Organizer Information
PHOTO IS:RAEL is a non-profit public benefit company founded in 2012, working toward what it describes as "a better society through the language of photography." The organization promotes social outreach and dialogue between art and various communities across Israel, and since its formation has offered platforms for exhibition and research while spotlighting artistic and social topics through photography. It positions photography as a universal language capable of bridging gaps between central and marginal communities.
Through this mission, PHOTO IS:RAEL organizes the International Photography Festival, now in its 13th edition. The festival has become an established fixture on Israel's cultural calendar, drawing thousands of visitors annually as more than 200 Israeli and international photographers exhibit work over a two-week run in Tel Aviv.
Title & Description
Open Call for the 13th International Photography Festival — Theme: CITIZENS
PHOTO IS:RAEL invites artists to submit proposals for the Main Exhibition of the 13th International Photography Festival, taking place in Tel Aviv in October 2026. Selected works will be shown in the festival's Main Exhibition and featured in the 2026 festival catalog and website. The festival's theme this year, Citizens, treats photography as a form of active civic practice — framing citizenship not just as a legal status but as a choice to be present and to be heard. The call invites artists to bring forward grassroots perspectives that turn personal experience into shared public knowledge, using the camera as a tool for visibility, particularly for marginalized groups. The festival is scheduled to coincide with upcoming elections, aiming to foster civic engagement and contribute to the resilience of Israel's democratic values.
Theme
Citizens — photography as active civic practice, exploring visibility, participation, and democratic engagement.
Categories
- Photography
- Video/Film
- Performance
- Animation
- Digital
- New Media
- Multimedia
- Hybrid
Eligibility
- Open to artists worldwide, at all stages of their careers
- Artists may submit existing works or new project proposals created for the festival
- Each artist may submit only one entry; additional applications will be disqualified
- Applications must be submitted in English or Hebrew
- Submitted work must be original and created by the applicant
- Submitted work must be free of any binding third-party agreement that could make PHOTO IS:RAEL liable for payment related to the images' copyright or use
Program Benefits & Awards
- Exhibition of selected works in the Festival's Main Exhibition, Tel Aviv, October 2026
- Feature in the 2026 festival catalog and website
- For existing works selected, PHOTO IS:RAEL covers the full costs of exhibition display
- For works requiring international shipping or production, arrangements are decided on a case-by-case in discussion with the selected artist
Application Fee
$22 (US dollars) processing/submission fee, non-refundable.
Application Requirements
- Completed online registration (title, first/last name, country, phone, email, password, optional Instagram link, optional coupon code)
- 6 to 12 images in JPG/JPEG format, no larger than 2MB each, with the long side at 1,920 pixels
- For video works or performance documentation: a direct viewing link in the project description, plus 6 supporting images from the work
- Work title (up to 60 characters)
- A short description of the body of work (up to 800 characters), in Hebrew or English only
- A short CV, in Hebrew or English only
- For proposed (not-yet-existing) works: a detailed description of the idea, supported by sketches or sample images, including estimated production time and cost
- Agreement to the festival's terms of use
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 28 July 2026
- Selected artists notified: August 2026
Location
Tel Aviv, Israel
Additional Details
- Only one submission is permitted per artist; the application is deemed submitted by the owner of the email account used to apply
- If submitted images include minors or subjects unable to explicitly consent to being photographed, the applicant may be required to provide written consent from the subject's parent or custodian
- Artists retain ownership of all intellectual property in their work, but by participating they grant PHOTO IS:RAEL and its marketing partners an irrevocable, non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to edit, copy, and use the images for festival promotion and marketing purposes only; no other commercial use is made of the work
- Personal details provided during application (name, mailing address, email) are stored and processed by festival management and may be used for identity verification and other festival-related purposes; the processing fee itself is not treated as personal data
- All selection decisions are final and irrevocable
- PHOTO IS:RAEL reserves the right to change listed dates or the festival venue at its discretion, and to invite artists or projects to the festival independently of the Open Call
- These rules are governed by Israeli state law
- Applicants are responsible for determining application deadlines in their own time zone if located outside Israel