{"id":5691,"date":"2026-11-10T05:32:40","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T10:32:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/icomagencies.com\/?post_type=news&#038;p=5691"},"modified":"2026-11-10T06:29:38","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T11:29:38","slug":"playmakers-joins-icom-global-network","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/icomagencies.com\/news-press\/playmakers-joins-icom-global-network\/","title":{"rendered":"Cannes-Shortlisted Georgian Agency Playmakers Joins ICOM Network"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ICOM, the global network of independent advertising and marketing communication agencies, welcomes <a href=\"https:\/\/playmakers.ge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Playmakers<\/a>, an independent creative agency based in Tbilisi, Georgia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Georgia is a small market with more than its share of creative talent, and its work is being noticed well beyond the country\u2019s borders. Playmakers is part of the generation behind that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The agency\u2019s film \u201cBirds Never Forget to Fly\u201d, made for pharmacy company PSP to mark Georgia\u2019s Independence Day, is the first commercial directed from jail starring an imprisoned actor. It follows a young woman who buys caged birds at a market and sets them free. The film won the overall Grand Prix at ADCE in 2025 and a Grand Prix at KIAF, earned Silver and Bronze recognition at the Clios, and this year was shortlisted for a Titanium Lion, a Glass Lion for Change, and Film at Cannes Lions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\u201cBirds Never Forget How to Fly\u201d by PSP\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/B4U9L9v0Xqs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Birds Never Forget To Fly \/ Case video\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/C8nk-shP9D8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Playmakers is led by four founding partners, <a href=\"https:\/\/icomagencies.com\/leaders\/nuka-shevardnadze\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nuka Shevardnadze<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/icomagencies.com\/leaders\/mariam-lortkipanidze\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mariam Lortkipanidze<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/icomagencies.com\/leaders\/koka-kamushadze\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Koka Kamushadze<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/icomagencies.com\/leaders\/gio-frangishvili\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gio Frangishvili<\/a>, who all worked on the client side before starting the agency. Today they work with some of Georgia\u2019s biggest companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last year, an ICOM member shared one of Playmakers\u2019 campaigns with <a href=\"https:\/\/icomagencies.com\/icom-leadership\/emma-keenan\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/icomagencies.com\/icom-leadership\/emma-keenan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Emma Keenan<\/a>, ICOM\u2019s President and CEO. In June, Levan Lepsveridze, one of Georgia\u2019s best-known creatives, introduced her to the founders at Cannes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen I met the founders in Cannes, they had exactly the attitude we look for: ambition, curiosity, and the talent to back it up,\u201d said Keenan. \u201cThey came to us wanting to learn from agency owners who have grown their businesses. Our members will get just as much back from a team that people in Georgia see as the next generation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/icomagencies.com\/leaders\/leon-dominitz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Leon Dominitz<\/a>, ICOM Regional Board Director for Europe and founding partner of ICOM member agency BrandGalaxy Group in Germany, added: \u201cPlaymakers\u2019 second place in the Art Directors Club of Europe\u2019s 2025 agency ranking speaks for itself. At our EMEA regional meeting in Istanbul, Nuka and Mari showed the openness and energy that make collaboration work. They bring creative courage to our region, and I look forward to connecting them with fellow ICOM agencies to create great work together for our clients<em>.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We want our work and our business to grow beyond Georgia.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe spent years on the client side, so we know what a good agency partner is worth,\u201d said Nuka Shevardnadze, co-founder of Playmakers. \u201cWe want our work and our business to grow beyond Georgia. In ICOM we\u2019ve found agency owners who have done exactly that and are happy to talk openly about how. We\u2019re here to learn from them, and to bring our own ideas to the table.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With Playmakers now on board, ICOM gains another strong creative voice in a global network of independent agencies that create for leading brands and grow together.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About ICOM<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ICOM is the global network of independent advertising and marketing communication agencies, connecting more than 70 agencies across 50 countries. ICOM&#8217;s mission is to create opportunities for growth by fostering collaboration, innovation, and shared expertise among its members.&nbsp;Together, ICOM agencies deliver world-class creative and strategic solutions while maintaining their independence, contributing to a dynamic network that celebrates diversity, adaptability, and excellence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About <strong>Playmakers<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/plmkrs\/\"><strong>PLAYMAKERS<\/strong><\/a> is an independent boutique creative agency based in Tbilisi, Georgia, founded in 2023 by four professionals with extensive experience in marketing, branding and communications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Driven by the belief that great creativity should understand business, challenge conventions and make an impact beyond advertising, PLAYMAKERS helps brands achieve business goals through bold ideas and strategic thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The agency&#8217;s team consists of 13 professionals, covering four key areas: strategy, creative campaigns, visual branding and events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In just three years, the agency has earned more than 50 international creative awards, including the ADCE Grand Prix and European Star Special Prize, alongside recognition at The One Show, Clio Awards, Epica Awards and Cannes Lions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>For More Information:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Emma Keenan, ICOM President &amp; CEO<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">emma@icomagencies.com | +33 6 63 48 01 37<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Elaine Miller, Global Operations Director<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">elaine@icomagencies.com | +44 7725 410 436<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":5680,"template":"","news_category":[18],"class_list":["post-5691","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news_category-press"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - 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