CANNES.-The Sony World Photography Awards incorporates eleven Professional Award categories with a winner in each category, a Lifetime Achievement Award and proudly presents "L’ iris d’Or" – the Sony World Photography Awards, Photograph of the Year, whose winner claims the $25,000 prize.

Three finalists will be nominated in each category with all nominated finalists receiving free accommodation in Cannes along with VIP tickets to the cocktail party, awards ceremony and gala dinner.

An exhibition of all finalists work will be held at the Palais des festivals in Cannes from the 21st -25th April 2008, and will be open for public viewing.

The Awards evening will be a black tie event for the crème de la crème of the photo and press industry, bringing the photographic community into Cannes to celebrate photography and its art.

In order for submitted works to be judged by contemporaries and peers, the Sony World Photography Awards has created the "World Photographic Academy" (WPA). The Academy has been created with the sole intention of promoting excellence within photography and provide further inspiration for the new generation of photographers.

Some of the world’s leading photographers, gallery owners, major picture editors, photographic foundation directors and other industry experts , have been invited to become members of WPA. These members will form the judging panel for the awards within the 11 professional categories.

Governing the WPA will be the academy’s Honorary Board which will consist of 11 of the most acclaimed photographers and industry heavyweights with the likes of Martin Parr, Tom Stoddart, Mary Ellen Mark, Stephen Cohen, Elliott Erwitt, and more.

Throughout the five days and evenings, a series of events will take place amongst over 300 diverse photographs on exhibit, all derived from the three finalists work in each of the 11 professional categories. The exhibition will be open to the public for five days.

On the final evening, (24th April), a spectacular awards ceremony will pay tribute to the photo industry and announce the winners in each professional category as well as the overall amateur winner. One image will be named world photograph of the year and receive the coveted "L’ iris d’Or", including a $25,000 cash prize.