This year, the photography competition organized by La Regie Libanaise Des Tabacs Et Tombacs (Regie), known by the name “Manchar Souwar” took a different approach. The competition participated for the first time in the Beirut Art Fair 2018 that was launched under the auspices of Prime Minister Saad Hariri and in the presence of official, security, economic, and cultural figures among them the Director General of Regie Engineer Nassif Seklaoui, Engineer Georges Hobeika, Doctor Issam Salman, and Engineer Mazen Abboud.
The Art Fair which is remaining until 23 September at the Seaside Arena (known as BIEL formerly) at Beirut Central District, has a part that includes photos from the competitions of 2016 and 2017 and from there, the 3rd version of the competition will be launched. This version will revolve around “women who work in tobacco planting” as a tribute to her efforts and to her participation in the continuity of this agricultural activity.
This developmental initiative launched by Regie in 2016 as part of its sustainable development strategy aims at embracing innovators and supporting artistic, intellectual, and photographic talents, whether amateurs or professionals. It also aims at enhancing the capabilities of the youths, shedding light on the importance of the agricultural sector, socially and economically, making it possible to know more about tobacco planting in order to dive into what’s behind the photo and the lens of the photographers all because this agricultural activity is a form of cultural heritage that should be well-documented.
In its first 2 versions, the competition (Manchar Souwar) included the work of more than 500 photographers who visited tobacco fields, met the farmers, learned about their style of living and documented in their photos moments and stories that hide in their eyes and in their working hands.
In its 3rd version that was launched at the Beirut Art Fair, Manchar Souwar honors women who work in tobacco planting, and pays a tribute to her efforts and to her participation in the continuity of this agricultural activity.
In this regard, Regie explained that those who are willing to participate in the competition, whether amateurs or professionals, should upload their photos on its website using this link
www.rltt.com.lb/competition which takes them directly to the competition page, between 15 December 2018 and 31 January 2019.
It also invited those willing to accompany its teams for photography tours, the first in the North on 22 December and the second in the South on 23 December, to register their names on the following link:
https://goo.gl/forms/L48xA84l.
As for those who are willing to visit tobacco fields solely, Regie stated that the perfect time to take photos in the South is between 15 December 2018 and 28 February 2019 and in the North between 15 January and 31 March 2019.
It is worth noting that a professional jury evaluates the photos to select the best of them and announce 3 winners. The first prize is USD 5,000 and a camera, the second prize is USD 3,000 and a camera, and the third prize is USD 1,000 and a camera. The results of the competition will be announced at "Manchar Souwar 3" exhibition which will include more than 50 photos selected by the jury and the said event will coincide this year with Women's Day.
And in order to enhance the role of working women, Regie is organizing, as part of Manchar Souwar, different workshops that target the farmers’ daughters aged between 18 and 25. These workshops will be held in Qleiat - North Lebanon, Deir El-Ahmar – Bekaa, Aitaroun - Bent Jbeil, Adchit - Nabatieh, Srifa - Tyr, and Touline - Marjeoun. It is worth noting that the dates of these workshops will be announced at a later stage.