ŁÓDŹ PHOTO-MATCH: portfolio review
An open call has started for our beloved event. We invite 20 photographers to meet 20 curators from all over Europe in an unusual formula of portfolio review, which emphasizes networking, equality and the widest possible presentation of works and photographic institutions. All of that free of charge. Submit by May 15th.
DATE: 19-20.06.2026
VENUE:
1st day Art_Inkubator, 3 Tymienieckiego St., Łódź (open to public)
2nd day Alfred Biedermann’s Palace in Łódź
WHAT IS PHOTO-MATCH?
The Photo-Match model brings new life into the traditional formula of portfolio reviews by placing special emphasis on a series of open networking events and public presentations. Photo-Match is based on a democratic and inclusive model, free of charge, in which experts and artists have the same space for sharing and pitching their experience and motivations.
DAY 1: PRESENTATIONS + MATCHING
[ 19th of June 11:00 AM. – 2:00 PM. CET ]
It’s a day dedicated to both photographers and experts to introduce themselves, their work and practice through short live presentations. This moment takes place not only for Photo-Match participants, but also for anyone from Fotofestiwal’s audience who wants to attend the event, therefore ensuring that artists and reviewers can widen their group of spectators.
Based on these introductions and their own impressions, each participant will choose the reviewers (in case of photographers) or the artists (in case of experts) with whom they would like to meet and share their work, through a matching process. By the end of this day each attendee will have up to 4 meetings scheduled for the next day.
DAY 2: MEETINGS
[ 20th of June 10:00 AM. – 1:00 PM. CET ]
The real deal! All participants attend private meetings in accordance with the timetable generated based on choices made on the previous day. Every photographer and curator attends up to 4 meetings. For those who want, Photo-Match will finish with 1 open extra session, an opportunity to enjoy conversation and exchange ideas with someone with whom there was no previous match.
HOW TO SUBMIT?
The application consists of:
1. An application form filled in (link available HERE).
2. A preview of 10 photographs from the project you would like to present during the review, sent in a JPG or PNG format, preferably size of 1920 px length, in a separate email to portfolio@fotofestiwal.com until May 15th 2026, titled: PHOTO-MATCH APPLICATION FIRST NAME LAST NAME. Files should not exceed 10 MB in total.
3. There is no submission fee.
4. The presence is mandatory (it is not an online event).
5. We accept submissions as an artistic duo.
6. It’s possible to submit more than one project, but it requires filling separated application forms.
7. Artists that applied and were selected in the past, can apply again with no restrictions.
8. The selected artists authorise Fotofestiwal to choose two of their submitted images to be used in the communication of the finalists.
9. Applications will be analysed by a group of 3 members of Fotofestiwal collective, focusing on the images and the description of the project submitted, and safeguarding the rest of the personal information. This information will only be considered at a later stage during the artist’s selection for contact and communication purposes.
DATES
- 17.04.2026 – open call for artists and announcement of the list of reviewers
- 15.05.2026 – deadline for artists’ submissions
- (by) 19.05.2026 – announcement of the selected artists
- 19.06.2026 – DAY ONE: PRESENTATIONS+MATCHING
- 20.06.2026 – DAY TWO: MEETINGS
REVIEWERS
The list of reviewers below includes magazine editors, book publishers, photography festivals’ directors, museum curators, gallery owners, independent art consultants:
→ Anna Surroca and Irene Monteagudo (ES), Coordinators at Panoràmic Festival, Barcelona
→ Arianna Rinaldo (IT, ES), Co-founder and Curator at PhEST, Monopoli
→ Asta Vaičiulytė (LT), Contemporary art curator, editor and art historian, Vilnius
→ Beata Łyżwa-Sokół (PL), Exhibitions coordinator at The History Meeting House, Warsaw
→ Emma Bowkett (UK) Director of Photography FT Weekend Magazine; Curator, London
→ Giulia Brivio (IT, CH, TG), Co-founding director of the Harmattan – Togo Photo Festival; Chief curator and producer at Artphilein; Co-founder of Studio Boîte
→ Grażyna Siedlecka (PL), Independent curator and art writer, founder of Fresh From Poland
→Henri Airo (FI), Artistic Director of the Visual Arts Festival Utopias Lahti
→ Iris Sikking (NL), Curator in photography at Fotomuseum Den Haag, The Hague
→ Kristyna Müller (SE), Artistic director and curator at Centrum för fotografi in Stockholm
→ Luca Vianello and Silvia Mangosio (IT), Founders of the artist-run space Mucho Mas, Torino
→ Łukasz Pawłowski (PL), member of the Picture Doc Foundation, curator of exhibitions at Duży Pokój Gallery, Warsaw
→ Nela Eggenberger (AT), Founding Editor of P.IN.E.A — Photography Intermedia Et Al., Vienna
→ Pablo Berástegui (ES), director of La Casa Encendida and the Cultural and Environment Programs at Fundación Montemadrid
→ Peggy Sue Amison (DE, QA), Artistic Director of East Wing, Berlin and Doha
→ Sandino Scheidegger (CH), Co-founder and director of Random Institute and Social Income, Zurich
→ Sergio Valenzuela Escobedo (CL, FR), Associate curator, International Photography Biennial of French Guiana
→ Tomasz Gutkowski and Witek Orski (PL), Founding Director and Artistic Director of Krakow Photomonth
This list will be updated in the upcoming weeks.
Photo Match: A Completely Different Portfolio Review is an original, democratic and inclusive portfolio review formula that has been developed by us for several years.
The project is carried out co-financed by the European Union under the Creative Europe program.
Photo-Match also counts with the support of: Italian Cultural Institute in Warsaw, Austrian Cultural Forum in Warsaw, Polish Institute in Stockholm, Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in the Republic of Poland, Goethe Institute, The Netherlands Embassy in Poland, Cervantes Institute in Warsaw, Pro Helvetia, and Adam Mickiewicz Institute.
