On Sunday, January 21, the Russian Centre for Science and Culture in Addis Ababa will be buzzing with excitement as it hosts the opening ceremony of the exhibition featuring the winners of the prestigious Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest. This annual contest, running since 2015, serves as a platform to promote and support talented young photographers from around the world in their pursuit of professional excellence.
In 2023, the contest received an overwhelming response, with over 3,000 submissions from participants representing more than 50 countries. An esteemed international jury meticulously screened the entries and awarded prizes in four categories: “Top News,” “My Planet,” “Sports,” and “Portrait: A Hero of Our Time.”
The ceremony will be graced by the presence of Ambassador of Russia to Ethiopia, Evgeny Terekhin, Deputy Minister of Education of Russia, Denis Gribov, and heads of Russian educational institutions. These dignitaries will join together to celebrate the remarkable talents showcased by the winning photographers.
Established on December 22, 2014, by Rossiya Segodnya under the patronage of the Russian Federation’s Commission for UNESCO, the Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest stands as a unique competition in Russia. It not only discovers emerging talents in international photojournalism but also sets high standards for documentary photography. The contest specifically aims to support young photojournalists between the ages of 18 and 33 in their pursuit of professional excellence.
By providing a platform for these young photographers, the contest enables them to shed light on their concerns and capture the essence of important themes such as global humanitarian challenges, national identity, social equality, and the environment.
The contest’s popularity has been steadily growing, attracting an increasing number of participants from around the world each year. The recognition and acclaim garnered by the contest are further enhanced by the exhibitions featuring the winning entries. These exhibitions have become an integral component of the event and have been hosted in various countries, including China, South Africa, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Turkey, Lebanon, Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, Hungary, and Poland.
The exhibition in Addis Ababa promises to be a captivating display of exceptional photography, showcasing the diverse perspectives and unique stories captured by talented photographers. Through this event, the Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest continues to foster creativity, professionalism, and global dialogue in the field of photojournalism.
