As part of the eleventh edition of the French Spring Festival, the Embassy of France to Sri Lanka and the Maldives and the network of Alliances Françaises in Sri Lanka and the Maldives are pleased to announce the photography contest open to all amateurs and professionals.
This year’s theme is Celebrate ! as France and Sri Lanka are celebrating its 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The ten best photographs will be selected by an expert jury panel and showcased in a travelling exhibition presented at the Alliance française de Kotte in Colombo and then in the Alliances françaises of Matara and Kandy.
The pictures should engage with the theme and be sent by e-mail at frenchspringfestival2023@gmail.com. Submissions via Wetransfer are allowed. The deadline for submissions is midnight on June 11th. Winners will be contacted personally at the end of June.
A vernissage of the exhibition will be organized at the Alliance Française de Kotte in Colombo on July 5th in the presence of the juries. The winners will be announced during the vernissage.
Theme
To celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and France, this year’s theme is: Celebrate!
Celebrate is an invitation to seize and appreciate every precious moment that punctuates our lives. Celebrate the bonds that unite us and the encounters that enrich us. To celebrate is to pay homage to the steps we have taken, to the victories of daily life, to the rituals we share and to the beauty that surrounds us. May this gallery of frozen moments be a true ode to celebration!
Terms and conditions
. 10 photographs will be selected by the jury. The 10 selected photos will be the subject of a travelling exhibition presented at the Alliance française de Kotte in Colombo and then in the Alliances françaises of Matara and Kandy.
. The creations presented must be original and related to the theme “Celebrate!”. You must be the author of the photograph.
. Photos must be sent by e-mail at frenchspringfestival2023@gmail.com. Submissions via Wetransfer are allowed.
. The photos will be printed in large format (50x70cm). Therefore, they must be sent in high definition in JPG or PDF format, for a quality of at least 300 DPI.
. Only one photo is accepted per candidate.
. Each photo must be accompanied by a title and a description text in English, explaining the story behind the photo and how the photo fits the theme.
. Participation is free.
. The name of the 10 winners will appear on the cartel and in the communication on social networks.
General conditions
. The competition is open to all amateur and professional photographers residing in Sri Lanka or in Maldives, without age limit. Any unique image from any camera is eligible.
. For the winners residing outside the city of Colombo, please take into account that transportation and accommodation will be at your expense if you wish to attend the opening or to see the exhibition.
. You must be the author and responsible for the shooting of the submitted image. It is your responsibility to ensure that all necessary permissions have been obtained from any person featured in a photograph.
. You must agree to transfer the rights of diffusion of the photographs for the duration of the exhibitions in Colombo, Kandy and Matara. The copyright remains the property of the photographer. The printed and framed photographs can be recovered by the artists at the end of the three exhibitions.
. By participating in this contest, you agree that the Embassy of France, the Alliance Française and its partners may use your images for publication or promotional purposes.
Selection criteria
An international jury will select the winners. The judges will pay attention to the following points: respect of the theme, use of basic and special techniques, composition, originality, subject, overall effect.
Calendar
. Closing date of the call for applications: June 11th 2023 at midnight
. Selection panel: end of June 2023. The 10 selected photographs will be communicated as soon as the jury has made its deliberations.
. Opening of the exhibition: July 5th at the Alliance Française de Kotte in Colombo. The dates of the exhibitions in Kandy and Matara will be communicated later.
Jury
. Prof. (Dr) Indika Ferdinando, Director and Research and Creative Work Development Division at University of the Visual and Performing Arts
. Kisho Kumar, photographer and activist
. Onella Perera, Development Assistant at Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka
. Menika van der Poorten, Cultural practitioner, producer and curator
And as the president of the jury, His Excellency Jean-François Pactet, Ambassador of France to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
Prizes
. For the ten selected photographers: personal invitation to the opening, valid for two people and their printed and framed photograph (returned at the end of the exhibitions).
. The first three prizes will be announced soon. Stay tuned and follow us on our social networks!