Zifan Zhang shortlisted for 2026 World Report Award

admin2 weeks ago on news

Zifan Zhang‘s project Being Young in Latvia is among the only ten stories shortlisted in the student category for the 2026 World Report Award documenting humanity.

Two female soldiers walk past the Freedom Monument in central Riga during a shift change on March 22, 2025. The monument, honoring soldiers killed in the Latvian War of Independence, is guarded around the clock. Project description: In today’s complex Latvian society, the young generation is actively reshaping the country’s future. They are addressing identity challenges in various ways, including bridging social divides stemming from the Soviet legacy, tackling the mental health crisis, advocating for gender equality, and engaging with national security concerns. By fostering religious dialogue, promoting historical education, providing psychological support, championing gender advocacy, and participating in political processes, they are building a more resilient social landscape amidst the tension between tradition and modernity. Photo: Zifan Zhang

Zifan was an ECCA-scholarship student at DMJX throughout 2025 and has graduated both Photo 1 and 2 at DMJX. He made Being Young in Latvia during a magazine workshop conducted by teachers Gitte Luk, Lars Bai and Søren Pagter. The full story can be seen in the magazine made the Photo 1 students in the spring 2025.

Being Young in Latvia has previously been exhibited at Sarajevo Photography Festival and Zifan Zhang was also nominated at World Photography Student Competition earlier this year. The below portrait of Diāna Grasmane received an Award of Excellence in the Portrait Category at the 83rd Pictures of the Year International.

Diāna Grasmane, 19, poses for a portrait at her home in Riga on March 27, 2025. She is a transgender woman and activist, and she confronts societal norms and challenges in Latvia, using her visibility to advocate for queer and transgender people in transphobic misinformation. She sees herself as a “radical political act” rooted in kindness and respect. Through community engagement, Diana provides essential support to others while pushing for a more inclusive future, despite the personal toll of her activism. Photo: Zifan Zhang
Guns in an airsoft shop in Riga. March 20, 2025. Airsoft has become a popular pastime among young Latvians, blending elements of sport, strategy, and a fascination with military history.
College students rehearse Folk Ensemble Rotaļa at VEF Culture Palace in Riga, Latvia, at night on March 26, 2025. Photo: Zifan Zhang
Young people enjoy the Nova Koma concert in Riga on March 29, 2025. Photo: Zifan Zhang