Awards of the World’s Most Prestigious Cartoon Competition Presented in Istanbul

The Aydın Doğan International Cartoon Competition, regarded as one of the most prestigious events in the world of cartoon art, celebrated its 40th edition this year. Organized by the Aydın Doğan Foundation, the awards ceremony took place in Istanbul with the participation of jury members, Foundation Board members, and the winning artists.

This year’s competition drew remarkable global interest: 529 artists from 67 countries submitted 1,137 works. The entries were evaluated by an international jury composed of world-renowned cartoonists, under the chairmanship of Gürbüz Doğan Ekşioğlu (Türkiye). The jury also included Ercan Akyol (Türkiye), Rafael Correa (Brazil), Piyale Madra (Türkiye), Firoozeh Mozaffari (Iran), Tan Oral (Türkiye), Edel Rodriguez (USA), Tjeerd Royaards (Netherlands), and Ross Thomson (UK).

After a rigorous evaluation process, the winners were announced: Mohammad Ali Khalaji from Iran received the first prize; Marcel Claudiu Morariu from Romania took second prize; and Pascal Gelu, also from Romania, won the third prize.

In addition, the Selection Committee awarded Success Award to Javad Takjoo and Marzieh Khanizadeh Abyaneh from Iran, along with Hamit Gış from Türkiye.

“Empowered Girls, Empowered Future” Special Award Presented to Camila de la Fuente

The “Empowered Girls, Empowered Future” Special Award, presented by the Aydın Doğan Foundation to promote equal opportunities for girls and young women in every aspect of life, was awarded this year to Camila de la Fuente from Mexico. This award highlights not only the artistic dimension of cartooning, but also the competition’s vital role in raising social awareness.

Arzuhan Doğan Yalçındağ: “We will continue to keep alive the values of freedom, tolerance, and equality through art”

In her speech at the ceremony, Arzuhan Doğan Yalçındağ, Chairwoman of the Aydın Doğan Foundation, emphasized the significance of the competition in the international art world, stating:

“Every year, our competition brings together artists from across the globe who translate different ideas and beliefs into cartoons, once again demonstrating the universal power of art. As the conscience and memory of society, cartoon art guides us quietly yet powerfully. It is for this reason that our competition is recognized worldwide as the ‘Oscars of Cartoons.’ We will continue to be a platform where diverse ideas, cultures, and emotions meet in friendship, and we will carry on sustaining the values of freedom, tolerance, and equality through art. We believe in the unifying power of art, and I thank all the artists and everyone who supports this mission.”

Prizes included $6,000 for the grand prize, $2,500 for second place, $1,000 for third place, $3,000 for the ‘Empowered Girls, Empowered Future’ Special Award, and $500 each for the three Success Award winners.

On October 1st, the award-winning artists also took part in a cartoon workshop held at Aydın Doğan Fine Arts High School, with the participation of students from Bağcılar Aydın Doğan Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School and Bahçelievler Aydın Doğan Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School, where they shared their experiences and insights.