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BES Photo is recognised as the leading award of its kind in Portugal, seeking to promote the contemporary artistic production of Portuguese-speaking countries. The 9th edition of BES Photo presents works by Albano Silva Pereira, Filipe Branquinho, Pedro Motta and Sofia Borges.

It is impossible to speak today about the dissemination of photography without mentioning Banco Espírito Santo and the key role it has played in this area. By means of this important award, which has paid tribute to and recognised many of the field's most significant practitioners, and the important collection of contemporary international photography it has built up, much has changed in Portugal in recent years. For the Museu Coleção Berardo, involvement in this project has been a motive for developing and enhancing ... its programme.

Ever since its very first edition, in 2004, BES Photo has gradually established itself as one of the most prestigious contemporary art prizes awarded to Portuguese artists and also, since 2011, to artists from Portuguese-speaking countries. The reputation of this event has been enhanced by the great talent revealed by the works exhibited and the merit of the award-winning artists in previous editions-Helena Almeida, José Luís Neto, Daniel Blaufuks, Miguel Soares, Edgar Martins, Filipa César, Manuela Marques and Mauro Pinto.

A international jury composed of Bisi Silva, Delfim Sardo and Agnaldo Farias selected the following artists for the 2013 exhibition and award: Albano Silva Pereira (Coimbra), Filipe Branquinho (Maputo), Pedro Motta (Belo Horizonte) and Sofia Borges (São Paulo / Paris). The works of these artists, presented here until June 2, will be assessed by an award jury, also international, consisting of the writer Geoff Dyer, Professor Luc Sante and the art critic Rosa Olivares. The winner of the 9th edition of BES Photo 2013 will be announced on May 7.

In 2013, the project has been joined by a new and important partner, the Instituto Tomie Ohtake, that will show the exhibition in São Paulo from June 18.