The Italian Federation of Photo Associations (FIAF) and Seat PG invite all Italian photographers to document Italy in pictures to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of their country. The initiative is taking place as part of the "Passione Italia" photography project; the contest promoted by Seat PG received over 28,000 photographs in its first year, viewed by 2 million Internet users. 
More than 3500 Italian photographers, both amateurs and professionals, have already been accredited for the event: on 16 and 17 March all enrolled citizens can test their talent and immortalize a little piece of Italy. The photographs taken on these days, which have an important historical and cultural value, will be linked by the bond of contemporaneity, as if all the photographers were a single camera with thousands of lenses that simultaneously capture the individual elements comprising the vast and varied Italian territory. The fragments will become a single huge photographic mosaic of contemporary Italy.

According to FIAF president Fulvio Merlak, "Passione Italia – Una giornata italiana" will be the biggest, most popular and most important photographic event ever conducted in Italy. It is an undertaking that will remain in the history of national photography. The photographs taken on 16 and 17 March will compose an extraordinary overall picture of contemporary society, forming a unique document of Italy’s national identity in all of its social, economic, environmental, cultural and artistic aspects, and bearing witness to the incredible vitality of a country that never ceases to amaze us."

The most significant pictures taken during this event will be shown at a national exhibition that will be inaugurated on September 24 at the Centro Italiano della Fotografia d’Autore in Bibbiena, and will be put together in a national catalogue. At the same time, in numerous Italian cities artists, groups and photo clubs participating in the project will promote local exhibitions with pictures of the area.

The Passione Italia – Una giornata italiana. 17 March 2011 photo project is staged by FIAF and Seat PG with the collaboration of the ItaliaCentoCinquanta Committee, Nital (importer of Nikon and other important brands in the photo sector) and Epson. It is sponsored by the Technical Mission Unit of the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry for Cultural Assets and Activities, the Ministry for Youth Policies, the Union of Italian Provinces, GAI (Association for the circuit of Young Italian Artists), and numerous Italian provinces and municipalities.

"As the first social network in Italian history, our company has always observed and flanked the economic and social development of Italy and its local communities: it is truly a means of forging relations," commented Ezio Bertino, Head of External Relations for Seat PG. "As a result — and to take an active part in the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the unification of our great country — we are delighted to promote this extraordinary initiative that involves photography enthusiasts from all over Italy to bear witness to and interpret our times, with the aim of promoting the beauties and values of Italy and passing them on to future generations."

Passione Italia: the winners and the special jury

The first year of the contest has ended and by 31 March all the winners and their works, along with comments, will be published on the website www.passioneitalia.it. In addition to the extraordinary visibility offered by the widespread circulation of the lists, the winners will also receive prizes offered by the contest partners: Nikon Coolpix cameras and an Epson A4 printer.

Furthermore, a special jury chaired by the famous Milanese photographer and documentary filmmaker Gabriele Basilico, in collaboration with important representatives of the world of photography, will select 27 photos that will receive the special "Passione Italia" prizes: holiday packages for the "Esperienza Italia" events, Nikon reflex cameras, Epson Stylus Photo printers in the A3 format, and participation in important photography workshops held by FIAF.

Furthermore, three young photographers cited for merit will be admitted to the Third Biennial of Young Artists scheduled in Bibbiena in 2012 at the Centro Italiano della Fotografia d’Autore.