Asian Photography Festivals You Shouldn't Miss

China Pingyao International Photography Festival

September 19, 2008 - September 26, 2008

Pingyao, China

Visit PIPF Website here.

Singapore International Photography Festival (Updated)

October 8-31, 2008

Scheduled to take place from 8 to 31 October 2008, the Singapore International Photography Festival (SIPF) is the first event of its kind in Southeast Asia. This biennial festival strives to provide a platform for Southeast Asian artists to showcase their works alongside their international peers at various venues across Singapore.

The three main festival components are the official exhibitions, workshops and a 2-day portfolio review session for 50 selected Southeast Asian photographers. This will be followed by a series of workshops facilitated by curators and senior photographers for 40 Southeast Asian photographers.

Alongside the official exhibitions and programmes, the SIPF Fringe activities will be carried out at various arts galleries, arts spaces and education institutions to promote photography across Singapore.

See SIPF programme here. 

4th Angkor Photography Festival

November 23 - 28, 2008

Siem Reap, Cambodia

This festival was created in 2005 and this year, for the fourth time, the temples of Angkor will become a hub that will draw both famous and passionate photographers from around the world.

The Angkor Photography Festival showcases this year outdoor projections by celebrating regional and international photographers in different locations in Siem Reap.

The strong educational goals of the Angkor Photography Festival set it apart from other photography events. During their stay, famous photographers will tutor free workshops for emerging Asian photographers and the festival will also present its outreach programs for vulnerable people.

Visit Angkor Photo Festival here.

Chobi Mela V

International Festival of Photography

January 29, 2009 - February 20, 2009

Bangladesh

With its inception in 2000 (Chobi Mela I), Chobi Mela, the first festival of photography in Asia, is one of the most exciting ventures that Bangladesh has undertaken. Organised by Drik Picture Library Ltd., Pathshala - South Asian Institute of Photography, The Royal Netherlands Embassy, The British Council, The Alliance Française, The High Commission of India and the Goethe Institut, the event the single biggest media event in Asia and the first of a regular that will become one of the highlights of the Asian calendar. Over 18 international exhibitions as well as workshops, lectures, slide show and films, throughout the month. The festival opened on the 15th December 2000, by the launch of the retrospective exhibition 2000 of the World Press Photo Foundation. The show features the most significant press photographs taken over the last forty five years, many of which have become icons in world history (view source here). 

Chobi Mela V was originally scheduled to open on November 6, 2008, however this important photography event was moved to January 29 up until February 20, 2009 according to its Festival Director, Dr. Shahidul Alam (see details here).

See Chobi Mela V updates from Dr. Shahidul Alam.

Visit ChobiMela website here.