Belfast Photo Festival 2025 Open Call

The annual Belfast Photo Festival represents the largest annual festival of photography in the UK and Ireland, providing the perfect platform for those looking for new or additional exposure to both international and industry audiences.

Overview

Belfast Photo Festival hosts an annual, world-leading, popular cultural event at locations citywide. They catalyse local debate, creative development and financial opportunities with a combination of commissions, exhibitions and global arts leadership. "One of the best photography festivals in the world" (Capture Magazine).

They invite photographers of all nations and backgrounds to apply to the Open Submission, to have their work viewed by an international panel of highly influential photography industry experts, with career enhancing opportunities on offer.

Practical Info

Their open theme is to reduce barriers and restrictions. Submissions must be photographic or lens-based but can include combinations with other art forms such as performance, painting, sculpture, music, literature and more. 

Individuals and/or collectives are welcome to apply to the Photographs Category by entering between 1 and 15 photographs from a particular group series, completed project or body of work in development. To enter the Photo-Book category, add at least one image of your photo book project. This can be the cover, a product shot of the book dummy or some images of the book.

Opportunities include exhibition at the largest annual festival of photography in the UK and Ireland, before going on a European tour with significant media exposure and a range of awards including a £2,000 (Approx $2,700 / €2,300) cash prize.

The jury will consist of Jessica Baxte (Assistant Curator at TATE Modern), Meaghan Looram (Director of Photography at The New York Times), Alessia Glaviano (Head of Global at PhotoVogue), Shana Lopes (Assistant Curator of Photography at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art), Michael Famighetti (Editor at Aperture Magazine), Alejandro Acin (Festival Director at Bristol Photo Festival), and Michael Weir (Director at Belfast Photo Festival).

About Belfast Photo Festival

Belfast Photo Festival is a charitable organisation that curates world-class photography and visual art events in diverse locations across Northern Ireland. For over 14 years, we have fostered creative dialogue, local development, and financial opportunities through commissions, entrepreneurial initiatives, and global arts leadership. We take pride in our adaptability, innovation, and resilience, which has allowed us to continuously engage with national and international audiences, positively impacting communities both locally and abroad.