Apply for IAFOR Documentary Photography Award

DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 25

The IAFOR Documentary Photography Award is now inviting submissions on the theme, “Reclaiming the Future”. We hope that the broad nature of this theme will encourage photographers to submit work from a variety of perspectives.

The final submission deadline is midnight on November 25, 2019 (Greenwich Mean Time – GMT). Applicants must be 30 years old or younger on November 25, 2019 OR enrolled in part-time or full-time education on November 25, 2019 (proof may be required). To submit your work, please register HERE.

In support of up-and-coming talent, the IAFOR Documentary Photography Award is free to enter. Only entries submitted via the award website will be accepted. Applicants are enjoined to carefully follow the instructions listed on the submission requirements page before submission.

The IAFOR Documentary Photography Award was launched by The International Academic Forum (IAFOR) in 2015 as an international photography award that seeks to promote and assist in the professional development of emerging documentary photographers and photojournalists. The award has benefitted since the outset from the expertise of an outstanding panel of internationally renowned photographers, including Dr Paul Lowe as the Founding Judge, and Ed Kashi, Simon Roberts, Simon Norfolk, Emma Bowkett, Monica Allende, Jocelyn Bain Hogg, Maria Teresa Salvati and Ziyah Gafic as Guest Judges.

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As an organisation, IAFOR’s mission is to promote international exchange, facilitate intercultural awareness, encourage interdisciplinary discussion, and generate and share new knowledge. In keeping with this mission, in appreciation of the great value of photography as a medium that can be shared across borders of language, culture and nation, and to influence and inform our academic work and programmes, the IAFOR Documentary Photography Award was launched as a competition that would help underline the importance of the organisation’s aims, and would promote and recognise best practice and excellence.

Now in its fifth year, the award is widely recognised by those in the industry and has been supported by World Press Photo, British Journal of Photography, Metro Imaging, MediaStorm, Think Tank Photo, University of the Arts London, RMIT University, The Centre for Documentary Practice, and the Medill School of Journalism.

The award follows the theme of IAFOR’s Media and Cultural Studies conferences, with 2019’s theme being “Reclaiming the Future”.

The IAFOR Documentary Photography Award expects all participants to act in accordance with the guidelines of professional conduct as specified in the Global Charter of Ethics for Journalists.