Application Guidelines

Purpose of the competition: Beautiful Cyprus Storytelling Competition aims to highlight the significance of joint heritage and common cultural and social traits between the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities. A practical goal of this competition is to give a message of hope, and show that Cypriots are united in many ways.

Format of the competition:  Participants are invited to enter the competition in bicommunal teams of two, with one member from each community. Each team will identify and capture a photographic moment that, in their view, represents the beauty of Cyprus. This could be a cultural monument, a culinary experience, a tree, a person, an activity, or any other visual element found across the island. Alongside the photo, participants will write a short story explaining why the chosen subject or object contributes to the beauty and identity of Cyprus.

Eligibility criteria: The competition is open to both professional and amateur photographers, content writers, and storytelling enthusiasts from the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities. The core message is that the shared cultural and social heritage of the island is a powerful link between the two communities—an invaluable asset that should be cherished and preserved.

To participate in the competition, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Photos must be original works created by the entrant; no copyrighted or stock images are allowed.
• Submissions should have clear visibility and meet a minimum technical quality. Minimum resolution: [e.g., 1920x1080 pixels]. Accepted formats: JPG, PNG.
• Photos must be submitted without visible logos, watermarks, or any identifying marks.
• AI-generated images or composites will be disqualified.
• Overly manipulated or digitally altered content may be rejected if it compromises the integrity of the photography.
• Content must not:

1. Promote illegal behaviour.
2. Support racial, religious, sexual, or other forms of prejudice.
3. Advocate sexual or violent exploitation.
4. Violate rights established by law or agreement.
5. Infringe upon privacy rights.
6. Be otherwise deemed inappropriate by the European Commission.

• The use of political symbols, including flags, banners, or similar imagery, is not permitted.

How to submit the entry/nomination?

Photo: Attach a photo on minimum resolution: [e.g., 1920x1080 pixels]. 
Accepted formats: JPG, PNG.

Narrative content: Attach a content describing why you believe this photo(object or subject in the photo) best represents the beauty of Cyprus in PDF format. 

Where to submit the entry/nomination? 

The entry/nomination must be submitted electronically to the following email address: [email protected]; subject title: Beatiful Cyprus>application 

Deadline for Submission of Entries

Deadline for Submission of Entries by Email: 09/11/2025, 17:00 PM Cyprus Time 

Jury and the evaluation and selection of entries/nominations:

A panel of professional photographers and/or story tellers will evaluate the submissions. The jury will comprise three members: one representing the Turkish Cypriot community, one from the Greek Cypriot community, and one representative from the European Commission.

The selection of the best photos and stories will be based on the following criteria:

Criteria  

MAX Score

1.Originality: Is the concept fresh and unique? Does it avoid clichés and common photographic tropes? 

20

2. Creative Interpretation: Does the photo and the story offer a new perspective or way of seeing something familiar? 

20

3. Emotional/Conceptual Impact: Does the image evoke thought, emotion, or convey a deeper message beyond the surface? 

20

4.Technical Execution: Is the photo technically well-executed in terms of lighting, focus, exposure, etc.and the story is written well? 

20

5.Composition & Style: Is the composition bold, unusual, or effectively designed to support the concept? 

20

TOTAL

100

Awards: Three winning teams will be selected and awarded first, second, and third place prizes.

Three winning teams will be selected and awarded first, second, and third place prizes:

• First Prize: Two Polaroid cameras (one for each team member)
• Second Prize: Four-day photography training sessions for both team members
• Third Prize: Notebook gift package

Further Information

Send your question to this email address: [email protected]; Tel: +90 (392) 229 3003

Notification of award to the candidates/nominators on the jury decision:

The applicants/nominators will be notified of the results of the contests at the awards ceremony.