11th Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest begins: Celebrating compassion through photography

The 11th Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest for Young Photographers has officially begun, inviting talented, ambitious and versatile photographers from around the world with diverse backgrounds, to submit their thoughtful and creative work.

This prestigious competition aims to highlight the power of visual storytelling. And it is held in memory of Andrei Stenin, an out of the box and great photojournalist from the Rossiya Segodnya media group, who tragically lost his life near Donetsk, during an assignment in 2014.

The curator of the contest, Oksana Oleinik expressed her excitement about this year‍‍`s edition, saying, 

“We are delighted to announce the commencement of the Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest for the eleventh consecutive year. As in previous editions, we anticipate a substantial influx of fascinating entries from young photojournalists."

She shared her thoughts on the importance of this contest in a world which forever filled with uncertainty, she highlighted how it continues to attract photographers from diverse backgrounds.

The competition remains a platform for young photographers who are passionate about their craft.

According to Oleinik, the contest plays a vital role in capturing and sharing themes of compassion and humanity amidst a raging world.  

“Our young photographers – the participants and victors of our contest – explore themes of compassion and humanity amidst a world fraught with adversity and turmoil, they convey these narratives through their visual expression, making them accessible to a diverse, international audience.”

The competition is open to young photographers aged 18 to 33, who can submit their work in five categories: 

1. Top News
2. Sports
3. My Planet
4. Portrait. Hero of Our Time 
5. Top View

Each of these categories is divided into subcategories, with the exception of Sports and Top View, where only single photos are eligible. 

In addition to the categories, photographers can submit their work as either single photos or photo series, depending on the category.

Photographers can submit their entries in both Russian and English through the contest‍‍`s official websites: 

• stenincontest.ru (Russian) 
• stenincontest.com (English).

The contest offers big prize money, having prize money of RUB 125,000 (over $1,200) for the winner, RUB 100,000 ($965) for second place and RUB 75,000 ($723) for third place in every category.

The Grand Prix, is the contest‍‍`s highest honor and the winner of this special award will win a prize money of RUB 700,000 (over $6,750).

The grand prize and other awards will be presented during the traditional award ceremony in Moscow in September or October 2025.

Submissions have already opened and will be accepted until February 28, 2025.

Following its legacy the contest will showcase the winning works through exhibitions in various countries, with will further strengthen its role as an international platform for young photographers.

Pictures taken by the best photographer will be exhibited in cities around the world, including China, South Africa, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Türkiye, Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, Egypt, and many others.

The Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest serves a greater cause than just a competition, it is a platform to support and encourage emerging photographers and raise awareness about the challenges that modern photojournalism is facing.

It inspires young photographers who are not only technically skilled but also sensitive to the stories that actually matter and who are the characters who have the ability to reshape the world.

This year’s competition is supported by various media partners, including VGTRK (Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company), SMOTRIM online platform, and Moscow 24 television channel. 

On the international front, the contest is also supported by Sputnik, RT television channel, and many other esteemed media organizations.

As the contest enters its 11th year, the Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest continues to inspire young photographers and connects audiences worldwide through the power of visual storytelling. With its focus on compassion, humanity, and the challenges faced by society today, the competition reminds us of the importance of kindness and empathy in a time of uncertainty.

As Oksana Oleinik puts it, 

“Kindness will save the world.”

And through their powerful images, young photographers are playing a crucial role in making that vision a reality.