XIV Premio PHOTO IILA - Metamorfosi urbane. Città e comunità sostenibili

The IILA-International Italo-Latin American Organisation presents the projects from the winner and the finalists of the 14th IILA PHOTO Prize, dedicated to Latin American photographers under 35 and realised with the contribution of the Ministero degli Esteri e Cooperazione Internazionale Italiano (DGCS/MAECI), in partnership with the Latin American member countries of the IILA and the Adams Experimental Centre of Photography. The exhibition is promoted by Roma Capitale, Assessorato alla Cultura, Sovrintendenza Capitolina ai Beni Culturali, with the museum services of Zètema Progetto Cultura.

The Contest Subject and the Exhibition
Thanks to the careful selection work of the jury, made by important members from the world of photography, such as Flavio Bizzarri, photographer and CEO/Director of Bizzarri Studio; Luisa Briganti, Director of the Adams Experimental Centre of Photography - partner of PHOTO IILA; Chiara Capodici, curator, book designer and founder of Leporello photobooks et al; Alessia Locatelli, Artistic Director of the International Biennial of Women's Photography - BFF ( bffmantova.com) and co-director of the Archivio Enrico Cattaneo, the Museo di Roma in Trastevere presents the photos of Enrique Pezo (Peru), the winner of this fourteenth edition, with the project 'El fin del río' and, next to him, the works of all the prize finalists: Verónica Lombeida (Ecuador), Honourable Mention with the project 'La Floresta' (2018-2019); Natalia Pinilla (Colombia), finalist with the project 'Ciudad ausente' (2023); Frida Castillo (Mexico), finalist with an untitled project (2015 - 2023); Luis David Esparragoza (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), finalist with the project 'Todos caben' (2023); Juan Eduardo Barberis (Argentina) finalist with the project 'Insostenible' (2023).

Natalia Ortiz (Colombia), winner of the 13th edition of the Award, will also be a member of the exhibition. She will be exhibiting the result of her residence, a project dedicated to Rome, entitled 'La Voz de Roma', that reflects about how the element of water has influenced the development of a great civilisation and is an integral part of the City itself.
The participating photographers presented very varied works, both in terms of technique and content, dealing with the theme 'Sustainable Cities and Communities', which is inspired by one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that are part of the United Nations 2030 Agenda: number 11, which aims to 'make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable'. IILA, an International Observer Member Organisation at the UN, intends to contribute with its own initiatives to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, among which number 11 is undoubtedly relevant and topical. The works on show invite us to reflect on the intimate relationship between human beings and the territory, and on the strategies and dynamics that arise from this coexistence.

From the ancestral relationship between nature, man and his culture, to cities seen as the custodians of collective and family memory; from the transformations of inhabited spaces, to the adaptation to new social contexts; from the struggle of active citizenship in defence of their territory to the open question of whether contemporary cities are ready for sustainable development: these are some of the points for reflection that the photographers of the XIV PHOTO IILA propose to an attentive and sensitive audience.

Artist residency for the winner of the PHOTO IILA Award
As per the regulations, the winner Enrique Pezo will be hosted in Rome for a month-long artist residency, in order to realise a photographic project on the Eternal City. The work will then be presented as part of the next edition of the Prize, in the 2024 exhibition.

PHOTO IILA is one of the IILA's cultural cooperation projects aimed at fostering and promoting knowledge of emerging Latin American photography and opportunities for international collaboration.

PHOTO IILA - IILA-FOTOGRAPHY Award is realised in collaboration with the Embassies of the IILA member countries: Argentina, Plurinational State of Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Uruguay, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Guided Tours
On 14 and 15 November, at 4.30 pm, two guided tours of the exhibition will take place, in the presence of the winner of the XIV PHOTO IILA, Enrique Pezo.