CerModern hosts stunning Istanbul Photo Awards exhibition in Turkish capital Ankara

The fourth event marking the 10th anniversary of Anadolu Agency’s Istanbul Photo Awards kicked off in Ankara on Wednesday evening. Held at the CerModern Arts Center, the exhibition features award-winning photographs from the prestigious international news photography competition.

Ankara joins a list of cities that have hosted the exhibition, including Istanbul, New York, and Brussels, as part of a global tour celebrating a decade of impactful photojournalism.

Istanbul Photo Awards: Emotional opening ceremony

The opening ceremony was attended by key dignitaries, including AA CEO Serdar Karagoz, Palestinian Ambassador to Türkiye Faed Mustafa, Serbian Ambassador to Türkiye Aca Jovanovic, and Nicaraguan Ambassador to Türkiye Tatiana Daniela Garcia.

During his address, Karagoz spoke passionately about the ongoing genocide being carried out by the Israeli government against the Palestinian people, which has unfolded before the world’s eyes for more than a year. He referenced a poignant photograph titled “A Palestinian Woman Embraces the Body of Her Niece,” taken by Palestinian photojournalist Mohammed Salem, which won first prize at the Istanbul Photo Awards. Karagoz emphasized, “This photo will leave its mark on the next 10 years, 20 years, 100 years and will never make us forget this genocide.”

Voice for conscience and truth

Karagoz highlighted the critical role of journalists in documenting war crimes and genocides throughout history. “We are the voice of a conscience that reveals the truth in this age we live in today,” he said.

He also discussed AA’s publications, including Evidence, Witness, and The Perpetrator, which shed light on Israeli war crimes. “Historians in the future will study these photographs to evaluate and judge history,” Karagoz noted.

He extended an invitation to photographers from across the globe to participate in the Istanbul Photo Awards, announcing that submissions for the 2025 contest are now open.

Reflecting major global events

This year’s exhibition captures key global events, including Israel’s ongoing genocide in Palestine and the February 2023 earthquakes in southern Türkiye, which have been called “the disaster of the century.” The 2024 competition attracted over 20,000 entries across categories such as news, sports, environment, portraits, and daily life. Awards were given to 32 photographers in 10 categories.

Global support for event

The Istanbul Photo Awards exhibition is supported by Turkcell as the communications sponsor, Sony as the award sponsor, and Turkish Airlines as the airline sponsor. Additionally, the event benefits from international sponsorship from the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA).

Applications for the 2025 contest are open until Jan. 10, 2025, on istanbulphotoawards.com.

Tragic reminder of pain and suffering

Serbian Ambassador Jovanovic shared his reflections on the exhibition, noting the deep emotional impact of the photographs. “My first impression is that all these photographs show a great tragedy, a great pain,” he said. “We must admit with a big sadness that all these photographs represent a great pain, a great sadness,” Jovanovic added that the first prize-winning photograph had left the strongest impression on him.

The Istanbul Photo Awards continue to serve as a powerful reminder of the human cost of conflict and the role of photography in documenting the truth for future generations.