People nominee

On the first day of Spring, Kurds celebrate the Newroz, their New Year’s day. The festival is very important for Kurdish identity, still neglected by many countries among which Kurdistan has historically been divided. Newroz means both “new day” and “son of the sun”, and its celebration dates back to 21st March 612 B.C, when Kawa, along with people’s solidarity defeated the Assyrian tyrant Dehak, setting the Kurds free from the oppression and proclaiming freedom throughout the land. From then on, this fire is lit every 21st of March, also in Testaccio, the very heart of Rome, at the Ararat centre.
This year, the Newroz fire burn brighter than ever, as it comes after the historic victory of Kobane, set free by the courageous men and women that fought for freedom. As in the ancient time of Kawa, Newroz represents light over darkness, freedom over oppression, peace over war. It is a festival of all the Kurdish population and their legitimate aspirations for freedom.

Simone Tramonte was born in Rome in 1976 and after graduating in Economics he decided to devote his attention to photography. He is a freelance photographer that works and is mainly based in Italy.
He began photographic studies with particular attention to social and anthropological issues.
Involved in documentary photography since the 2007, his work is focused to documenting contemporary issues and the profound cultural changes.
His projects have been published in international magazines such as Internazionale, NationalGeographic, Geo, Indipendent, The Guardian, The Telegraph, Southeast Asia Globe, CameraRaw, TheTripMagazine, Sguardi.
This works has been exhibited at Fotoleggendo in Rome, at the Chiostro del Bramante in Rome, at the ArtBasel of Basel, at the Kolga Tbilisi Festival of Georgia.
He has been awarded some international prizes:
1st prize "Geo Magazine" - 2013
1st prize "UBS Art Collection" – 2011
2nd prize "Science-Environment” category – MIFA - 2016
2nd prize "Editorial-Environmental” category – IPOTY – 2016
2nd prize "People-Culture” category – MIFA - 2015
2nd prize "Press-Environmental” category – PX3 – 2015
3rd prize – FIIPA (FIOF Awards) – 2016
Remarkable Award – Siena International Photo Awards – 2015
Shortlisted – KOLGA TBILISI PHOTO AWARDS – 2016