Siena Awards Festival

Festival

Siena Awards Festival represents an unmissable occasion for all the photography lovers who will arrive in Siena from all over the world. An entire month of Festival, during which many photography events will be organized: the “Beyond the Lens” exhibition with the most beautiful images presented at the contest Siena International Photo Awards, unique tours around Siena, post-production courses, workshops, conferences given by famous photographers and more exhibitions held by important international authors. An unforgettable experience realized and tailor-made for photography lovers, which will let you discover one of the most interesting places in the world, with wonderful events linked to photography. The Festival’s goal is to lace a cultural and international initiative to the name of Siena, a city of extraordinary inspiration for photographical research, beginning with the unique Festival which gives us the most intimate representation of the city: the Palio.

Siena Stories Workshop

The focus of the workshop is to develop a deeper understanding of visual storytelling through lectures and field practice while documenting the Tuscan city of Siena. Participants will learn how a National Geographic story is created from inception to publication, and they will work on expanding the basic tools used to translate stories of everyday life into compelling images that create dynamic visual narratives.

Photo © Randy Olson

Exhibitions

A fascinating journey will bring you into a world full of culture, where the visual art is expressed through different themes, all of high value. An invitation to look beyond the lens to be surprised by the beauty of faces and situations of everyday life, or by untouched natural environments “captured” by the authors, using their knowledge of the surroundings, their creativity, patience and story-telling skills with a camera. The exhibitions will be one of the Festival’s main events, hosted by the most important locations of Siena. Collective and personal exhibitions of internationally awarded artists together with the exposition “Beyond the Lens”: a showcase of the Siena International Photo Award 2019 edition’s best shots. Breathtaking images and extraordinary reportages from around the world; the intimate expression of a way of communication through the lens. A unique moment, captured in one spectacular shot.

Events

If you love photography, all lenses will be turned towards Siena and its SIPAContest Festival in November. The event, a tribute to visual art, is organized and divided into personal and collective exhibitions, workshops, photo-tours, seminars, conferences, projections, guided tours on the spot and many other events like the Award Ceremony which will conclude in “grand style” the Siena International Photo Award’s 2019 Edition. We are talking about one of the most important international photography contest, with tens of thousands of images coming from 161 countries around the world. SIPAContest will provide unique opportunities to deepen your photography skills thanks to the participation of important international photographers.

Tours

Siena is one of the richest areas of Italy in terms of natural and artistic beauty with four UNESCO world heritage sites. Nature here offers extraordinary beauty, in terms of vineyards, olive groves, forests and natural reserves dotted with castles, churches and medieval villages still intact. This extraordinary southern part of Tuscany offers famous hilly areas such as Chianti, well known for its excellent wines, villages, parishes, castles and precious vineyards; clay areas and moon-like landscapes with as the Crete Senesi, and only a few kilometers away we find the Val d’Orcia valleys covered with sunflowers, sheep strolling around and picturesque medieval villages such as Pienza and Montalcino where the Brunello wine is produced. In just 80 km you can visit magnificent territories renowned throughout the world.  During SIPAContest Festival you will be guided into a journey that will be framed in your heart for a life time! Check out some of the photo tours available from October 25th 2019. The number of participants is limited. Register today!

Siena

One of the jewels of Tuscany, a worldwide tourist destination with over 2 million visitors per year, a unique territory which includes in its province four UNESCO World Heritage sites: Siena, Pienza, San Gimignano and the Val d'Orcia. In Siena you will find artworks by great masters such as Michelangelo, Donatello, Duccio, Jacopo della Quercia, Simone Martini, Ambrogio Lorenzetti. Siena is a destination known worldwide for its Middle Age history and monuments with breathtaking landscapes and numerous traditions: first of all the Palio.

Hospitality

If you are interested in visiting Siena during the period of the exhibition "Beyond the Lens", we offer attractive and affordable opportunities. You can make your bookings and reservations through all the facilities, services and amenities affiliated with SIPAContest thanks to a free gift voucher that will allow you to access to special fares and discounts reserved exclusively by all the facilities in Siena that support the event.

Gallery

You and SIPA, together, for one of the biggest and the most amazing photography events in the world. We are thrilled to meet you this October in Siena. Enthusiastic and honored to host such incredible participants as yourselves and to continue to grow our “Big Family”. This is the spirit of who WE ARE… Don’t miss it, it’s a must... We’re waiting for you… “BE THERE!!!”

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