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Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum (ICYF), an international organization affiliated to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), announces the below call for application issued by the Municipality of Shiraz on “Shiraz Today” International Youth Photography Festival to be held within the framework of the programme “Shiraz – OIC Youth Capital 2017”.

“Shiraz Today” contest will be a great platform for young photographers to demonstrate their vision of mutual understanding in Muslim societies, as well as its importance in terms of solidarity, rich history, civilizations and brotherhood to foster the youth of Islamic world. The festival involves an international photography competition, photo tour, a festival, and awards ceremony.

The aim of the “Shiraz Today” International Photo Festival is mutual exchange and respect. Tourism plays a critical role in strengthening the relationships among the nations and developing peace and amities. Shiraz as a metropolis with a religious and historical background has always been one of the top destinations for national and international tourists. On the other hand, travel is acknowledged as an important means and factor to bring about the development of human communities by Quran and our religion. Within the selection of Shiraz as the OIC Youth Capital that mission is to bring Muslim youth together and unify them through enhancing their better understanding on common values and variety of traditions and cultures of Muslim societies.

FESTIVAL THEMES

1. “Tourism and Pilgrimage”

Photos of national and religious places, spaces and rituals taken in all Muslim lands will increase awareness, attract tourists, support peace and present a kind portrait of Islam in today’s world are judged by the jury members.

2. “Urban Art”

Shiraz urban spaces such as modern urban buildings, green spaces and people in the lively urban space as well as workplaces are judged by the jury members.

3. “Kindness is here”

Due to the importance of good manners coming from our religious beliefs  as well as the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) practical way of life that are always being emphasized in Iranian culture and history, all photos relating to the Islamic lifestyle, social codes, culture of citizenship and that which presents proper and good conducts are judged by the jury members. All photos of this part should only be taken by mobile phones.

FESTIVAL POLICY & ELIGIBILITY

1. This contest is open to youth of all faiths and nationalities between the ages of 18 and 35. Non-professional photographers are particularly encouraged to participate.
2. Participation in the festival is open to the public and free of charge.
3. The secretariat of the festival will hold a photography tour in Shiraz city from 1 – 5 May 2017 in the area of Urban Art in which international photographers may participate. The secretariat of the Festival shall provide free accommodation to selected international photographers for 5 nights and give a total of 200 dollars to each photographer as a travel allowance (please also take note that this amount of money will be paid in cash when the photographers arrive in Shiraz city). The selection of international photographers shall be in accordance with their resume and the photographers should send their resume and a copy of their identification documents and passports from 21 – 31 March 2017 to the festival secretariat via this email (shiraz.emrooz.fes@gmail.com). On 2 April 2017, the selected international photographers will receive an email including an invitation letter in order to participate in the photography tour. Other international photographers could also participate in the photography tour at their own expense.
4. The Urban Art photography tour will be held on a competitive base. All participants including national, international and Shirazi ones must register their specifications and those of their cameras in the Festival Database. Not observing the said regulations will result in the photos not being processed.
5. All can participate in the Tourism and Pilgrimage part provided that the photos to be sent are no more than 2 years old.
6. In Kindness is here part, the committee shall judge the photos which are labelled by the following Hashtag #shiraz_emrooz and tag the festival address instagram.com/shiraz.emrooz on Instagram. Need not to say; only photos taken by mobile phone can enter this part of the festival. Being accepted, the original photo file is required to be sent to the secretariat. Participation is open to the public and there is no limit regarding the number of photos sent by one photographer. Those willing to participate in the kindness is here part must have their Instagram pages set as PUBLIC as the photos labelled by the Hashtag in Private pages would only be visible to the page owner; the secretariat must have access to the photos uploaded. If you are reluctant to have a PUBLIC page, we strongly recommend you to create a PUBLIC page on Instagram onto which you upload your festival photos.
7. As soon as the photographers are registered in the festival, they are required to send their photos to the official website of the festival (festivals.shiraz.ir), no later than 5 May 2017 at 23:59 Tehran Local Time. Otherwise, the photos will not be considered.
8. Photographers can each send up to 7 photos in each part excluding “Kindness is here”
9. In part 1 “Pilgrimage and Tourism” and part 2 “Urban Art”, the monochrome and colour photos must be sent as a file with DPI up to 72 pixels in JPG format and RGB colour model. The longest side should be 1500 pixels with a ratio of 2*3 or 1*1. The Photoshop output level of the photos should not be less than 10. The panorama photos are not accepted by the secretariat of the festival.
10. No photo geometric and structural editing is allowed. Photographer should adhere to the standard and acceptable criteria available for photojournalism and documentary photography. The photos can only be edited up to the extent that the originality of the photo is not altered. The documentary aspect of the photos should not be altered by any techniques. Recoloring, adjusting the contrast, brightness and cropping the photos are allowed if the originality of the photo is not altered. The panel of judges makes the final decision or findings of facts.
11. The entries are expected not to be submitted in any other national or international contests.
12. Once selected for the exhibition, the image must be delivered to be printed in the exhibition booklet. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of any prizes, material awards, and award recognition.
13. The photographers whose photos are selected and printed in the festival booklet are conferred award recognition, granted copyright (excluding the finalist selected works), and given the festival booklet. It is necessary to add that the secretariat of the festival shall bear the complete costs of economy-class ticket and accommodation of international winners of part 1 “Pilgrimage and Tourism” and part 2 “Urban Art” in order to participate in the award ceremony (if the international photographers will be among the first, second and third rank winners).
14. The selected entries for the exhibition will be put on display from 23-26 May 2017. The festival secretariat reserves itself the right to decide on the number of entries selected to be put on display and printed in the booklet in accordance with the available space. Need not to say that selected entries for “the Kindness is here” part shall be published and put on display in a single, collage-based image in the exhibition.
15. Several workshops are to be held during the festival.
16. The juries’ decision is considered final and no appeal application shall be considered. In unexpected and unforeseen cases, the secretariat performs as it deems right.
17. By the submission of the image, the entrants accept the terms of the festival. They are considered as the sole owner of the photos. Thus the secretariat bears no accountability toward any claim made regarding the ownership and copyright of the delivered work(s). The entrant is accountable for any legal or penal consequences arising from copyright infringement on the part of them.

SELECTION PROCESS

An international jury who will select four winners will judge the entries submitted by these photographers. The jury’s decisions are final and binding in all respects and not subject to appeal.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

The ICYF-DC, Shiraz Municipality and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Islamic Republic of Iran assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, or delay in operation or transmission; communications line failure; theft or destruction of or unauthorized access to the contest entries or entry forms; or alteration of entries or entry forms.

RIGHT TO CANCEL OR SUSPEND CONTEST

If for any reasons, the contest does not proceed as planned, due to any causes beyond the control of the organizing committee that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, the organizing committee reserves the right, to disqualify any individual(s) who tamper with the entry process, and/or to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Festival.

AWARDS

1. “Tourism and pilgrimage” Awards:

First-rank winner: award recognition, festival award statuette and $1500 cash prize,

Second-rank Winner:  award recognition, festival award statuette and $1000 cash prize,

Third-rank winner: award recognition, festival award statuette and $500 cash prize,

*** 5 outstanding works will also be conferred award recognition and $200 cash prize

2. “Urban Art “Awards:

First rank winner: award recognition, festival award statuette and $1500 cash prize,

Second-rank Winner:  award recognition, festival award statuette and $1000 cash prize,

Third-rank winner: award recognition, festival award statuette and $500 cash prize,

5 outstanding works will also be conferred award recognition and $200 cash prize,

3. “Kindness is here” Awards:

The first 20 selected entries shall be conferred award recognition and $100 cash prize

IMPORTANT DATES

Sending resume (in order to participate in Shiraz city photography tour in the area of Urban Art): 21 – 31 March 2017

Announcing the names of selected international photographers (in order to participate in Shiraz city photography tour in the area of Urban Art): 2 April 2017

Holding Shiraz city photography tour: 1 – 5 May 2017

Deadline for submission of photos for all 3 themes: 5 May 2017 at 23:59 according to Tehran Time

Award Ceremony: 12 May 2017

Photo Exhibition: 23 – 26 May 2017

Contact us:

Website for the registration: www.festivals.shiraz.ir

Instagram: www.instagram.com/Shiraz.emrooz

Telegram Group: https://t.me/joinchat/AAAAAD8dEd8GjoCktqIJDg

Telegram Channel: @shiraz_today_fes_Eng

Email Address: shiraz.emrooz.fes@gmail.com

Telephone: +98 7132229823 (emergency calls only), Mobile phone: +989367419457 (emergency calls only)