UNICEF-Photo of the Year Award

Since 2000 the German Committee of UNICEF awards every year "UNICEF Photo of the Year”. Due to the generous support of Citibank Germany and its media partner, GEO, the contest invites photojournalists and fine art photographers throughout the world with the recommendation of experts in photography. This competition is dedicated to the children of the world and to excellence in photography, its artistic quality and creativity. Our goal honors the photo series that best depicts the emotions of a situation or event in a child’s life anywhere in the world. “Good photographs intensify reality. They make clear, what beauty is, what is of importance”, Rheinhard Schlagintweit, Chairman of UNICEF Germany said.

International experts of photography are asked by UNICEF Germany to encourage young photographers to make a submission. The photographers submit five to ten photos that demonstrate a high level of photography and visually interpret living situations of children. There is no possibility to enter the contest without nomination.
UNICEF Germany provides with the support of GEO from Gruner + Jahr AG & Co.KG, Publishing and Citibank Germany the first prize: a photo assignment from German GEO magazine and Leica camera equipment. The German Committee of UNICEF and its partners present the winning picture as well the finalists’ series at the press conference in late December, to which the First Prize Winner will be personally invited.
A jury in Germany is selecting the best photographs. Prof. Klaus Honnef, art and photography academic, heads the jury. The winner will be informed immediately after the jury has reached its decision.

The best pictures will be announced to the interested public, photographers, national and international press simultaneously at the press conference and on that website.
Every two years the most compelling photos will be exhibited at Photokina in Cologne. There is the plan to arrange further exhibits of “UNICEF Photo of the Year,” . There will be special information if and when such exhibits occur.