According to the supreme leader's statements on announcing 2007 as the year of Islamic Unity and the necessity to reflect it in arts ,especially the art of photography, recording the major events in the Islamic Ummah from the Muslim photographers' point of view seemed inevitable.

The influence of photo in our daily life and its great role in the growth and development of societies makes us discover the importance and place of photography in century 21.

The speed of international changes and the role of information, that photo is considered as its inseparable part, forced us to pay a specific attention to the important mission of photo and photography.

Now, Iran, like earlier years, is regarded as the standard bearer of unity and unanimity among Islamic societies. Once again, in regard to more than 160 years of photography history in Iran, especially in honored territory of Azarbaiijan, it is going to prove its responsibility by setting up the First Islamic Solidarity Photo Festival.

 On the occasion, the board of referees of the First International Photography on Islamic Unity in two stages tried to choose 77 pictures from 53 photographers out of 2340 pictures for the final evaluation. In the final stage the followings are being announced as the chosen ones:

1.Mr. Abir Abdullah from Bangladesh as the first winner

2.Mr. Mehdi Mirzad from Iran/Qom city as the second winner

3. Mr. S.Paul from India as the 3^rd winner

And the 7 chosen photographers are:

Sandipan Maiu from India, Ali Seraj from Iran/Ahvaz, Mojteba Kocheki from Iran/Tehran, Somenath Mukhopadhxay from India, Mansoureh Motamedi from Iran/Tehran, Amin Nazari from Iran/Ahvaz, and Alireza Rahmani from Iran/Takestan

Referees:

The director general of Islamic guidance and culture of East Azerbaijan said; The essential essence of the expression of the supreme leader of the Islamic revolution ayatollah khamenei in naming the year 1386 as national unity and Islamic cohesion lies in this vital issue that the secret to the survival of Islamic nation is unity under the word "Allah" and avoiding from any factious subsidiaries.

Ahmad Ahmadi-Manesh believes that the key point in solving the common problems of all muslims of the world can be thought and action for achieving Islamic unity and cohesion.

He added that the photography artists should always try to find question such as; How is it possible to portray the desired manifestation? How is it possible to see the symbols of unity and cohesion among the Muslims in the picture frame of the photographers of the world? And is it possible to portray the problems and obstacles in achieving unity and cohesion among Muslims?

Then he pointed out that the answer to these questions and the like should be searched in the honest thought of the artists especially Photographers.

Every skillful photographer by referring to his experience and capacity can answer to these questions and many cultural and social events of Islamic world have been recorded.

The executive manager of the international photo festival of Islamic cohesion said; movie and audio-visual office of Islamic cultural and guidance general office in East Azerbaijan held an international photo competition in the year of Islamic cohesion and national unity photographers from 24 countries participated in this competition by taking photos from the manifestation of the Islamic cohesion and unity in their environment.

Ali Moharami added; As expected the works sent to the festival were from 24 countries and one to fourth of the received works were from foreign countries and India with 25 participators had a widespread participation in the festival.

The director of movie and audio-visual office of Islamic cultural and guidance general office in East Azerbaijan referred to the countries participated in the festival as the following: France, Belgium, China, Morocco, Turkey, India, Bangladesh, Hungry, America, Philippine, United Arabia, Sri-lanka, Oman, Thailand, Palestine, Syria, Kuwait, Indonesia, Soudi Arabia, Pakistan, Bulgaria, Bahrain, Latvia and Islamic republic of Iran.

Moharami pointed out that a committee was appointed to select the works after the termination of the dead line for sending photos . the committee members are: Hasan Sarbakhshian, Khan-ali Siami, Mohamad-ali Jadidaleslam; Feridon Dadash-pour and Farzaneh Shargh.

He added that according to the decision of the committee, from the 2300 photos sent to the festival, 2 sets and 47 photos of internal photographer and one set and 27 photos of foreign artistes were selected to be taken part in the competition section of the festival.

The executive manager mentioned that in addition to holding an exhibition for photos accepted in the competition in the studios of master Yasemi and master Mir-ali Tabrizi, two training workshops also held for taking pictures in social affairs and portrait.

He continued that Dr. Oktai Cholak. Professor of Turkey's Marmara University, Hassan Sarbakhshian and Behzad Parvin Guds from Iran were chosen as refrees and they were present at in Tabriz and chose the best works.

The message of the revert minister of the culture and guidance ministry to the international photography festival of Islamic cohesion.

In the name of God

Today the unity and cohesion is very essential and non-replacement matter for the Islamic nation through the world and in our dear country. The artists as forerunners and the elite of cultural and social affaire can play a high role in achieving the prophetic goals. Of course, all artistic forms may be effective in creating spiritual evolution; however, it should be admitted that photo has a special place in guiding the humans, thought and action in the communication era.

I consider worthy all the attempts and concerns of the coordinators and program directors of the Islamic cohesion photography festival in East Azerbaijan province and I wish success for all the artist and photographers who has participated in the festival from Iran or abroad.

I hope the Islamic nation can achieve its real and ideal position through unity and cohesion and lastly by innovation and creativity make the enemies of Islamic disappoint and hopeless.  

Mohammad Hosein Saffar Harandi

AQEL Saleh Abdulkadar from Morocco 2 image

Slamet from Indonesia 2 image

ASIS KUMAR SANYAL from INDIA 2 image

JOYDEEP MUKHERJEE from INDIA 2 image

Boaz Rottem from china 2 image

DHEERAJ PAUL from INDIA one image

ASHOKE KUMAR GHOSH from INDIA  one image

From INDIA one image  ARUP HALDER

S.PAUL from INDIA one image

Kushal Gangopadhyay from India 2 image

Monirul Alam from Bangladesh 3 image

SUDIP  ROYCHOUDHURY from India one image

SOMENATH MUKHOPADHYAY from India 2 image

SANDIPAN MAJU from INDIA 2 image

Abir Abdullah from Bangladesh 6 image

Subhrajit Basu from India one image

Tanvir Ahmed from Bangladesh 2 image

According to the declaration of the secretariat of the festival, 2300 photo have been sent to the festival from 24 country and 76 ones have been accepted to take part in the fair and watch.

It should be mentioned that the jury of the festival are going to select 10 works as the winner and they will be introduced.

According to the director of the first international festival of photography of Islamic integrity 76 selected photos will be publish as a book.

Further information about the festival will be stated as soon as possible. 

Mr.Naser Vahidimehr cultural deputy of the organization of Islamic culture and guides of the east Azerbaijan in an interview with the news office of the secretariat of the international Islamic unity photo festival said: regarding the unexpected artists from allover the world to first unity photo festival we revival the race break.

He added: yet inception near 2000 signs from 24 countries so we forecast continue the recovery the signs despite race break have finish.

His diction by this topic which near quarter of inception signs are from abroad country said: India has splay presence with 25 participant in festival.

Vahidi mehr said: there are many artists partake from allover the world like America, France, Belgium, turkey, Syria, china, Morocco, Bahrain, India, Indonesia and Iran.

His preciosities: will be a footing exhibition of accepted signs to race part in 2 hall, master yasami and master Mir ali tabrizi.

He pointed: the end rite and select referee and inform will be a footing on 15^th and 3^rd khordad and ordibehesht at 18:00 in tabriz cultural house on khaghani hall.

Tabriz unity photo international festival knew referees

Mr. Ali moharrami; festival actuary in speech with secretariat news unit remarked: in session and minute witch with masters in this zone, we result selecting 3 referees for judge in this festival from Iran and world.

He added: according to this topic Dr Oktay Cholai from turkey and hassan sarbakhshian and behzad parvin gouds from Iran title for first referee festival photo introduction.

 Mr. moharammi pointed: yet sent remarkable signs from guest photographers to festival secretariat.

How can the unity of muslems be pictured?

How can the signs and symbols of unity among muslems be photographed?

Is it really possible to talk about problems and obstacles of unifying the Muslems in the world with the language of photographs.

These and many other questions alike can be answered by skilled and professional photographers around the world. In fact many of cultural and social movements in the world have been started by photographers. Some who like to change the way people are treating each other and some others who want to show people the way of being faithful to God.

Audio Visual & Cinematic Department of Culture in the East Azerbaijan provience in cooperation with the E-A Society for Artistic Photography is going to plan the “First International Artistic Photography Contest on Islamic Unity”.The organizers belive that there are many symbolic – abstractor real subjects around the world of Islam & Muslems that can be artisticly photographed - exhibited and saved to show the next generatins as well as gathering all muslems in one community.

The Contest will be held with the regulations as below:

1. All photographers form all over the world can participate.

2. Both B&W and Colour photos are accepted (up to 10 photos)

 3. A copy of photos(1000 pixel) must be sent for judging and the accepted works will be asked to be sent or printed

in large size in full resolution after the first selections by the jury. (negatives and slide films can be scanned or printed in small size 13*18 cm to send)

4. Selected photos will not be returned. and will be exhibited in galleries. and will not be returned.

5. All selected photos will be published in a book and will be sent to the winners and those whose works are selected.

6. There will be 10 prize winners who wil be invited to attend the exhibition and the Winners Award Ceremony.

7. All rights of accepted photos belong to the photographers and organizers will only use photos to publish a catalogue and hold exhibitions.

8. All other unpredicted terms will be decided by the organizer.

9.  Workshops will be held by the organizers during the contest.

10. Attach your name, address and the title of the work on the rear of each work.

Prizes:

Winners will receive An honorary diploma and prizes in cash as below:

1 st Prize (1000 euros in cash(

2 nd Prize (800 euros in cash)

‌3 rd Prize (500 euros in cash(

And From 4th to 10th selected by the jury (300 euros for each(

Closing date for arrivals of entries: 3/April/2008

Judging and announcement to the winners / selected works: 4/ May/2008

Exhibition: winners award ceremony 23/May/2008

All entries must be sent to:  

Telfax: (+98 411) 3291311