The Open Program has existed under various names as part of the festival since 2003. It allows for an overview of current phenomena in photography. This year’s submissions had a very strong level of engagement. Our Jury tried to prepare a coherent but diverse selection.
The projects selected by the Jury raise important socio-political and environmental issues that emerged in 2020. Most of these works are not only visual narratives or illustrations, but rather a form of engagement, commentary, or participatory observation. Selected projects, despite their diversity, clearly refer to the problems and challenges of the present times. This year, not surprisingly, there were many projects focused on pandemic experience. For the first time, compared to previous years, we had a particularly large number of applications, which came from outside Europe – we are very ecstatic about this tendency.
From among 1029 projects (a record!) the international Jury selected the works of seven artists, whose projects we will be able to see at exhibitions during the Fotofestiwal in 2021 (10-27.06). Here they are:
Federico Estol “Shine Heroes” / Uruguay
Colin Delfosse “Embodying Kinshasa” / Belgium
Sima Choubdarzadeh “My Name is Fear” / Iran
Irmina Walczak “Oasis: in Our Quarantine Yard” / Poland
Rafael Heygster & Helena Manhartsberger “Corona Rhapsody” / Germany
Robin Hinsch “Wahala” / Germany
We would like to thank everyone who submitted their applications – for the opportunity to see their projects. Choosing six of them was not easy. We also send huge thanks to the Jury for the opportunity to cooperate and all the lively discussions that were part of this difficult choice.
We will post more information about the final projects on our website soon.
See you in June!