Kyotographie 2025

The 13th edition of Kyotographie brings together 13 artists from 10 countries to explore the essence of Humanity through photography. This year’s theme reflects on love, empathy, and resilience, illuminating the complexities of human experience.

Overview

Co-founded and co-Directed by Lucille Reyboz and Yusuke Nakanishi, Kyotographie International Photography Festival is one of the few international photography festivals in Japan, and independent art festivals held in the world-renowned cultural capital of Kyoto. Every year, site-specific photographic works are exhibited in unique venues across the city, transformed in collaboration between KYOTOGRAPHIE, artists, curators, and scenographers. In 2024, the festival attracted 270,718 visitors, bringing the total number of attendees since its inception to approximately 1.86 million. In 2025, the KYOTOGRAPHIE Main Program brings together 13 artists from 10 countries. The works presented are rooted in the theme of Humanity, a choice the co-founders felt was essential in light of today’s global challenges.

Humanity encompasses the diverse experiences and qualities that define us as individuals and as a collective. As we grow further as a society, how do we define humanity? Reflecting on our capacity for love, empathy, and resilience, the 2025 Kyotographie theme is illuminated through two distinct cultural perspectives: the Japanese and the Western, exploring the diversity of human experience. Western traditions often highlight individuality, autonomy, and the centrality of humans in the world, celebrating personal freedom and universal moral principles. In contrast, the Japanese concept of humanity is deeply relational, emphasizing harmony and interdependence, and viewing humanity as inseparable from the natural world. The lived experience is central to the works within this year’s program. Artworks created from deep emotional responses to life reflect and comment on the fabric in which each of us exist. Perhaps our shared traits and values remind us of our responsibility to nurture compassion, foster understanding and create a sense of belonging, and connection. In seeking meaning together through the power of photography we hope that it may engage people to create a shared understanding of humanity in all its complexity, inspiring greater connection and shared accountability in our ever-changing and chaotic world.

Pushpamaala N, JR, Graciela Iturbide, Martin Parr, Erik Poitevin, Adam Rouhana, Mao Ishikawa, Latitia Ky, Lee Shulman and Omar Victor Diop, Tamaki Yoshida, Keijiro Kai, Eamonn Doyle, Hsing-Yu Liu are among the exhibited artists.

Activities include the International Portfolio Review brings together leading figures in the field of photography including curators, editors, gallerists, festival directors, publishers, photographers, and professionals in the field of contemporary art. The event will be held over three days in-person at TIME'S. Among the reviewers are Michael Famighetti (Editor in chief of Aperture magazine), Yumi Goto (Independent curator), Tomoka Aya (Director of The Third Gallery Aya Director of Fine-Art Photography Association
and Director of Osaka International Media Library), Fiona Shields (Head of Photography at the Guardian), Andréa Holzherr (Global Cultural Director/Curator for Magnum Photos), Elias Redstone (Founder, Artistic Director of PHOTO Australia), and more.

Additionally, Kyotographie’s diverse educational program returns tailored to all ages and skill levels. Public Program events feature opportunities to engage with the artists directly through artist talks and tours, film screenings, and critical discussion spaces. For aspiring professionals, the Masterclass Program and International Portfolio Review returns, offering invaluable opportunities for skill refinement and industry connections. The Kids Program engages young learners through in-school photography workshops, interactive events, and a kids photography competition. In a special announcement, two commemorative publications that reflect on the journey and revisit the history of Kyotographie and KG+ will be released. These books capture the legacy the two festivals have cultivated, where artists and audiences are inspired to think independently and act with intention.

Kyotographie’s sister event, Kyotophonie Borderless Music Festival, also returns for the spring edition during Saturday April 12th to Sunday May 11th, 2025. Kyotophonie music events adopt the same theme as Kyotographie, extending the festival into the sound and performance sphere to create unique creative experimentations that transcend genres and borders. More details will be released in early 2025 on artists and venues.