This year the central theme is China. Two shows are devoted to it” China New Photo, featuring works by amateur artists and Western Eye on East. As part of a Grand Prix exhibition there are 11 shows, the best of which will be honoured with a Photography Festival statuette.

The International Book Fair was held in Warsaw May 15-18. It is the oldest and most prestigious literary and publishing venue in Central and Eastern Eurfope. The event was accompanied by a series of debates, seminars, book shows, meetings with writers and presentations of electronic publications. The fair was held at the Palace of Culture and Science, with Israel being the guest of honour.

Era Jazz organized a concert by top jazz guitarist John McLaughlin at the Sala Kongresowa on May 19. Era Jazz organizer Dionizy Piątkowski says that the breakthrough in the artist’s career was Mahavishnu Orchestra formed in 1971, which included such musicians as Rick Laird, Jerry Goodman, Billy Cobham and Ian Hammer. McLaughlin spotted the potential of fusion jazz to launch his own brand of music. The band became a jazz rock sensation.

May 23 saw the start of the Filmostrada Film Festival, featuring movies shown and awarded as top international festivals. They range from the Japanese western “Sukiyaki Western Django” by Takashi Miike starring Quentin Tarantino in the lead role to the latest work by cinematic poet Kim Ki Duk “Breath” to the gripping drama “Four Minutes” by Chris Kraus, winner of the German Film Academy award. The organizer is the SPInks film distributor. The festival is held in a number of Polish towns and cities including Warsaw, Krakow, Katowice, Zuielona Góra, Białystok, Czestochowa, Nowy Sącz, Lublin, ŁÓdź, Poznań, Gliwice, Budgoszcz, Tarnów, Zamość, Kalisz, Konin, Skierniewice, Krosno, KJelenia Góra, Opole and Tychy.

In late May and early June Warsaw plays host to the 18th International Festival of Religious Music. Ranked among the most important Warsaw festivals, the event was first held in 1991 on the initiative of Polish pianist Przemysław Kapituła to honour the fourth visit to Poland by Pope John Paul II. The event became a permanent fixture held at historic Warsaw churches, including St John’s Cathedral.

June 15 marks the start of the Mozart Festival organized by the Warsaw Chamber Orchesxtra. This year it is held for the 18th time. It encompasses selected stage works, songs, chamber, symphonic and oratorio works by Mozart. It is Europe’s only festival whose ambition is to spotlight all the artist’s works. The event is traditionally held each year between June 15 and July 26.

Rock guitar virtuoso Carlos Santana graces Warsaw with an appearance on June 27 at the Gwardia sports stadium. The concert is part of the Live Your Light Tour promoting his latest album “Ultimate Santana”. The gig is produced and promoted by the Live Nation agency.

Until June 29 the National Museum in Warsaw is the venue of an exhibition featuring Ukrainian treasures from the Platar collection. It is the first foreign show showcasing works from the private collections of two industrialists and arts sponsors Sergey Platonov and Sergey Taruta. It encompasses nearly 500 works, the latest of which come from around 6000 B.C. The show documents all the most important periods in the history of Ukraine. On display are artefacts, designs of ancient pagan shrines, cottages and above all gold jewellery used by Scythians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and Kievan Russians.

World Press Photo 2007 takes place at the Palace of Culture and Sciences from May 31 to June 30. It is regarded as the most important competition in the trade and organized since 1955. The results are announced in Amsterdam. The competition is held in a dozen categories, such as picture of the year, sports personalities, everyday life, portraits, art and nature. Both single photos and series are included. Last year there were more than five thousand entrants – professional photographers from 125 countries who sent in 80,536 photos. Rafał Milach was honoured with a distinction for a cycle of portraits of retired circus artistes. Tomasz Gudzowaty, son of business tycoon Aleksander Gudzowaty, won the third prize in the category of single sports photos for his image picture of Indian Yogis.