The festival season is upon us. We present your ultimate guide to photography festivals not to miss in upcoming months. Why not to plan your cultural holidays with this subjective guide prepared by Contemporary Lynx editorial team.
Riga Photomonth
When: 13-18 May
Riga Photomonth is an international photography festival that takes place in the capital of Latvia since 2014. Riga Photomonth explores and shows photography from Northern and Eastern Europe. The festival’s public programme includes exhibitions, artist talks, workshops, lectures and film screenings. In addition Riga Photomonth hosts portfolio reviews and workshops for professionals.
Photo London
When: 16-19 May
Photo London is the UK leading photography event of the year. Along with the selection of the world’s leading galleries showing at the Fair, Photo London presents the Discovery section for the most exciting emerging galleries and artists; there is an original Public Programme bringing together special exhibitions, installations, a Talks Programme curated by William A. Ewing, renowned curator and writer, former Director of the Musée de l’Elysée, and former Director of Exhibitions at the International Center of Photography, New York. Each edition of the Fair also sees a number of Awards announced, headlined by the Photo London Master of Photography Award. Beyond the Fair, Photo London regularly hosts Pre-Fair Talks and related events engaging with the craft, market and knowledge of photography.
Krakow Photomonth Festival
24 May – 23 June
The theme of this year’s Krakow Photomonth Festival, the seventeenth in its history, is Like We Like It.
This year the organisers decided to emphasise a diversity of photographic endeavours. Developed as a collective effort, the programme will revolve around the experience of photography: pictures we like, pictures we’re impressed and struck by, pictures that stick with us. That does not mean, however, that we they avoiding difficult subjects or shying away from interrogating the role of photography and how it tackles contemporary social issues. Like We Like It is an open-ended collection of stories, images, and questions which, in this place and at this time, feel of pressing relevance to us.
Copenhagen Photofestival
When: 6-16 June
The festival build bridges between fine art photography and documentary photography through our three programme pillars Framing Identity, Framing Society and Framing Vision. Each year 250-300 photographers from all over the world participates in the festival’s programme through the festival center at Refshaleøen, the home of 5-10 curated solo exhibitions and The Censored Exhibition, or in collaboration with one of our 45 staellites.
Fotofestiwal in Łódź
When: 13 – 30 June
The upcoming 18th edition (13-30 June) of the festival encourages you to delve into the supernatural aspects of existence and reality, as well as into the speculative and hypothetical phenomena that defy explanation based on the purely empirical evidence. What does the supernatural stand for? How can we make sense of reality while departing from the scientifically validated knowledge and senses?
The festival programme comprises eight solo shows and one group show that oscillate around the three main themes.
The Rencontres d’Arles
When: 1-7 July (opening week), exhibitions until 22 September
Every summer since 1970, over the course of more than forty exhibitions at various of the city’s exceptional heritage sites, the Rencontres d’Arles has been a major influence in dissiminating the best of world photography and playing the role of a springboard for photographic and contemporary creative talents.
International Festival of Photojournalism in Perpignan
When: 31 August – 15 September 2019
Each year, a selection of the best stories from around the world is shown in Perpignan. The festival is well attended by international photo editors and agents. This is the main and most important festival of photojournalism in France. This festival not only offers exhibitions spread across the city, but also conferences, international meetings and discounts prestigious global photographers rewarding the best stories. The most famous photographers around the world will visit the festival.
Tbilisi Photo Festival
When: 13-20 September 2019
The Tbilisi Photo Festival returns for its ninth annual celebration of world-class photography with a lively program of outstanding exhibitions, engaging events and the Night of Photography – open air nights screenings to be held in Old Tbilisi. In nine years, TPF has firmly established itself as the global hub for international photography at the crossroads of the Great Silk Road.
Unseen in Amsterdam
When: 20-22 September 2019
Unseen is the leading platform for contemporary photography. Exclusively focusing on what’s new in the photography world, the platform provides a channel for up-and-coming talent to showcase their work. Unseen brings together the international photography community to discuss and debate the directions in which the photographic medium is evolving.
Paris Photo
When: 7-10 November
Paris Photo brings together up to 200 exhibitors from across the world, offering collectors and enthusiasts the most diverse and qualitative presentation of photography-driven projects today. Leading galleries showcase historical and contemporary artworks from modern masters to young talents. Specialized publishers and art book dealers present unique and rare editions, as well as book launches and signature sessions with many of today’s most renowned artists.
