In order to support and honour the outstanding work of both professional and amateur photographers around the world during the COVID-19 crisis, TIFA will match ALL cash prizes that are awarded this year with an equal cash donation to the charity of the winning photographer’s choice in their community.
(Monday, January 7, 2019)
The Tokyo International Foto Awards is excited to announce the winners of its 2018 Photography competition in both professional and amateur divisions. The 3rd Edition of the TIFA competition received over 5000 entries from 88 countries around the world, showing some truly stunning works of photography from across the globe.
TIFA’s international jury of renowned photography experts judged all the great entries to finally select the winners in each category, from which were chosen these outstanding winners of TIFA’s top 2 prizes—Photographer of the Year for the Professional categories, and New Talent of the Year for the Non-professional / Student categories.
Hossein Farmani, Founder and President of TIFA and its parent company Farmani Group commented: “It is a testament to the power of photography, that the whole world can be brought together through a single image. It is so powerful and moving, and this year’s selection of entries to the Tokyo International Foto Awards has taken us on a truly thrilling journey. We are so proud to be part of bringing this incredible photographic artistry to the world, and particularly the creative community in Japan. I look forward to celebrating with the winners in Tokyo!”
JURY FOCUS:
Kenro Izu was born in Osaka, Japan, studied at Nippon University College of Art, and subsequently moved to New York City where, after further studies in Fine Art Photography and working as an assistant to professional photographers, he established Kenro Izu Studio in 1975, to specialize in still life photography, both commercial and fine art. In 2000 Izu started developing his trademark technique of printing Cyanotype over Platinum to achieve infinite deep blue-black images which express the inner sanctuary of within the human body and other objects. Izu has traveled to over 30 countries in the past 40 years and continues his series of portraits in Bhutan and still-life work in studio. Other current projects include “Requiem” in Pompeï, “The Sacred Land” in Fuzhou and “Noh Masks” in Japan. Read more about Izu’s life and photographic career.
For a full list of TIFA’s international Jury, click here!
2018 TIFA WINNERS:
After evaluating so many truly remarkable images, the Jury selected Joachim Bergauer as the 2018 “Photographer of the Year”, for his illustrated book, “Life in a Leprosy Village”. The grand prize in the professional division earned Bergauer a $3,000 Cash Prize and the TIFA trophy.
“Does leprosy still exist in the 21st century? Yes, this village called M’balling. It is 84 km away from Dakar, the capital of Senegal. Here, healthy and sick people are trying to defy a cruel fate. The sick make up a third of the population. My book is a journey through M’Balling Since 2009, showing the life, the village, the inner and outer beauty, but also the dark side. It is a journey into a country where people’s will to survive despite their devastating living conditions is so great that they still smile.”
Evelyn Bencicova took the top spot in the amateur/student categories, and was named 2018 “New Talent of the Year” for her searching series of self-portraits, “Alice”. Bencicova also received the TIFA trophy and a $2,000 Cash Prize.
“Alice is a self-portrait done through another character. It reflects the certain moment of my life through the state of mind experienced in a mental-health center. Diary notes from the time still remind me of questioning ones own existence, of doubt and mistrust towards the space and institution that draws a very thin line between cure and torture.”
The category winners have also been announced and can be found on the winner’s page of the TIFA website HERE. The first place winners in each category receive a cash prize and all winners are awarded the TIFA winning seal and a winner certificate.
Representing Japan in the Winners List are:
Takashi Nakazawa—1st Place, Nature, Professional
Comyu Matsuoka—1st Place, Nature, Non-Professional
Masahiro Masuda—2nd Place, Editorial, Non-Professional
Hitomi Hasegawa—2nd Place, Book, Non-Professional
The grand-prize winners and all 1st and 2nd place category winners will be exhibited from February 20th-24th, 2019 at the Shibuya Art Center in Tokyo from 10 am to 6 pm.
Opening evening will take place on 20th February from 6 pm to 9 pm.
Address: 23-21 Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0031
Due to the current situation in Japan with the Covid-19 Coronavirus, we have decided to postpone the TIFA exhibitions in Tokyo (March/April) until further notice.
We are genuinely sorry and disappointed not to be able to exhibit the outstanding work of our 2019 winners as planned; we have not taken this decision lightly. We are hoping to reschedule for some time in late summer or autumn.
We look forward to presenting the images of TIFA 2019 grand-prize winners and all 1st and 2nd place category winners to the creative circles of Tokyo later this year.
TIFA launched a tremendously successful exhibition of its 2017 Winners on May 13 at ICA Space in Tokyo.
Over 100 photography enthusiasts came together to celebrate some of the best and brightest in photography and to meet and greet members of our distinguished Jury, including Tomohide Yoshida, and TIFA 2017 competition winners such as Jun Ishikura, Masumi Shiohara, Hajime Yoshida, and Krishna Valdez. The event was also graced by a surprise visit from the great art model Anna Uchiyama!
Exhibition Announcement
Every year Tokyo International Foto Awards presents the year’s most outstanding photography at the annual TIFA Exhibition held in galleries in Tokyo. Winning photographs will be also included in the “Best of Show” traveling exhibition.
This Year, TIFA2017 the grand-prize winners and all 1st and 2nd place category winners will be exhibited from May 13th – 16th, 2018 at the ICA Gallery in Tokyo, while other winners and Honorable mention works will be projected.
The event opening will take place on Sunday 13th of May afternoon from 3pm onwards including a “Meet & Greet” with TIFA team.
ICA Gallery, ICA3 Bldg E 2F
(Tuesday, April 3, 2018) The Tokyo International Foto Awards has announced the winners of its 2017 Photography competition in both the professional and amateur divisions. The 2017 TIFA photography competition received over 5,000 entries from 82 countries around the world, with some of the very best of photography from across the globe being submitted and giving the Jury a truly challenging task in selecting the year’s winners.
2017 TIFA WINNERS:
After viewing and evaluating so many truly outstanding images, the Jury selected Constanza Portnoy as the 2017 “Photographer of the Year”, for her exceptional work, “Life Force: What Love Can Save”. The grand prize in the professional division earned Constanza a $3,000 Cash Prize and the TIFA trophy.
http://www.tokyofotoawards.jp/winners/special/2017/225/
Yoshihiko Wada of Japan took the top spot in the amateur division, being named 2017 “New Talent of the Year” for their work in “The City Of Juncture”. Yoshihiko Wada also received the TIFA trophy and a $2,000 Cash Prize.
http://www.tokyofotoawards.jp/winners/special/2017/226/
Hossein Farmani, Founder and President of TIFA and its parent company Farmani Group comments: “I am so proud of this year’s amazing selection of entries to the Tokyo International Foto Awards. It has exceeded our expectations and is bringing the very highest level of photographic artistry to the world, and particularly the creative community in Japan. This is truly photography at its best!”
The category winners have also been announced and can be found on the winner’s page of the TIFA website HERE. The first place winners in each category receive a cash prize and all winners are awarded the TIFA winning seal and a winner certificate.
The grand-prize winners and all 1st and 2nd place category winners will be exhibited from May 12th – 16th, 2018 at the ICA Gallery in Tokyo, at the address below.
ICA3 Bldg E 2F
3 Chome-4-6 Higashinihonbashi, Chūō, Tokyo
103-0004 Japan
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The Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA) is a photography competition dedicated to recognizing, honoring and connecting talented photographers from around the world to new audiences and new eyes in the creative circles of Tokyo, Japan. The competition is open to everyone and we invite photographers from all over the world to enter their work. Tokyo International Foto Awards winners receive significant international publicity and extensive media exposure through our magazine and newspaper partners distributing and promoting winners works.
Farmani Group is a leading organization curating and promoting photography, design and architecture across the globe since 1985.The company’s key mission is to discover and promote talent in these areas through competitions, awards, exhibitions, developing artist communities, providing networking opportunities and education.
Exhibitions
Every year TIFA foto Awards presents the year’s most outstanding photography at the annual TIFA Exhibition held in a galleries in Tokyo. Winning photographs will be also included in the Best of Show traveling exhibition.
2016 TIFA Winners Exhibition was Feb 25 -28, 2017
TIFA（東京インターナショナルフォトアワード）受賞者展
Tokyo International Foto Awards, was exhibited at OWADA Gallery, Shibuya Tokyo.
Presented by Shibuya City Tourism Association
Photos from the event can be seen at the TIFA Facebook photo gallery
TIFA Winners
