TEHRAN – The closing ceremony of Holochide, the third international cartoon, caricature and poster contest, was held on Thursday in a Tehran city building, featuring the announcement of the winners and distinguished guests.
The event was attended by renowned international artists such as Russian-born Dmitry Mili Enko, Alexandre Fardin and Alexandra Fardin, including Ivan Ernesto Lila Gomez, Antonio Manuel Ferreira dos Santos, and Muhame Ozbeck, of Portugal-born Mohamme Alist and of Asbeck. Hossein Niroumand, Masoud Nejabati, Maziar Bijani and Saber Sheikh Rezai reported on Friday.
Ambassadors to Iran from Venezuela, Cuba, Yemen, Colombia, Nicaragua and Bolivia also participated in the event, the report added.
Speaking at the ceremony, the event’s secretary, Masoud Shajai Tabatabai, expressed his gratitude to the international guests and the Iranian ju-search. He highlighted his recent efforts in favour of Gaza, referring to a powerful film that emphasizes God’s promise that the land belongs to the oppressed, as highlighted in the Holy Qur’an. He states: “I was going to issue a statement, but I think the essence of this event conveys that message. This is a deep concern over the horrific genocide that has been inflicted on Gaza for over 20 months. Official reports, including UNICEF, reveal that children succumb to bombing and malnutrition.
He emphasized that the initiative to organize Holoside comes from the brutal genocide unfolding in Gaza, with over 61 countries taking part in submitting artwork. In particular, some prominent American artists contributed without seeking awards, and viewed their participation as an honest homage to Gaza’s suffering. This participation from American artists is extremely encouraging, especially given the international pressures and restrictions they face.
He also emphasized that despite efforts from Israel, Western and Americans silence and empowering these voices to censor, their influence remains uncontrollable. The term Holocide is intentionally borrowed from the terms Holocaust and Genocide, and aims to break media silence across platforms such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and turn threats into opportunities.
The ceremony continued in honor of recipients in various categories.
In the poster section, Russian Dmitry Mili Enko and Iranian Puya Sarabi were recognized for outstanding work with Wahab Ramaj, Alezu Akhabaian and Iranian Ahmad Voydannejad in first, second and third place respectively.
“I am truly pleased to be among you today to showcase my art. The artwork on display here is amazing and will definitely captivate you. I would like to thank you for your warm hospitality, your beautiful city and your kind people.
In another segment, the Yemeni Jambiya Award winners were announced. Hassan Fnich of Lebanon, Sajad Hassan from Iraq, Seyed Mohammad Saber Sheikh Rezai and Magiar Villani are both from Iran.
“My artwork shows the return of people after 120 days away from Jabal Amel in southern Lebanon and bravely confronting the Israeli army,” Fnich said when he received the award.
“The day recorded these moments, believing that it belongs to Imam Mahdi. It depicts a woman looking for a brother of her martyrism.
Ahmad al-Imam, the Iranian cultural attaché in Yemeni, expressed his gratitude, saying, “I am grateful to all participants. Your presence is a key act of solidarity in supporting Palestine. The cause of justice and resilience.”
Winners in the Caricature category have also been introduced. First, second and third place went to Iranian native Jalil Saveri, Antonio Manuel Ferreira dos Santos and Vasco Gargaro respectively.
“I am so happy to be in Iran for the second time. I am honored to receive this award. I hope that the efforts that all my friends and ourselves work together will open up a new window and show us how effective and authentic support we can demonstrate,” Dos Santos said.
In the comics section, Mahmoud Nazari from Iran, Izabela Kowalska Wieczorek from Poland, and Silvano Mello from Brazil were recognized in the awards. Additionally, top winners were Mehmet Elei Ozbek of Turkey, Amir Dehan of Iran, and Ares of Cuba.
“I am honored to be part of Iran again. It is a great privilege to receive this award. I am proud to be recognized in many valuable works today. In today’s world, many tragic events unfold and injustice rarely wins.
The event also featured the publication of the Holoside Festival book, which includes 1,500 artwork. Top winners in each category received certificates and received €3,000. The second-place winner received special acclaim and 2,000 euros. The third-place winner received the certificate and 1,000 euros. The honorable mention won the 500 euro award.
Photo: Turkish native Mehmet Eray Ozbek will be awarding the award at the closing ceremony of the 3rd International Comic, Caricature and Poster Contest Holoside, held in Tehran on June 12, 2025.
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