The Analog Sparks 2025 International Film Photography Awards has announced its winners, showcasing 25 of the most exceptional analog photographs from around the world. This prestigious competition celebrates the enduring art of film photography and provides a global platform for talented photographers working exclusively with analog techniques. The awards received nearly 2,000 submissions from photographers across more than 60 countries, demonstrating the continued vitality and international appeal of film photography.
Founded by photographer Réka Kóti, who created the analog_sparks Instagram community and corresponding exhibition series, the competition is specifically dedicated to analog photography. The awards feature professional, amateur, and student classes across eight major categories, ensuring opportunities for photographers at all levels to showcase their work on an international stage.
Hungarian photographer Péter Varsics claimed the top honor, earning the title of Analog Sparks Photographer of the Year for his striking image "Ghost of Pannenhuis." This cinematic photograph, distinguished by its beautiful tonal qualities, captures an older man and a young child in the otherwise empty Pannenhuis subway station in Brussels, Belgium. The composition demonstrates masterful use of space and light, embodying the atmospheric qualities that make analog photography so compelling.
In the student category, Rachel Jump from the University of New Mexico was named the Analog Sparks Discovery of the Year for her powerful black-and-white portrait titled "Everyone is Icarus." This poignant image showcases the emerging talent in academic photography programs and highlights the continued relevance of analog techniques in contemporary photographic education.
The competition recognized excellence across multiple specialized categories, each highlighting different aspects of analog photography mastery. Bill Hao from Canada earned the Technique Photographer of the Year award for "Rocky Mountains On Wetplate Collodion," demonstrating expertise in one of photography's most challenging historical processes. Kyle Hoffmann from Australia took the Fine Art Photographer of the Year title with "Waratah," while Portuguese photographer Nuno Serrão received a Gold Winner designation in Fine Art/Conceptual for "Icebergs."
Human subjects were celebrated through Toby Binder's "Youth of Belfast," which earned the German photographer the Human Photographer of the Year award. Italian photographer Matteo Gallucci captured the Lifestyle Photographer of the Year honor with "If These Streets Could Have Talk," showcasing the documentary power of analog photography in contemporary urban environments.
Nature photography was prominently featured, with Indonesian photographer Hengki Koentjoro winning Nature Photographer of the Year for "Gibbon Falls." The photojournalism category was dominated by Daria Troitskaia from Italy, whose "Crazy Horse Paris" earned her the Photojournalism Photographer of the Year award. Yu Hsuan Chang from Taiwan rounded out the major category winners with "G-Book 女子冊 Not Only One Way Beauty," taking the Zines and Photo Book Photographer of the Year award.
Additional recognition went to photographers working in specialized subcategories, demonstrating the breadth and diversity of contemporary analog photography. Rose Shoshana from Mexico won gold in Architecture/Buildings for "Babel," while Canadian photographer Yvonne Hanson earned dual recognition with "Cacophony," taking second place in Architecture and gold in Cityscapes. Tom Beldam from the United Kingdom captured gold in Nature/Sea with "Song of the Sea," and German photographer Piotr Darecki earned silver in Architecture/Cityscapes for "Layers of Gotham."
Experimental and abstract work also received significant recognition, highlighting the creative possibilities within analog photography. Cali M. Banks from the United States earned bronze in Fine Art/Experimental for "Looking Up At You, Looking Down On Me," while Norwegian photographer Anne Therese Falck took silver in Human/Other for "Where We Belong." These selections demonstrate how contemporary photographers continue to push the boundaries of traditional film techniques.
Technical innovation within analog photography was celebrated through several specialized technique categories. Vladimir Borele from Kazakhstan won gold in Technique/Instant for "Freedom," showcasing mastery of instant film processes. Kelly Ciurej from the United States earned gold in Technique/Film Soup for "Dream State," demonstrating creative manipulation of the photographic process itself.
The international scope of the winners reflects the global nature of the analog photography renaissance, with recognized photographers representing countries across six continents. From Yoshiyuki Onaya's "Portrait of Flower" from Japan (Bronze Winner in Nature/Plant) to Sonia Costa's "Lazy Afternoon in Kirtipur" from Italy (Bronze Winner in Human/Candid), the diversity of cultural perspectives and photographic approaches enriches the overall collection.
The complete collection of winning images spans gold, silver, and bronze winners across all eight major categories and numerous subcategories. All winning photographs are available for viewing on the official Analog Sparks website, though viewers should note that some images contain artistic nudity. The competition continues to serve as a vital platform for celebrating the unique aesthetic qualities and technical craftsmanship that define analog photography in the digital age.
