Fotografia Calabria Festival Award 2026 - Call for Entries

• Fotografia Calabria Festival

• Deadline: November 15th, 2027

• Theme: Open

• Prize: €2,000 + €1,000 + Publication + Exhibition

• Entry Fees: Yes

• REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE

For the first time in the history of the competition, no specific theme has been established. This decision is intended to give photographers greater freedom to define the subject, direction and scope of their projects, while placing particular emphasis on their individual creative vision. Participants are encouraged to use this freedom to present work that reflects their interests, concerns and distinctive approach to the photographic medium.

The competition welcomes bodies of work that demonstrate a strong conceptual coherence and a clearly identifiable artistic vision. We are interested in projects in which the images function not simply as a collection of individual photographs, but as parts of a considered and meaningful whole. The relationship between the images, the development of the narrative and the choices made by the photographer should contribute to the construction of a recognisable project with its own internal logic and identity.

We do not necessarily expect photographers to present subjects that have never been explored before, and we do not consider originality to be synonymous with novelty. The pursuit of something unprecedented should not become an objective in itself. Many subjects, themes and forms of experience have been explored repeatedly throughout the history of photography, yet they can continue to generate meaningful and original work when approached from a new or personal point of view.

Originality may therefore lie in the photographer’s particular way of observing and interpreting the world. It can be expressed through the choice of photographic language, the treatment of light, space and time, the construction and sequencing of the images, or the development of a narrative that reveals aspects of a familiar reality in an unexpected way. It may also emerge from the photographer’s ability to bring a personal perspective to subjects that are already widely represented.

For this reason, a body of work should not be judged solely by the apparent novelty of its subject matter. A project can be deeply original while engaging with a familiar theme, provided that it is shaped by a conscious and coherent artistic vision. We seek work in which the photographer’s intentions are reflected in the choices made throughout the project, creating a distinctive structure and a clear sense of identity. Ultimately, the competition aims to recognise photographers who demonstrate not only technical and visual ability, but also the capacity to develop a personal language and communicate a considered artistic position through the medium of photography.