The Winners Of The 2024 Budapest International Foto Awards Have Been Announced (40 Pics)

Hannah Lillethun, the Program Director of the BIFA, expressed her admiration for this year’s winning entries. She noted that the judges found the selection process both difficult and inspiring due to the remarkable work presented. "Each photograph displayed a deep sense of creativity and craftsmanship, and the winning entries stand as a testament to the power of visual storytelling. I commend all participants for their dedication and encourage them to continue pushing the boundaries of their art," Lillethun shared.

Louis-Philippe Provost has earned the 2024 Photographer of the Year award in the Professional division for his captivating photo, Spiral At The Museum. His image showcases the iconic staircase at the Art Gallery of Ontario in downtown Toronto, designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry.

João Coelho was honored as the 2024 Discovery of the Year in the Student/Amateur division for his powerful series, Taming Giants. His work tells the story of young laborers dismantling massive ships in an Angolan scrapyard.

Coelho shared that this project is still in progress and holds deep personal significance for him, both professionally and personally. "I discovered by chance this group of young people working in a ship graveyard, and from the beginning, I felt the importance of documenting the scenes of enormous drama that I witness every time I visit this beach."

As he spent more time with the group, who refer to themselves as the Titanic G**g, the photographer discovered additional layers to their story. These aspects, which he believes have immense documentary importance, are something he plans to explore and showcase further in his work. "In addition to the enormous courage, determination and audacity required to pull hundreds of pounds of iron out of the sea with the strength of their arms alone, there is such a strong bond between them that it seems like a real relationship between brothers."

Coelho explained that beyond the striking visual impact of the scenes he captures, the true purpose of his project is to deliver a powerful message of protest. He aims to highlight the injustice faced by these young workers, who take on life-threatening risks to earn just $10 a day—an amount barely sufficient to support their families.

Coelho revealed that working on his award-winning project was incredibly challenging, as it required him to physically immerse himself in the environment. He had to swim through the water to reach the locations where these young workers were carrying out their tasks. "It’s a bay with strong currents and several times I cut myself on the sharp edges that you can’t see because the water is very murky due to the sediments and oils released from the wrecks. Twice my main lens had to be repaired because it got wet, forcing me to suspend the project for a few months."

However, one of his greatest sources of support in overcoming challenges and bringing his project to life has been the g**g itself. "Even though they have to fight the currents and waves while they work, they always help me swim out to the wreck or back to the beach on the fragile rafts they use to carry the smaller pieces of iron."

The Photographer of the Year award comes with a $3,000 cash prize and the BIFA trophy, while the Discovery of the Year winner receives $2,000 and a trophy.

Winners in each main category are awarded $200, and all First Place and Main Category Winners gain international recognition and the chance to showcase their work in exhibitions around the world throughout the year.

The organizers of the Budapest International Foto Awards say that their expert judges from around the world spend a few weeks reviewing the competition entries. "The jury rates each entry based on the following criteria: originality, creativity, excellence of execution, and overall impact, as well as relevance to the specific category.

Once the jury voting is complete, the scores are tallied and the winners are selected based on the overall score based on the cumulative votes of the Jury. The identity of all photographers is hidden from the jury to ensure an impartial and unbiased voting process."

BIFA 2024 received submissions from over 70 countries across the globe, with notable participation from the United States, Ukraine, Taiwan, Japan, Italy, Iran, and many others.