SIEM REAP, Oct 15 — Inaugurated in 2005, the Angkor Photo Festival in South-East Asia highlights powerful photography projects from all over the globe. Doubling as a free promotional platform and an educational resource, it addresses established and emerging photographers both. For this 12th edition (held December 3 to 10), over 130 photographers from 45 countries will participate.

The aim of the Angkor Photo Festival is to facilitate exchanges between Asia and the rest of the world through the photography milieu. On a larger scale, it promotes development and longevity for regional Asian photographers beyond the festival week.

Each year, the Festival proposes exhibitions and outdoor slideshows. This edition’s expansive array includes Marco Gualazzini’s almost painterly images of Somalia, Mark Peterson’s cheeky black-and-white ‘Political Theater’ series, Yoppy Pieter’s solemnly-lit images from West Sumatra in Indonesia, and Klaus Pichler’s rambunctious character study in Vienna, amongst many others.

The recurring environmental-themed ‘GreenLight Exhibition Series’ will this year feature work by South Korean photographer Daesung Lee ("Futuristic Archaeology”), American photographer Eli Reed ("A Long Walk Home”), and a retropective of Japanese photographer Shoji Ueda. There will also be the ‘Impact Project,’ celebrating positive efforts by both individuals and organizations, and the Guest Curator Showcase of documentaries, ‘We Alter Nature,’ conceived by Hong Kong-based Claudia Hinterseer.

On the educational side, six established photographers  notably Iranian photojournalist Newsha Tavakolian and Magnum member Antoine D’Agata — will host workshops for an emerging generation and provide firsthand training. The participants’ work will be presented on the last day of the festival for early visibility.

Since its inception in 2005, more than 210 young photographers from all over Asia have been selected to participate in the workshops. Two sample success stories: Munem Wasif, from Bangladesh, won the F25 Award as well as the ‘Prix du Jeune Reporter de la Ville de Perpignan’ during the 2008 Visa pour l’Image photojournalism festival — and also integrated Fabrica communications center (in Treviso) and Agence Vu (in Paris). Sean Lee, from Singapore, was selected for the ‘Discovery Award’ at the Rencontres d’Arles photography festival in 2009, and will soon be exhibited at the Moscow Bienale.

Partnering with the festival is the Reminders Project Asian Photographers Grant: the first of its kind to support Asian photographers working locally. The winner is awarded US$3000 (RM12,618) in funding to produce a documentary examining underexplored regional issues. — AFP-Relaxnews