Cresta Awards recognize creativity in the absolute as opposed to the use of a "best of" system applied across a long, and often artificial list of categories and cover SIX major competitions: TV/Cinema/Digital, Integrated Campaigns, Press, Poster, Ambient Media and Interactive advertising. A Grand Prix is awarded to the best in each competition.

The entries were judged on the basis of two criteria only: the originality of the idea; and the quality of its execution. From the 51 countries participating in this year's awards, 30 achieved finalists status. A total of 283 finalists were chosen by 150 creatives.

The pre-selection juries for TV/Cinema/Digital, Integrated Campaings, Press, Poster and Ambient Media were held in 10 cities - Amsterdam, Beirut, Bucharest, Budapest, Frankfurt, Lisbon, Mexico City, Shanghai, Vienna and Zagreb.

In addition, a separate pre-selection Interactive Jury was conducted with jury members hailing from Australia, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.

All finalists were evaluated in August by Cresta's International Grand Jury of 62 internationally known creative directors, film specialists, graphic artists and interactive professionals from 37 countries. Presiding over the Grand Jury is Milka Pogliani, Chairman European Creative Council EMEA – Europe, Middle East, Africa Chairman and Executive Creative Director, McCann Worldgroup Italy.

The 16th annual ceremony was presented on-line at www.cresta-awards.com/2008ceremony on Monday, October 27th where 76 awards were presented to entrants from 21 countries.