Iranian Photographer Wins First Prize at UNESCO International Photo Contest

WANA (Sep 27) – Farbad Bawaei, a photographer from Saqqez, secured first place in the 7th edition of UNESCO’s International Photo Contest “Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads.”

The winning work by Farbad Bawaei, titled “The Kurdish Horsewoman,” captures a scene from the Nowruz ceremony in the village of Cheshmider Sewlawa, near Sanandaj. It depicts the moment a young woman on horseback leaps through the Nowruz fire, as villagers and visitors watch in awe.

This year’s contest, held from May 26 to August 5, 2025, was organized under the theme “Women, Guardians of the Silk Roads’ Heritage.” It offered young people worldwide the opportunity to portray the shared heritage of the Silk Roads through the lens of photography.

Bawaei’s winning image not only highlights the Nowruz rituals and symbols of nature’s renewal but also emphasizes the role of women and youth in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage and sustaining the traditions of the Silk Roads.

The jury of this edition—comprising Hannah Reyes Morales from the Philippines, Thandiwe Muriu from Kenya, Emilio Morenatti from Spain, and Zeng Yi from China—selected Bawaei as the first-prize winner. His award was a professional photography camera.

Iranian Photographer Wins First Prize at UNESCO International Photo Contest. Social media /WANA News Agency