1. WHO CAN APPLY

The Open Call - Encontros da Imagem 2025 Photobook Awards is open to national and international artists, photographers and publishers over the age of 18, and applications can be made individually or collectively.

2. PRIZE

All the books sent in and submitted will be presented at a group exhibition, which will take place between 18th of September and 2nd of November 2025 in Braga, Portugal, as part of the 35th edition of the festival.

In this group exhibition, to be held in a partner venue to be announced, security systems will be placed in the books.

All the books submitted will be presented and announced on the festival's website and its various communication channels, along with their authorship.

The jury will evaluate all the books and award the following prizes:

• Best Published Book Award aimed at authors and publishers with photography books already published with a print run of up to 500 copies, in which the winner will receive a cash prize of €1,000 (one thousand euros).

• Best Dummy Award for handmade / DIY photography book models, in which the winner will receive a cash prize of €1,000 (one thousand euros).

The jury may also select possible honourable mentions, which will be announced on the festival website and its various communication channels.

3. APPLICATION

Applying for this award requires registering and submitting the project on the Picter platform, subject to the following conditions:

• There are two application options: Best Published Book Award and Best Dummy Award.

• Each application has a registration fee of €20.00

• Each project submitted will correspond to one application

• Each candidate can only apply for a maximum of 3 books, which corresponds to 3 entries/applications per category

• Applications will be open until 30 June 2025

• The books submitted in the application must be sent by 31 July 2025

• If the artist or publisher has other information they consider important for the jury, such as videos (youtube, vimeo, etc.), they can include the links in the synopsis.

4. SELECTION

The projects will be analysed and evaluated by an invited jury of experts with vast experience in the field, both nationally and internationally. This evaluation will take place in person during the festival's inaugural weekend, between 19 and 21 September 2025.

However, all the materials requested (images, pdf of the book, synopsis, bibliography/curriculum) must be submitted on the platform so that the jury can make an initial online viewing.

5. BOOK SHIPMENT

Artists must send their candidate book by 31th of July 2025 in order to be considered for the prize. If the book arrives after this date, the package must be marked or stamped with the shipping label prior to this date.

The package should be sent to the following address:

A/C: Carla Bacelar Ferreira / Noora Manty / Sofia Pacheco

Largo da Estação, 40 - Salas 5 e 6

4700-223 Braga

Portugal

SHIPPINGS OUTSIDE THE EU: If the book is held up at customs, the applicant must take responsibility for the customs clearance costs.

Every year, shipments from outside the EU are held up at customs, and the customs clearance fee is very high and the waiting time is long. If at all possible, we suggest that applicants send their parcels by couriers such as UPS or DHL, which, although the customs clearance fee is high, make it easier to process.

6. DONATIONS/RETURNS

The winning project and any honourable mentions will not be returned, but will be incorporated into the Carlos Fontes Library for public consultation.

All other applicants must indicate in their email reply whether they will donate their book to the library or return it. If they choose to return the book, the author will be responsible for the costs.

7. IMAGE USE

The images sent with the application may be used by the festival to promote the exhibition and the activities surrounding the prize.

In the future, the different materials - images/videos and books - may be used for communication and exhibitions (individual or collective), within the framework of the festival or in partnership with similar institutions, with the artists always being contacted in good time.

The authors take full credit and responsibility for the authorship of the images/works presented.

NOTE

By registering, you agree to the terms and conditions mentioned above.

Any doubts and/or questions that are not addressed in these regulations should be directed to the festival team via the following email address:

eibooks@encontrosdaimagem.com