Is it we who look at animals, or do they look at us? How does our gaze shift over time?
This year’s Fotofestiwal program explores the dual relationship between humans and non-human animals—and beyond. Art remains an essential tool for understanding the world, while collaboration and community offer a response to the tensions that affect us all.
The exhibitions of this anniversary edition attempt to confront the most pressing challenges of our time: from the crisis of democracy and climate catastrophes to the impact of AI on imagery and the complex, schizophrenic relationship between humanity and the natural world. The lineup also includes a music program curated in collaboration with the Ravekjavik Festival, a photo book exhibition, Night of Photography, the City Program, and dozens of satellite events.
Fotofestiwal was established in 2001 as one of the first photography events in Poland. It was a spontaneous initiative of students and lecturers of the Sociology Department. Since then, photography and ways of organizing cultural events have transformed. The same has been true for Fotofestiwal itself – we have a different perspective towards the program, we work differently, our viewer’s needs have changed. Still, Fotofestiwal remains a space for presenting various forms and types of photography, a forum for discussion about art and society, a motivation to search for alternative methods of discussing and exhibiting photography. But first of all, invariably, it is a place where people meet.
Contemporary Lynx is a proud media partner of the Fotofestiwal 2026.
