The TOPS Festival is managed by a French based Association, declared as such to the French State. It was founded by Floris de Bonneville, who headed the editorial of the prestigious Agence GAMMA for thirty years.
The aim of this Festival is to gather every year in one single spot, the very best of the photo reportages published the year before in the world press. The selection is made by a Jury of experts , photo editors or Stern, Figaro-Magazine, Geo, Newsweek, Reporter (Moscow ), Sunday Times etc.. and editors of international photo agencies ( East-News, Gamma, Contacto, Grazia Neri, Xinhua etc ).
During the Festival, The Jury awards the best exhibitions and awarded photographers get a trophy and a prize ranging from 1000 to 10.000 euros.
The Festival is a yearly event. The first one was hold in Shenyang, China, with over 200.000 visitors.
It starts with a professional week which allows a mutual exchange between photographers and international experts. Lectures, projections are organized for the visitors.
For the length of the Festival ( from 2 to 5 weeks ), the local, national and international visitors can see on one single place the very best picture stories of the year.
What ?
•50 exhibitions selected by the international Jury.
•Between 20 and 30 exhibitions , taken by local photographers.
•An exhibition which will honor of a western photographer.
•An exhibition which will honor a local photographer.
•Workshops, symposium, lectures, projections nights, an award ceremony.
•Auction : At the end of the Festival, during the Awards Ceremony for example, 50 pictures from the exhibits can be auctioned.. The revenues will go to the Photographers.
The TOPS will be split into different cities and countries to avoid the entire selection of the Jury to be presented in one place such like it was in Shenyang, China.
We will soon organize different Juries to select specific “ best of” in such categories as nature and environment, news, arts, sports, culture and traditions, celebrities, paparazzi, fashion etc.. Having a different city for each..