The first edition of the Baku Flames International Festival of Creativity and Effectiveness sparked the city on May 2–3, 2025, bringing together the region’s top creative minds, global industry leaders, and young talents for two days filled with inspiration, networking, and awards.
The festival opened with a welcome from Orkhan Karim, Chairman of the Festival, who acknowledged the collaborative spirit and creative energy that shaped this event. His remarks set the tone for a festival that celebrated not just great work, but the people and passion behind it.
The first day featured a powerful lineup of keynotes and sessions across both the Flame Stage at Jolly Joker Baku and the Stone Stage at the Stone Chronicle Museum. Industry legends like Ali Rez and Shaun Loftman shared creative philosophies that have shaped global campaigns, while speakers such as Karolina Galácz, Temur Sadi, Ravid Kuperberg, and Erbek Onur explored topics ranging from creative limits to cultural branding. Azercell hosted a panel discussion, while Frankey, the renowned street artist, led a workshop on “not normal” works that challenged attendees to rethink creative boundaries.
On the Stone Stage, Sofar Sounds Baku presented a special cultural session featuring Uran, Murad Arif, and Hiss, followed by the Young Lions Jury Feedback Session, where the next generation of Azerbaijani creatives received insights on their work from leading professionals.
The evening was dedicated to rising talent, with the Young Lions Award Show recognizing the country’s most promising young creatives. The night continued with a high-energy Rock ’n’ Roll concert by Cem Durmaz Band, closing with a DJ set by Amal Alili.
The second day opened with keynotes from Frankey and Eduardo Marques, offering radically different but equally impactful visions of creative work. A panel presented by Birbank explored the complex tension between human ideas and algorithm-driven marketing strategies, while sessions by Rasul Hasan, Öner Biberkökü, and Aliyar Huseynov discovered storytelling, AI, and brand leadership. Later in the day, panels led by ABD Malik and Emily Koridze brought together creative directors and cultural figures for candid conversations on humor in advertising and the evolving role of creative leadership.
One of the festival’s best moments came during the Baku Flames Jury Feedback Session, where jury presidents shared insights on the region’s creative potential and the work they reviewed.
The night lit up with the Baku Flames Awards Show, where the best projects were honored with Bronze, Silver, and Gold Flames, along with special trophies like the Green Flame for Sustainable Development Goals, the Blue Flame (Grand Prix), and the titles of Best Agency and Best Brand/Advertiser of the Festival.
To close out the night and the festival, Paster brought hip-hop to the museum stage, followed by a final DJ set from Pancho.
With all of this, Baku Flames 2025 proved to be more than just a festival; it was a statement about the power of creativity in the region and around the world, and the future it can help shape.
