The Meitar Award for Excellence in Photography, a collaboration between PHOTO IS:RAEL and the Zvi and Ofra Meitar Family Fund, will be awarded for the fifth time this year to a photographer whose works demonstrate excellence in the field of photography.

Following the worldwide Coronavirus pandemic, this year’s award process will feature a unique format that will adhere to the necessary restrictions without compromising its goal of supporting excellent photographers and the stories they tell, which are now more important than ever.

This year’s winner will receive a $20,000 grant for the publication of a professional photography book through BLOW UP PRESS, a Warsaw-based boutique publishing house.

The winner will be announced in November 2020, and the book will be published and launched in November 2021 at the 9th International Photography Festival.
During the course of that year, the winner will work on the production of the book together with PHOTO IS:RAEL’s Chief Curator and BLOW UP PRESS’ Head Designer.
The book will then be distributed through various professional platforms around the world.
The winner will also receive royalties from the sale of the book.

A professional panel of judges will review all shortlisted candidates and will select a photographer who demonstrates thought, quality, originality, and excellence in photography, as well as the potential to create a comprehensive body of work suitable for publication as a book. The submitted portfolios will be delivered to the panel anonymously, with no identifying markers, and will be judged based on their excellency, quality and originality.

All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of leading international professionals who specialize in the field of photography books. The judges will be expected to select a series or body of work which represents a distinct and compelling personal voice.

Of the works submitted, the panelists will select 20 finalists for a group exhibition at the International Photography Festival, which will take place in November 2020 in Tel Aviv.

*It should be noted that considering the latest global situation around the COVID-19 outbreak, PHOTO IS:RAEL will make every effort to hold the festival in late November 2020 as planned. In case the festival will not be able to open as planned, PHOTO IS:RAEL will make all reasonable efforts to reschedule the IPF within a reasonable period of time. If need be, we will consider the option to hold an online version of the festival, including exhibitions and a program of online lectures and events.