paris, Alma Ata and Buenos Aires, Sarajevo and Bora Bora – every place that has ever been touched by people has a spirit all of its own. To feel, to understand and to express this local spirit is a big thing. Especially in advertising and this is the reason behind the birth of the Intercontinental Advertising Cup.
Judging System
Basic principle of this new advertising competition was that shortlisted entries from participating regional festivals gain exclusive right to enter into the Intercontinental advertising selection judged by the highest level international jurors.
All THE CUP finalists are pre-selected by regional juries. THE CUP jury members come from regional festivals and are some of the world’s most awarded creative directors. They are able to recognize the local spirit of the best entries, too, and they have the authority to relate it to the others. The judging process is therefore fairer and guarantees equal opportunity to every entry regardless of its origin.
The judging process structure was developed by Michael Conrad. All entries are grouped in 19 Best of product and service categories and at first judged regardless of their initial media appearance. In the second group Best of Media the jury selects the best work regardless of its product or service category. In the third group Best of Admaking the craft skills are awarded.
Groups and Categories
Entries compete in 3 groups: Best of Product & Services, Best of Media and Best of Admaking.
In every category 5 nominees are selected in each of the 38 categories.
Awards
In every category 5 nominees are selected in each of 38 categories. At the end there are 38 winners of The Cup and 1 winner of The Grand Cup.
The trophy is the CUP made of stainless steel with engraved names of jury members and also with the name of the winning agency and the other nominees. Visual identity of the Cup was designed by Matevz Medja and the trophy by Miha Klinar, Gigodesign, Ljubljana.
