Xposure 2024 Photography Festival hits Sharjah in style with a US $60,000 prize pool

Xposure 2024 Photography Festival

Get ready for a week-long spectacle of art, talent, and jaw-dropping visuals!

Get ready to mark your calendars because the 8th edition of the Xposure International Photography Festival is hitting Expo Centre Sharjah from 28 February to 5 March 2024. Yep, you heard it right!

This festival is like the Coachella of visual arts, bringing together big shots and fans alike.

We’re talking about photographers, filmmakers, and visual artists ready to make your eyeballs dance with delight.

It’s a seven-day extravaganza featuring award-winning exhibitions, mind-bending debates, film screenings, and even a trade exhibition.

Oh, and did I mention book signings? Yeah, those too.

Tariq Saeed Allay, the cool Director General of SGMB, spilled the beans, saying that the Xposure Festival is on a mission to boost Sharjah’s global rep as a talent and excellence incubator in the visual arts. It’s basically the place to be for cultural and artistic exchange. Imagine rubbing shoulders with industry legends and soaking up their wisdom!

But that’s not all – there’s a whopping USD $60,000 prize pool up for grabs.

This year, they got over 25,000 entries from 190 countries. ‘Street Photography’ took the lead with nearly 5,000 entries! Talk about fierce competition.

 

Xposure 2024 Photography Festival

 

And hey, the ‘See Sharjah’ category is a new kid on the block, with 660 submissions exploring Cultural Heritage, Urban Landscapes, People and Daily Life, and Nature in Sharjah.

Hold your cameras tight, because Xposure also has film awards! Short films, documentaries, cinematic arts, and animated wonders are all in the spotlight. The winner walks away with $6,000, and the first-place winners in each category pocket $3,000. Not too shabby!

But wait, there’s more!

Young talents under 18 get their own stage in the ‘Junior Photography’ category. This year, 192 young prodigies are taking the spotlight. It’s not just about the big guns; it’s about nurturing the next generation of visual storytellers. Aww, isn’t that sweet?

And hats off to the brave souls in photojournalism! Xposure has an Independent Freelance Photojournalist Award with a juicy $15,000 prize pool. These heroes, capturing the truth in dangerous situations, deserve all the recognition. The award has three categories – ‘Spot News’, ‘Environment’, and ‘Solutions’.

So, whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting with a point-and-shoot, Xposure 2024 promises a week of visual bliss, learning, and maybe even bagging a fat check if you’ve got the skills.

Who’s pumped for the biggest Xposure edition ever?

Dates

28 February to 5 March 2024

Location

Expo Centre Sharjah

 

For more great events, visit Yalla Dubai

Image source WAM

Derek Issacs

A Brit in the Middle East for 25 years and counting, Derek loves scouring the streets for those under-the-radar cultural gems. And when he’s not putting Yalla – Abu Dhabi magazine to bed, you’ll find him working out at the gym.