Tales

March 31, 2025, Sofia. d:istinkt secured five awards at the prestigious BAPRA Bright Awards 2025. Among them Gold in one of the biggest categories – “Rising Star of the Year”. The awards recognize Bulgaria’s most impactful and successful communication campaigns, celebrated at an official ceremony held on March 27.
Now in its 15th edition, the competition is organized by the Bulgarian Association of PR Agencies (BAPRA) and honors outstanding projects and achievements in the fields of communications and PR. This year’s edition was judged by 42 international experts in PR and marketing, with Boaz Paldi, Chief Creative Officer at the United Nations Development Programme, serving as Jury Chair.

d:istinkt received recognition for its holistic approach to planning and executing communication strategies and effective campaigns for its clients. The accolades span across several categories, including “Consumer Communications”, “Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Campaign”, “Digital PR”, “ESG Communication Campaign or Project”, and the prestigious “Rising Star of the Year”. The agency stood out among more than 200 entries, submitted by PR, creative, and digital agencies, companies, media outlets, and government institutions – marking a record-breaking year for submissions in the competition’s history.

“I’m proud that the dedication and hard work of the d:istinkt team were once again recognized at the BAPRA Bright Awards. Every award is a testament to the bold ideas, strategic thinking, and heart we put into every project. Individual recognition is especially meaningful, as it shows that our success is driven by talented people with vision and ambition”, said Galina Pauncheva, CEO of d:istinkt.

With d:istinkt’s expertise and support, Yettel’s digital inclusion program earned major recognition at this year’s awards, winning Gold in the “Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Campaign” category and Silver in “ESG Communication Campaign or Project”. The long-term initiative for online safety aims to reach 40,000 children and young people annually, while helping 10,000 individuals enhance their digital skills. In 2025, the program will expand with new topics, activities, and content to further broaden its impact.

Bronze in the “Digital PR” category was awarded to Yettel’s Christmas campaign “Real connection begins when we put the phone down,” which stood out for its creative and socially resonant approach to digital communication. While technology facilitates our daily lives, the campaign reminded audiences of the importance of human connection and personal moments, especially during the holidays.

d:istinkt also received a Gold award in partnership with proof., one of Bulgaria’s leading creative agencies. The award was for “Consumer Communications” – one of the most competitive categories – for the campaign “Listen to the Rhodope Mountains,” developed for Velingrad Mineral Water. The campaign brought the tranquility of the Rhodopes to urban dwellers by livestreaming the natural sounds of the mountain, based on research showing that such soundscapes reduce stress and enhance focus.

A major highlight this year was the “Rising Star of the Year” award, presented to Radoslav Kinaev, Digital Marketing Specialist at d:istinkt. Just months after joining the agency, he took on full responsibility for the digital strategy of SEE ITS Summit 2024 – Southeast Europe’s largest innovation, technology, and sourcing forum. The fourth edition of the summit, organized by AIBEST and coordinated by d:istinkt, brought together tech companies, startups, government institutions, and investors from across the region.

In parallel, Radoslav also led the digital communications for the 7th edition of the SEE ITS Awards, also organized by d:istinkt. The awards recognized excellence in innovation, ESG leadership, and business transformation, further cementing the platform’s role in driving the region’s high-tech sector. He successfully managed LinkedIn, Google, and Meta campaigns, achieving outstanding levels of engagement.