In memory of Ambassador Erdeniz Şen
Erdeniz Şen Photo Competition
The stories, experiences and cultural ties of the Turkish community in Canada, told through photography.
The competition in 2026
Submissions closed on August 31, 2026.
Winners: TODO: winners’ names and photos, once the festival publishes them
In memory of Erdeniz Şen
This competition is held in memory of the late Ambassador Erdeniz Şen, who served as Consul General in Toronto from 2015 to 2019 and built strong ties with the Turkish community in Canada, supporting its cultural work.
During his time in office, Erdeniz Şen championed culture, the arts and dialogue between communities, and helped make the Turkish community in Canada more visible. The competition keeps his memory alive, with photography as a language that makes cultural memory and a sense of belonging visible.
Theme for 2026
Identity & Belonging
Kimlik ve Aidiyet
We invite work that uses photography to interpret life in Canada, cultural roots, the feeling of belonging, the experience of migration and the idea of identity.
Why the competition exists
The Erdeniz Şen Photo Competition aims to make the stories, experiences and cultural ties of the Turkish community living in Canada visible through photography.
The theme for 2026, “Identity & Belonging”, invites participants to reflect on belonging, cultural heritage, migration, daily life and collective memory, and to interpret them in the language of photography.
By bringing amateur and professional photographers together, the competition encourages artistic work and gives visibility to the many different stories of the Turkish community in Canada.
Who can enter, and how
- Entry is free.
- The competition is open to citizens of the Republic of Türkiye living in Canada, aged 16 and over.
- Amateur and professional photographers may enter.
- No training or professional experience in photography is required.
- Each participant may submit up to three photos.
- Photos must have been taken between January 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026.
- Colour and black-and-white photos are accepted.
- Photos must be the participant’s own, original work.
- Photos that have already won a prize elsewhere are not accepted.
- Photos are uploaded in digital form through the application form.
- By entering, participants agree that their photos may be used, with their name credited, to promote the competition and Anatolia Fest.
- The photos placed by the jury are announced through Anatolia Fest and its communication channels.
- The jury’s decision is final.
Translated from the Turkish original. If the two versions differ, the Turkish text applies. Türkçe metin