Verano Vienés Latin American Photography Festival – Call for Submissions
The Verano Vienés Latin American Photography Festival
invites
Latin American photographers and visual creators to submit their work for the collective exhibition, which will be part of its inaugural edition in September 2025, in Vienna, Austria.
The aim of this festival is to narrate our stories, realities, and territories through our own perspectives, fostering a meeting point between Latin America and Europe through images that reflect identity, culture, conflict, and everyday life in the region. This festival is a non-profit cultural initiative. Participants may submit a single image or a documentary series of up to six images.
1. Participation Requirements
1.1 Eligible Applicants
Open to individuals aged 18 and over at the close of this call, holding nationality from one of the following Latin American countries:
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
1.2 Eligible Works
The works must have been created in the participating countries within the last two years prior to the call’s closing date.
2. Important Dates
Open Call: July 11, 2025
Submission Period: July 11 – August 17, 2025 (until 23:00hrs. CDMX)
Announcement of Pre-selected Authors: August 23 2025
Submission of Files for Printing and Exhibition Preparation: August 24–31, 2025
Exhibition Opening: September 20, 2025
Exhibition Closing: September 27, 2025
3. Submission Requirements
3.1 Registration
Only one submission per participant.
Each entry may include a single image or a documentary series of 4 to 6 images.
All photographs must have been taken in Latin America within the last two years prior to the closing date, addressing themes of identity, culture, current social issues, human rights, climate change, migration, and local realities.
Only documentary images are accepted; no AI-generated images or digital alterations are permitted (except adjustments for color, brightness, and contrast).
3.2 Required Documentation
Applicants must complete the registration form (via the "Submit Application" button) and attach a single PDF file containing:
Brief bio (maximum one page).
Scanned copy of a valid official ID confirming nationality (passport, national ID, etc.).
Description of the work or series (maximum 1,000 characters).
Indication whether the work was personal or commissioned, and whether it received funding or institutional support.
Mounting plan and technical specifications (optional).
3.3 Image Files
Images must be submitted in JPG format via the registration form and named as follows:
For a single work: RuizMartinez_single.pdf
For a series: RuizMartinez_series1.pdf, RuizMartinez_series2.pdf, etc.
Maximum file size: 5 MB per image. Up to 6 files may be submitted for a series, and it’s recommended to name them in the intended narrative sequence.
3.4 Registration Fee
The submission fee is:
200 Mexican Pesos, or
10 USD, or
10 EUR
Payment methods:
In Mexico:
BBVA – Eloina Viveros Galván
Account: 286 221 7376
CLABE: 012 840 02862217376 5
SWIFT Code: BCMRMXMMPYM
Debit Card: 4152 3139 9187 8393In Europe:
Beneficiary: Eloina Viveros Galván
IBAN: LT03 3250 0268 2802 8476
BIC/SWIFT: REVOLT21
Bank: Revolut Bank UAB
Address: Konstitucijos ave. 21B, 08130, Vilnius, Lithuania
Proof of payment must be attached to the registration form. Applications without payment confirmation will not be considered.
4. About the Works
4.1 Image Requirements
Individual images or series of 4 to 10 photographs are accepted.
Participants must be the original authors and hold exclusive copyright of their submitted works.
4.2 Publication and Restrictions
Works may have been previously published or unpublished.
Photographs taken in restricted-access events (e.g. governmental, political, or corporate commissions) are not permitted.
4.3 Timeframe and Location
Images must have been captured within the participating Latin American countries within the past two years.
4.4 Theme
Submissions should address topics related to identity, culture, and current issues in Latin America, focusing on:
Climate change
Migration and displacement
Human rights
Social and environmental realities
Everyday life and territoriality
5. Documentary Photography & AI Usage
AI-generated images, digital manipulations, or content alterations are not permitted. Minor adjustments (color, brightness, contrast) are allowed.
Finalists must provide original camera files (RAW or JPG) for verification.
Failure to submit requested files by the specified deadline will result in disqualification.
6. Copyright and Usage Rights
Authors will retain copyright ownership of their work.
Selected authors grant non-exclusive, unlimited geographic rights to Verano Vienés Festival for use in festival-related materials (social media, website, printed materials, public archives, educational and promotional purposes) without financial compensation.
7. Costs and Responsibilities
The festival curatorial team will handle printing, mounting, and packaging.
Printing and mounting costs are the responsibility of each author. The festival will aim to keep costs to a minimum.
The curatorial team will design the exhibition layout and ensure no work exceeds 2 meters by 2 meters.
8. Jury and Evaluation
The jury will consist of established professionals in visual arts, documentary photography, curation, photojournalism, and cultural studies.
The jury will act independently, guided by the Festival’s Code of Ethics, based on:
Impartiality and objectivity
Transparency
Cultural and narrative diversity
Ethical content management
Confidentiality
8.3 Evaluation Criteria
Thematic Relevance
Visual Narrative
Originality and Perspective
Technical Quality
Documentary Ethics
Visual and Emotional Impact
9. Selection and Awards
9.1
30 works (individual or series) will be selected according to jury criteria.
Finalists must submit high-resolution files for exhibition; failure to comply will result in exclusion.
9.2 Awards
First Place
Second Place
Third Place
Two Honorable Mentions
9.3 Official Recognition
Selected authors will receive a certificate of participation and selection for the 2025 inaugural edition.
9.4 Official Exhibition
The selected works will be exhibited from September 10 to 22, 2025, in Vienna, Austria.
9.5 Official Catalogue
All selected works will be included in the festival’s official catalogue with bios, contact information (with prior authorization), and conceptual descriptions.
9.6 Non-monetary Recognition
Awards are symbolic and professional; no monetary prizes are guaranteed unless provided by sponsors at their discretion.
10. Artwork Handling Post-Exhibition
Selected works will be printed in Austria on high-quality paper per festival specifications.
After the exhibition, each author may choose to:
Collect their printed work or cover international shipping costs, or
Donate it to the Verano Vienés collection or request responsible destruction.
This choice must be confirmed in writing before the exhibition.
11. Legal Guarantees
Participants guarantee that submitted works do not infringe any laws or third-party rights and agree to indemnify the festival against any related claims.
12. Applicable Legislation
Matters regarding copyright, image rights, contracts, and tax obligations will be governed by Mexican law, based on the founder's legal and fiscal residence.
As a cultural event held in Austria, the festival will comply with Austrian public safety regulations, permits, and GDPR requirements.
Legal disputes will be settled in Mexico City courts for issues under Mexican law, and according to Austrian mechanisms for matters under Austrian law.
Unforeseen situations will be resolved by the Festival’s Organizing Committee, whose decisions are final.
Verano Vienés thanks the support and collaboration of the Österreichisches Lateinamerika-Institut.
