proof. agency adds two more achievements to its international portfolio after winning Silver and Bronze at the Epica Awards 2025 — one of the most prestigious international creativity festivals, judged entirely by journalists.
The agency was awarded:
- Silver for the campaign “nature unplugged” for Velingrad Mineral Water in the category Best Use of Sound
- Bronze for the campaign “shhh” for Sofia Film Fest in the category Recreation & Lei
This marks proof.’s first-ever Silver award at Epica, as well as the first time the agency has won two Epica trophies in a single edition. With these wins, the total number of Epica awards received by proof. now stands at four.
About the projects
Shhh — Sofia Film Fest
“Shhh” is a campaign created in response to one of the most widely discussed events in Bulgarian cultural life in 2024 — the attack on the Ivan Vazov National Theatre by far-right protesters. Instead of responding with noise and confrontation, the campaign uses silence as a form of cultural defense.
The concept places side by side people with opposing views — left and right, young and old, liberal and conservative — who would hardly share the same space anywhere else except in the darkness of a cinema hall. In this way, “Shhh” becomes a commentary on dialogue, coexistence, and the role of culture as a shared refuge.
nature unplugged — Velingrad Mineral Water
“nature unplugged” starts with a simple question: how do we make people hear nature when they live far away from it? The answer is literal — by placing a highly sensitive microphone deep in the forest above Velingrad and broadcasting its sounds in real time into an urban environment.
The campaign uses sound as its primary communication medium, turning nature into an active participant rather than a mere backdrop. No effects, no editing, no interpretation — just reality.
“Every award is a pleasant pat on the shoulder. Silver and Bronze give us confidence that what we do has meaning beyond our local market. That is the real prize.” — Angel Iskrev, Creative Director & Co-founder, proof.
“I’m happy that our work is being viewed in an international context, but I find it even more important that the recognition comes from a jury outside the advertising echo chamber.” — Lyubomir Kashilski, Client Service Director, proof.
The awards continue proof.’s strong performance at Epica in recent years, following Bronze for “wake up after 6pm” (fritz-kola, 2021) and Bronze for #choosetovote (Skapto, 2022).
About Epica Awards
Founded in 1987, the Epica Awards is the only international advertising festival judged entirely by journalists from leading marketing, communication, and creative media. This makes it one of the most independent and objective platforms for evaluating creativity worldwide.
About proof.
proof. is an independent creative agency founded in 2018 in Sofia. The agency has received over 250 national and international awards, including Effie Global, One Show, Epica, Cresta, Lovie, Golden Drum, AdStars, and more. proof. works at the intersection of meaning and idea, focusing on honest communication, strong platforms, and work that works.
