2021 BIFA photo contest winner warns us of the dangers of propaganda [mildly NSFW]

Budapest International Foto Awards (BIFA) has announced its 2021 winners, and it includes magnificent images across different categories and from all over the world. This year’s overall winner is Svetlana Melik-Nubarov, and her work sure is thought-provoking. In the series titled Our Past, she reflects on the dangers of propaganda often imposed from early childhood.

Svetlana Melik-Nubarova took the main prize in the Professional category. She said about her series:

“The history of the Soviet Union is a clear example of how Propaganda shapes the worldview, values and way of life of a person. We, who were born in the Soviet Union, sincerely believed in the values that we were inspired in early childhood. And only during Perestroika we discovered the Other World.”

The contest also recognizes category winners and the overall winner in the Amateur/Student category. The best New Talent of the Year, Valter Darbe, gives us a glimpse into some parts of the orthodox Hindu culture.

“The modern Indian society seems to be not able to modify some aspects belonging to the most orthodox Hindu culture, according to which, a widow no longer has any right nor social utility, and [lose] her identity when the [husband] dies. They are 42 Mln: kicked out of houses, stolen from properties, they are banned from all social moments of life. A phenomenon that crosses all social classes, doubly enclosed within the walls of the ashrams and the cultural prisons of a society that prefers to make them “invisible” rather than questioning themselves. The book is a cross-section of their real life.”

The BIFA Photographer of the Year will receive a $3,000 cash prize and the BIFA trophy and the BIFA New Talent of the Year will be awarded a $2,000 cash prize along with the BIFA trophy. Main category winners will receive a $200 cash prize each. First Place and Main Category Winners will all enjoy international publicity throughout the year and have their works exhibited in Budapest (Hungary) and in other countries.

Take a look at the category winners below, and make sure to check out BIFA’s website because there are plenty more photos there.

Professional Photography

Portfolio: Angellika Kolin, “You Are My Mother”

Amateur/Student Photography

Portfolio: Salvatore Montemagno, “Suspended Lives”