The establishment of the first International Youth Photo Festival

In partnership with the NGO IDEA and her founder Leyla Aliyeva, the photographer REZA is organizing the first International Youth Photo Festival from the 12 – 14 of May, 2013 in Baku, Azerbaijan. A festival honoring the talented youth, emerging in the world of photography.

In his actions towards the progression of visual education for many years in France and internationally as well, the photographer Reza initiated in 2012 a photography contest for children and teenagers Children’s Eyes On Earth: thousands of young photographers, aged 17 and younger, from 90 different countries, have sent more than 4000 photographs on the theme “I love nature” and “I fear pollution” via the site Childrenseyesonearth.org. Six contestants will be awarded with prizes.

The contest Children’s Eyes On Earth was Reza’s first step in his global project; making children aware of the social and environmental challenges facing our planet through the alphabet of images.Following the contest, these talented young photographers will be accompanied, trained and exposed through the first International Photography Festival for Youth.

This festival will take place from the 12 – 14 of May, 2013 in Baku, Azerbaijan. It will expose a major exhibition of hundreds of young photographers,among them some of the most talented ones, as well as an awards ceremony, film screenings, musical entertainment, photography workshops with REZA, conferences on visual education and the environment…

Reza says: “The 100 incredible photographs that will be on display at the Festival are visual poems. They reflect the deep thoughts of young people and reveal how they see the incredible beauty of the world and the dangerous threat that pollution poses to our planet, its wildlife and humankind. I hope this very first International Youth Photography Festival & Exhibition will give children a global platform to show us the world through their eyes, and inspire everyone to take action.”

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