Open call for photographers across the WANA region to submit a single image that reflects their personal experience and narrative.
Bashar Shglila, Ride. Courtesy of the artist.
Tasweer Photo Festival Qatar announces the 2025 Single Image Award, inviting photographers across Western Asia and North Africa (WANA) to submit a single photographic image that best represents their narrative. Running from August 1 to September 20, 2025, this annual open call offers an opportunity for photographers of all ages and experience levels to share their vision with a global audience.
Awardees will receive a cash prize of 2,000 Qatari Riyal for their submission. Selected images will be featured as part of Tasweer Photo Festival Qatar’s public and digital programme, providing both recognition and a platform for emerging and established artists.
Highlighting Personal Narrative
The Tasweer Single Image Award emphasises storytelling through photography, encouraging participants to distil their experiences, perspectives, and emotions into a single, impactful image. This focus on personal narrative allows photographers to explore identity, memory, culture, and community, transforming individual perspectives into compelling visual statements.
Previous awardees have demonstrated the diversity of stories that can be told through a single frame. For instance, Ali Mahmoud Abdelwahab Gad’s Birds Dream of Better Days (2024) captures a moment of poetic introspection, while Mohamed Abdalla Medo’s Smile Winning (2024) conveys resilience and joy. Eslam Ahmed Hamed’s Iron Worker (2024) and Neşe Ari’s Kubra and Emine (2024) further illustrate the power of photography to convey social, cultural, and emotional depth in a single image.
Regional Focus and Eligibility
The award is open exclusively to photographers resident in the WANA region, including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, and Yemen. By focusing on this region, the Tasweer Photo Festival Qatar aims to nurture local talent, foster regional dialogue, and showcase the rich diversity of photographic practices in these countries.
Opportunities Beyond the Prize
Winning images are not only recognised with a monetary award—they are also exhibited in Tasweer Photo Festival Qatar’s online and public programmes. Awardees gain exposure to international audiences, connecting with peers, curators, and art enthusiasts. Participation in the festival also enables photographers to communicate with the broader artistic community, thereby expanding their networks and opportunities for collaboration.
In addition to showcasing winning works, Tasweer provides an invaluable platform for career development and artistic growth. By highlighting the personal stories and unique perspectives of photographers in the WANA region, the Single Image Award contributes to the ongoing evolution of visual culture and artistic discourse.
How to Apply
Applicants are encouraged to submit their strongest single image that best represents their experience and personal narrative. Submissions must be completed within the open call period, from August 1 at 12:01 a.m. to September 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. All photographers, regardless of age or professional experience, are welcome to submit their applications.
Selected images will be featured in an online exhibition and integrated into the festival’s public programme, giving awardees visibility and recognition on both regional and international stages. By participating, photographers contribute to a vibrant conversation about art, identity, and storytelling in contemporary photography.
A Celebration of Photography and Storytelling
The Tasweer Single Image Award exemplifies the power of photography to communicate complex human experiences through a single frame. By centring personal narrative, the award champions the unique voices of photographers across the WANA region and encourages reflection, creativity, and dialogue.
For participants, this is more than an award—it is an invitation to join a thriving community of artists and to have one’s vision recognised and celebrated. With opportunities for exposure, engagement, and professional growth, the Single Image Award remains a vital platform for photographers seeking to convey meaningful stories through their images.
Submit Your Image
Photographers are invited to apply through the Tasweer Photo Festival Qatar platform. For more information, visit the Tasweer website to review eligibility, submission guidelines, and FAQs. Don’t miss this opportunity to have your work recognised, shared, and celebrated as part of a premier photographic festival in the region.
Apply now and turn your single image into a story that resonates across the WANA region and beyond.
