Copenhagen Photo Festival Open Call 2025

The open call is for artists and photographers who want to break new ground and challenge the idea of what photography is and can be, now and in the future.

Overview

Copenhagen Photo Festival’s featured solo exhibitions aims to expand the boundaries of exhibiting photography and focus on sustainable development, not least in relation to the specific place the festival is situated, but also with regards to the materiality of displaying photography, as well as presenting new perspectives and emerging talents.

The selected artist will work in close collaboration with the curatorial team about the planning of the exhibition. Shortlisted artists will be invited for an interview with the CPF curatorial team in the fall of 2025 before the final selection of the headliners for 2025.

The solo exhibition will be placed in an indoor or outdoor space depending on the project and the overall curatorial strategy. In line with festival values, the artist should be prepared to think creatively and experimentally in terms of the hangings and/or installations of the works, as it is a core value for the festival to create exhibitions that are true to the festival format and interact engagingly or even surprisingly or contrastfully with the theme, the project it self and the surroundings it will be presented within.

Practical Info

The 2025's edition focuses on the theme Fremkaldelse, a word specifically connected to the photographic process. Namely, as the moment of truth, when the image comes to light – or literally is "called forth’ – on film or paper after having lain hidden in the camera's dark house. The development process fascinates because it balances skill and chemistry with chance and loss of control, so that something new and perhaps surprising appears. To ‘fremkalde’ means to cause something to step out of the darkness and into the light - both figuratively and concretely. You shed light on what is not immediately visible. A process that requires selection and opt-out. But also patience and persistence. Qualities that are challenged in an age that celebrates quick fixes, 15 second stories and new beginnings.

In our time, the complexity of everyday life can feel like a blow to the stomach. We are confronted daily with war, conflict and climate challenges. But the intricacies of this contemporary complexity call to be brought into the light. To be seen, scrutinized patiently, shown and told about. With the 2025 theme Fremkaldelser / Into the Light, the festival wants to call out what was hidden in order to create understanding and insight. It could be uncovering hidden stories or agendas in our society or personal (self) insight. This year's theme is a call to sharpen artists' gaze, shed light on their own and others' blind spots or practice simply seeing. There is also hope in the theme. Spreading light in a dark time. One can so easily feel paralysed when darkness threatens. Light and hope are therefore essential to deal with the many challenges around us.

The selected artist will receive a solo exhibition in the heart of Copenhagen, a € 530 fee as a festival participant, a € 320 support for travel to and accommodation in CPH (for international photographers). Plus, Copenhagen Photo Festival will cover the expenses for the exhibition.

The application must include a biography, a CV, a series of minimum 10 images, a project description of up to 3,000 characters that explains the finalized concept related to the overarching theme of Fremkaldelser | Into the Light. The project description must outline the concept of the project: the expected number of works, the format and material of the works, if AV equipment is needed and if the project has been exhibited before. The project as a whole must never have been exhibited in Denmark before.

The jury is composed of Søren Pagter (Head of Dep. of photojournalism, Danish School of Media and Journalism), Maja Dyrehauge Gregersen (Managing Director of Copenhagen Photo Festival), Stinus Duch (Founder and editor at Disko Bay Books) and Patricia Breinholm (Curator & Head of Communication at Martin Asbæk Gallery).

About Copenhagen Photo Festival

Copenhagen Photo Festival 2025 is showcasing an artistically and conceptually ambitious programme that celebrates creativity and experimentation within photography and lens-based art, and aims to build bridges between fine art and documentary photography.

The festival takes place in the center of Copenhagen as well as at collaborating galleries, museums and cultural institutions in Copenhagen and southern Sweden. Throughout the festival, photography is on the agenda through exhibitions, networking programs, workshops, talks, photobook market and more. In 2025 we will have more focus on exhibitions in the public space of Copenhagen.