Prestigious awards recognize multiple NRÜ events
The 45th Chess Olympiad brought home two awards each from Cannes and the Conventa, while the Olympic Qualifier Series and the St. Stephen’s Day Fire and Lights Show received professional recognition at the Eventex Awards.
The image film created for the 45th Chess Olympiad was honored in two categories at one of the world’s most prestigious corporate film competitions — the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards, on September 25, 2025. It won Gold in the Promotional Films for Fairs, Exhibitions, Events, and Conferences category and Silver in the Sports, Entertainment, and Sponsorship Content category.
The international advertising competition, held annually in the heart of one of the world’s most famous film capitals, Cannes, celebrates the best corporate films, online media, and documentaries. Founded 15 years ago, the awards have since become recognized as the leading corporate film festival in the world. The film for the 45th Chess Olympiad was produced by Lounge Design on behalf of the National Event Management Agency (NRÜ) Nonprofit Co. Ltd. The award-winning short film follows the life of a chess player from early childhood to their first major competition.
The 45th Chess Olympiad was also recognized in two categories at the Conventa Best Event Award held in Ljubljana: it won first place in the Best Sport Event category and third place in the Best B2C Event category.
At the 14th Conventa, the region’s most creative and innovative projects were awarded. This year’s jury consisted of 26 international experts, who evaluated the finalists live during the Conventa Crossover Festival between September 8–9.
Further major international recognition came from the Eventex Awards, where several NRÜ events were honored. The competition received 1,239 entries from 59 countries across six continents.
The Olympic Qualifier Series earned a Gold Award in the Sporting Event category, while the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad won Bronze in the Tournament category. The 2024 St. Stephen’s Day Fire and Lights Show also received a Bronze Award from the professional jury.
Founded in 2009, the Eventex Awards is one of the most prestigious global honors in the event and experience marketing industry, recognizing creativity, innovation, and professional excellence. The implementing agency for these events was Lounge Event.
dr. Mátyás Falvai, CEO of the National Event Management Agency, commented on the international recognition:
“The appreciation of fans and the sports community can usually be felt already on-site during our events, but feedback from the event and creative industries arrives later and is more indirect. Nevertheless, we consider this form of recognition equally important, as it shows that we organize visually striking and memorable events by international standards.”
Speaking about the specific awards, dr. Falvai added: “We are delighted that the 45th Chess Olympiad, held in autumn 2024, received such overwhelmingly positive feedback. It was an exceptionally complex event with significant technological demands and unprecedented online interest.” He also highlighted: “These awards are a testament to our partner, Lounge Group, whose skilled and trend-conscious professionals are undoubtedly among Europe’s best — as these accolades clearly demonstrate.”
