About Us

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Cresta Awards were launched in 1993 by Creative Standards International, in partnership with the International Advertising Association. Twenty years later, Cresta continues its mission of rewarding the highest standards of creative excellence whilst delivering worldwide recognition to its winners. 

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the Cresta Awards is to honor an absolute standard of creative excellence in the international advertising and marketing communications industry.

CREATIVE STANDARDS

Cresta stands for 'Creative Standards'. As the name suggests, the awards focus is to reward the highest Creative Standard within the advertising communications industry. Work will be evaluated within categories, but Cresta will not operate on the basis of "category winners".   More than one Cresta winner may be announced as winning 'gold', 'silver' or 'bronze' statues in those categories where standards are high, or none at all if the judges consider that the standard is not achieved.

CRITERIA

Entries will be judged on the basis of two criteria only: the originality of the creative idea and the quality of its execution (except in the Craft & Design competitions where only executional quality is taken into consideration). 

JUDGING PROCEDURES

The Cresta Awards will be judged by creatives and a two stage evaluation process will be used. All entries will be screened by a number of international pre-selection juries. This pre-selection process will result in a short-list of finalists that will then be submitted to an International Grand Jury of expert creative directors, film specialists and graphic artists. Short-listed Interactive entries will be judged by a separate Grand Jury of Interactive experts. The votes of the International Grand Jury will determine the eventual bronze, silver, gold and grand prix winners.

Jury stats: Pre-selection juries usually number 100+ members. Except for the Interactive competition, sessions are organized in various cities by host 'agencies' and local creatives are invited. Cities and juries vary every year.  The Cresta Grand Jury, which is a permanent jury, is comprised of 76 members from 45 countries.  The shortlist is sent to each member who judge the entries in their own time.  There are no discussions, no politics and this results an emphasis being put solely on creativity.

COMPETITIONS

Cresta encompasses ELEVEN competitions – Press, Outdoor, Ambient Media, TV/Cinema/Online Film, Interactive, Radio, Direct Marketing, Design, Incentives & Promotions, Crafts and Integrated Campaigns. All short-listed entries will receive finalist certificates.  Grand Prix, Gold, Silver and Bronze winners will receive trophies and certificates.  Grand Prix will only be awarded to the highest scoring entries that achieve a pre-determined standard (above a 'set' score). No Grand Prix will be awarded in a competition if the pre-determined standard is not met.

ELIGIBILITY

The Cresta Awards are open to all advertising and interactive agencies, advertisers, studios and production companies worldwide. Both national and international campaigns may compete.

(The Cresta Statue was photographed by Phil Marco, Phil Marco Productions, New York City)