Like in the previous years, the Organizing Board of the Balkan Photo Festival (BPF) has now announced a call for entries to its photo contest for the selection of the best photographs in the past year called the Balkan Photo Award 2017 (BPA).
“Every year we try to introduce something new, and since our principle is that photography should reach as wide audience as possible we have now changed category Nude to category Wedding photography. Any divisions within the field of photography are damaging, which is the reason we do not want the Festival to be labeled neither as documentary or artistic or contemporary, a quite fashionable term today. We wish to offer equal opportunities for all, and we hope this is a positive step towards that goal“, said Festival director Haris Ćalkić.
The contestants can submit their entries in the following categories:
- Fashion/Advertising Photography
- Wedding Photography
- Cultural Heritage
- Nature and Environment
- Portrait
- Sports
- Everyday Life
- Mobile Phones
- News and Events
- Creative Photography
- Reportage/Photo Series
Jury members will select five of the best photographs in each category and five of the best photo reportages, all of which will be presented at a photo exhibition in National Gallery of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.
“In addition to a possibility of winning some valuable prizes, all finalists will have a chance to present their work printed on the best photo paper and in the highest quality print, as well as be featured at a top location. Additionally, international media coverage and a chance to cooperate and meet with fellow photographers should certainly be a strong motivation for any photographer to take part at the Balkan Photo Award”, said Festival Executive Director Dejan Đurić.
All interested photographers, without territorial, professional or any other limitations, can take part in the contest. The organizers of the Balkan Photo Festival and the members of its jury are not allowed to take part in the contest.
This year the international jury chair is Noor photographer Benedicte Kurzen. This year’s jury panel consists of: Jim Casper (editor-in-chief at Lensculture), Máximo Panés (editor-in-chief at Dodho Magazine), Maral Deghati (Manager Education at the World Press Photo Foundation), Ana Frangovska (curator at National Gallery of Macedonia), Damir Senčar (Picture Editor/Photographer at HINA, Croatian News Agency), Marko Marinković (freelance photographer), Imre Szabo (photojournalist), Burim Myftiu (photographer), Senad Šahmanović (movie director), Aleksandra Nina Knežević (designer), Ahmed Burić (journalist and writer), Miro Majcen (photographer). You can see Jury members at LINK.
This year’s Grand Prix Award is a dSLR camera Canon EOS 5D MARK IV, a gift from Festival’s general sponsor Canon Bosnia and Herzegovina. For special recognition on the competition, our golden sponsors prepared gifts, camera Canon EOS 77D by AvteraBH, and camera Sony α6500 by Sony Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In addition to the photo contest, this year’s Festival brings a rich educational program.
For more information about the contest entry rules and the application form please go to this link.
This year’s Festival is supported by: Creative Europe, UNICEF, Foundation for music, performing and visual arts Sarajevo, National Gallery of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The contest general sponsor is Canon Bosnia and Herzegovina and golden sponsors are Avtera BH and Sony Bosnia and Herzegovina. The contest is also supported by the following sponsors and friends: BlackBOX, Profoto, Hotel Festival, Ilford, FAN Ferhatović i EUROBHPLAKATBH.
The Festival’s official photo/news agency is Pixsell Photo Agency.
The contest media partners are: LensCulture, Magazin Dani, Dodho Magazine i Urban Magazin.
