Winners Euro-kartoenale The Hat - Hats off
The grand winner of the 25th Euro-kartoenale Kruishoutem is Javad Takjoo from Iran. He managed to captivate the jury with a romantic interpretation of the theme “The Hat – Hats Off!”, bringing a smile to everyone’s face. The second prize went to the other side of the world: Colombian cartoonist Elena Ospina triumphed over Serbian Jugoslav Vlahovic, who secured third place. All winners personally came to collect their prizes during this jubilee edition in Kruishoutem.
With 728 participating cartoonists from 82 countries across five continents, the 25th Euro-kartoenale Kruishoutem once again attracted significant interest. The international jury, under the presidency of Pol Leurs, had the challenging task of selecting from 2,659 submissions from around the globe.
Once again, Iranian cartoonists led in terms of participation, followed closely by artists from Turkey, Germany, and Belgium.
The first prize was awarded to Iranian cartoonist Javad Takjoo, who received a trophy and a cash prize of €2,100.
"He approached the theme ‘The Hat – Hats Off!’ in a uniquely personal way, adding a romantic touch. Combined with his beautiful graphic style, the jury members were immediately captivated. This cartoon instantly brings a smile to your face," shared Saskia Gheysens from the European Cartoon Center.
The second prize went to South America, as Colombian artist Elena Ospina impressed the jury with a colorful interpretation of Noah’s Ark. Serbian cartoonist Jugoslav Vlahovic took third place with an absurdly humorous cartoon. The best submission from the European Union was awarded to Shahrokh Heidari Sorjani from Reims, while Ukrainian artist KUSTO won the ECC prize.
Stefaan Provijn from Sint-Martens-Latem was recognized for the Best Belgian Cartoon. Pieter Lefevere from Kruisem, Ross Thomson (UK), and Emil Idzikowski (Poland) received honorable mentions.
Ross Thomson also accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award for an amazing career and two works in the top 20 of this edition.
