Budapest International Foto Awards 2025 Announce Winners

The Budapest International Foto Awards (BIFA) have unveiled the winners of their 2025 competition, a showcase of creative and compelling photography from around the world. The prestigious awards not only recognise technical skill but also celebrate the unique vision and emotional depth behind each image.

Program Director Hannah Lillethun captured the spirit of this year’s submissions, praising the global pool of talent: “The 2025 BIFA entries demonstrated an exceptional level of creativity and vision. Each photographer brought a unique perspective that challenged conventions and celebrated individuality.”

In a market often focused purely on technical perfection, Lillethun’s comments reaffirm that BIFA seeks artists who are pushing boundaries. She stressed that the winning selections reveal “not only technical mastery but also the emotional and conceptual depth that defines truly great photography.” This perspective serves as a powerful call to action for photographers worldwide, suggesting that true success lies in authenticity and narrative power.

Photographer of the Year 2025: Chrissie Hall – Layers of The Kaleidoscope Qween

The Grand Winners of 2025 exemplify this commitment to profound visual storytelling. Chrissie Hall, the Photographer of the Year (receiving a $3,000 cash prize), won with Layers of the Kaleidoscope Qween, a complex, mixed-media body of work spanning 15 years, clearly demonstrating the long-term vision and dedication BIFA champions.

Similarly, Ágnes Dudás, the Discovery of the Year (awarded a $2,000 prize), merged photography with fine art in her Graphite Pencil Drawing Drafts, successfully challenging conventional artistic boundaries.

Discovery of the Year 2025: Ágnes Dudás – Graphite Pencil Drawing Drafts

The recognition extends beyond the main titles. First-place winners in categories ranging from Editorial to Nature, such as Tom Nicholson’s impactful Sudanese Refugees in Chad and Peter Cech’s stunning Moravian Tuscany, each received a $200 cash prize and vital international exposure.

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Advertising: Stars of Ballet – Youth Grand Prix by Alessia Santambrogio

Analog / Film: Intimate Portrait by Stefano Bernardoni

Architecture: Mirror Reflections of Architecture Charm by Zhong An Yu

Editorial: Sudanese Refugees in Chad by Tom Nicholson

Fine Art: Paper Face by Elena Drozdova

Nature: Moravian Tuscany by Peter Cech

People: Via Matris by Ottavio Marino

Portfolio: Vacuum by Kicca Tommasi

Special: Beyond The Surface by Maryna Gliebova

Amateur/Student Photography

Advertising: Beauty of Duality by Margarita Malkova

Analog / Film: Almost A Disaster by Christian De Tomassi

Architecture: Monochrome Majesty: Cepsa Tower, Madrid by Robert Fülöp

Book: Cease Fire Now! by Ian Flanders

Editorial: Always Children, Always Friends by João Coelho

Nature: The Fog Between Worlds by Ryuhei Suguri

People: Time to Grow Up by Olga Konchakova

Portfolio: Out of the Field by Andrés Gallego Bellido

Special: A Spring Snow Night in Tokyo by Hideyuki Iwata

BIFA remains a vital platform for photographers, putting them in the spotlight and nurturing creative expression within the global artistic community. The awards not only provide financial rewards but also offer crucial recognition and exposure that can help propel a photographer’s career.

View all the winners