About Call

The Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards [KLPA] is an annual global portrait photography prize seeking the very best and fresh entries from photographers of all levels. Initiated in 2009, KLPA is recognised as a significant and vital award in the photography calendar, supporting and rewarding contemporary portraiture practice especially in the South East Asian region. We invite submissions to the theme MAKE IT REAL - Staged Narrative in Portraiture this year, with the top 3 winners receiving $2,000, £1,000 and $500 each, plus 4 prizes of $250 for the best 4 Student entries. All 40 finalists will also have their portraits exhibited in Kuala Lumpur and included in digital projections at our partner festivals in 2024/2025.

Although photography is often called a literal art form, portraiture can push the boundaries on the literal with constructed narrative. The 2024 theme of MAKE IT REAL : Staged Narrative in Portraiture seeks the deeper trajectories of storytelling, alternative realities or make-believe tales that infect our minds.

One can say that most directed portrait sessions are staged or constructed, to a degree - as in fashion photography, formal, environmental and self-portraiture, as opposed to candid street or reportage photography. The re-enactment of histories and new identities allows viewers to enter into fable-esque worlds as in cinema or theatre productions and encourages dialogue and discourse because life is full of complexities that exist beyond mere art.

KLPA2024 invites photographers to submit staged portrait studies, from the simple command of 'turning of the head to face the camera', conceptualised self-portraits, to elaborately constructed set designs.  Let's push the boundaries.

PRIZES

MAIN CATEGORY

Open to all international photographers, subject to the theme MAKE IT REAL.

• 1st Prize USD$2,000.00

• 2nd Prize  USD$1,000.00

• 3rd Prize  USD$500.00

Top 40 photographers will have their portraits printed and exhibited at Temu House, our venue partner in  Kuala Lumpur in July 2024

STUDENT CATEGORY

USD$250  x 3 prizes will be awarded to the best 4 entries and will participate in the print exhibition with the main category.

Open to all students under 25 years who are enrolled in full or part-time photography and art related courses, subject to the theme MAKE IT REAL. Entries are free.* Proof of course enrollment is required. See Rules for more information.

Entry

Each photographer may enter up to 10 images per submission, as follows :

1 image $15.00
2 images $30.00
3 - 5 images $50.00
6 - 10 images $75.00

Each photographer may only submit twice to the KLPA2024.

About KLPA

The Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards [KLPA] is an annual global portrait photography prize seeking the very best and fresh entries from photographers of all levels. Initiated in 2009, KLPA is recognised as a significant and vital award in the photography calendar, supporting and rewarding contemporary portraiture practice especially in the South East Asian region.