IMPORTANT:

Only pay once all your projects are uploaded.

To enter additional projects click “Add Another Project”.

To enter the ‘Photo-Book’ category, add at least one reference image to your photo book project. This can be the cover, a product shot of the book dummy or some images of the book.

What do you win?

ALL SUBMITTING PHOTOGRAPHERS RECEIVE:

• Submission review by a diverse jury of industry professionals
• Opportunities for project exposure across festival materials, our social network partnerships, website and press outreach.

20 TO 40 FINALIST PHOTOGRAPHERS RECEIVE:

• Print production and exposure at our city centre and outdoor galleries for an accessible one month exhibition run of over 100,000 visitors
• Permanent publication in the Festival programme, website and marketing materials
• Festival representation and promotion in our award winning media and PR campaign with combined reach of 30 million
• Participation and promotion in our Instagram residency
• Dedicated feature on the Festival website with full online gallery
• Inclusion in the Festival issue of Abridged Magazine
• Partner exhibition and exposure at the 2025 Photo Schwiez Festival in Switzerland)

Applicants will have their work viewed by an international panel of highly influential experts in the field of photography, plus have the opportunity to win awards and a significant cash prize.

ADDITIONAL AWARDS AND CASH PRIZES:

Spotlight Award - £2,000 (Approx $2,700 / €2,300)

1 Year Free Royal Photographic Society Membership

Abridged Editorial Award with full project feature

Aesthetica Editorial Award - with editorial presentation in the printed and digital issue of Aesthetica international art and culture magazine.

Competition Description

Described as "One of the best photography festivals in the world" (Capture Magazine), the annual Belfast Photo Festival provides the perfect platform for those looking for new or additional exposure to both international and industry audiences. 

Belfast Photo Festival gives opportunity for established and emerging photographers to have their work assessed by an influential jury, receive a range of prizes and an investment in production and promotion of their work in Festival exhibitions and outreach.  

The open theme removes most barriers. 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 collectives are welcome to apply by entering between 1 and 15 photographs from a particular series or body of work. In addition or alternatively they may submit their Photo-book for consideration by linking to a single PDF.

(NOTE: You can submit both a photo-book and photographs of the same project, but an individual fee will need to be paid for both. If submitting only a Photo-book and not photographs, it will be your photo-book that will be selected for presentation and not photographic prints for exhibition)

Collectives are also welcome to apply; as a collective, you can submit up to 15 photographs (a €29 submission fee will apply for every 15 images submitted)

By submitting you accept the following terms and conditions:

• You agree to supply high resolution files of your submitted photographic work for printed production and exhibition outdoors by the Festival at no cost to you (the photographer)

• If submitting photo-books, you agree to supply the photo-books for exhibition, professionally printed and bound.

• If required, ensure the requested photo-books are suitably packaged and reach the Belfast Photo Festival by 20th May 2024, ready for display.

• Insurance of all photo-books supplied to the Festival remain the sole responsibility of the submitting photographer

• You agree to your selected prints / photo-books being taken on tour

• You agree to being included within relevant promotional material for the Festival

• The returning of supplied photo-books to the owner after exhibition is the sole responsibility of the photographer, however the Festival will facilitate the return of all photo-books..

• Winners will be announced on the Belfast Photo Festival and Picter websites and contacted by e-mail

• The decision of the Jury will be final