Hannah Kirmes-Daly

Hannah Kirmes-Daly was selected for the 2026 Shortlist with Hamshika’s Puzzle.

Hannah Kirmes-Daly is a multi-award-winning visual journalist and artist working at the intersection of field-based research and mixed-media storytelling. She holds a BA in International Development and South Asian Studies from SOAS and an MA in Art in Context from the University of the Arts Berlin (UdK). Since 2014, she has worked across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, publishing with Al Jazeera, BBC, France24, Deutsche Welle, openDemocracy, and Internazionale. Her work has been recognised with the Thomson Reuters Migration Media Award and the Amnesty International Film Award.

She is the founding director of the creative journalism collective Brush&Bow, which brings together journalists, artists, legal experts, and communities to produce participatory investigations. In 2023, she was the British Library’s Guest Artist. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA) in Berlin, and she has taught at institutions such as the Berlin Biennale and PUBLIX.

Hamshika Krishnamoorthy

Hamshika Krishnamoorthy was selected for the 2026 Shortlist with Hamshika’s Puzzle.

Hamshika is a Tamil journalist, photographer, and artist. She was born in a refugee camp in India during the Sri Lankan Civil War and later returned to Sri Lanka, where she grew up. From childhood, Hamshika was loved by many in her school and village. She was active and talented, excelling as a cyclist and marathon runner, and was also passionate about badminton. Known as a skilled sportsperson, she won many school competitions. She was equally creative, with strong interests in drawing and painting. She was also a Bharatanatyam dancer and stage drama actor, performing in school and community events and winning numerous prizes. During her teenage years, Hamshika developed a passion for journalism. Inspired by newspaper bylines, she dreamed of seeing her own name published. News of journalists being killed for exposing wrongdoing deeply affected her, shaping her belief in the power of journalism to challenge injustice.

After a dangerous journey, she and her father were detained on Diego Garcia, where she endured  extreme hardship. She was later transferred to Rwanda. After a difficult period and many struggles, she finally arrived in the United Kingdom, holding onto her belief in justice and truth. Hamshika Krishnamoorthy has worked and contributed to a number of international publications as a journalist, addressing human rights and refugee issues globally, while also advocating for justice for Sri Lankan Tamils through her work and lived experience.