In Their Place

Winner of the Documentary Award:

"It is with great admiration that we recognize Vladimir Karamazov as the winner of the Documentary Prize for his poignant and evocative project In Their Place. Through this work, Karamazov offers an unprecedented, intimate view of life within the Belene prison on Persin Island in the Danube River. For two years, he fought for the privilege to photograph the lives of inmates in this high-security facility, and the resulting images bring us closer to a reality rarely seen by outsiders. With full access to every corner of the prison, Karamazov’s unflinching gaze captures the rawness of life behind bars, without the interference of guards or officials.

The prison's location on an isolated island, accessible only by a heavily guarded pontoon bridge, adds to its mystique and tension. The unforgiving nature of the place—highlighted by the extreme dangers posed by swarming mosquitoes and the isolation of the prisoners, many serving life sentences for murder—forms a grim backdrop for Karamazov’s powerful narrative. Yet, amid this harsh reality, he also manages to reveal a surprising tenderness and naivety within the prisoners, capturing moments of humanity that go beyond their circumstances and crimes.

The project is deeply personal for the photographer, who only began his journey in photography in 2020 after a 25-year career as an actor. Karamazov’s transition from the stage to photography reflects his desire to express his own artistic voice and explore humanity’s complexities through the lens. In Their Place is both a project of artistic reinvention and a profound reflection on justice, human frailty, and the consequences of violence. Through his lens, Karamazov brings to light the forgotten lives of those imprisoned by society, capturing their existence with a striking visual richness and a sense of empathy that only a true artist can convey.« Gomma

"For two years, I fought for permission to access the prison in Belene, and I’ve never dream of the freedom I have now. All-daylong meetings with the inmates, and access to every corner of the prison without police, guards, or officials. This allows me to experience the life of the prisoners for a few days a month. This prison is different for a few reasons. Firstly, it is located on Persin Island in the Danube River and is only accessible via a pontoon bridge owned by the prison. Access to the bridge is impossible because it is heavily guarded. Secondly, the bridge has not only guards and technical protection but relies on nature to make escapes unfeasible. On the island, there’s an unprecedented mosquito population, and without protective gear for just a few minutes, mosquitoes can poison your blood and cause death. A last reason is that many of the prisoners are sentenced to life. Most of the people you see in the project have committed murder and were sentenced to the most severe punishment.« Vladimir Karamazov