ENTRY RULES

DATE: FROM January 13, 2025, to March 2, 2025, at 23:59
HOW MANY PHOTOGRAPHS CAN BE SENT IN, IN WHAT FORMAT AND HOW?

  • Photographs taken in the last two years are eligible for submission.
  • Each submission must be accompanied by a short biography (up to one page) and a statement about the work (up to one page) in both the author’s native language and English.
  • Photos cannot be submitted more than once – each photo can only be submitted either individually or as part of a series, and only in one category.
  • The participation fee is €20 / $21.02 USD, which includes 3 submissions.
  • One submission can be:
    • A single photo, or
    • A series of up to 20 photos (the curators reserve the right not to display the entire series at the group exhibition if space or technical limitations apply).

  1. ARCHITECTURE
    Photos of interiors, exteriors, cityscapes, and urban landscapes.
    Note: Abstract forms and interpretations of architecture are allowed.
  2. FASHION
    Fashion photography is often the result of collaboration between multiple creatives (art directors, stylists, makeup artists, models). This category includes beauty photography, portraits of models and garments, street fashion photography, etc. Although fashion photography is often created for magazines, brands, and campaigns, this is not a requirement for entry.
  3. LANDSCAPE
    Photos of natural and urban landscapes. This category often reflects the author’s exploration of relationships, causes, and effects in the environment.
  4. PORTRAIT
    Portraits presented through various styles, themes, and approaches – from commissioned portraits for media or advertising campaigns to spontaneous and intimate portraits of family and friends, as well as artistic projects based on portraiture.
  5. NUDE/BODY
    Photographs exploring the human body, from studies of form to explorations of gender identity, the relationship between photographer and model, and perceptions of beauty, vulnerability, and mortality.
  6. DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY
    This category includes photojournalism, travel, social, and war photography. It is open to professional photojournalists as well as anyone documenting important social issues through street photography or photo essays.

The maximum number of submissions per author is 9, regardless of the category in which the works are submitted. A submission can be either a single photo or a photo series. Each individual submission can contain up to 20 photos, but the curators reserve the right not to display the entire series at the group exhibition if there are space or technical limitations.

Works signed by multiple authors are treated as a single group submission, but each author in the group can additionally submit up to 9 works independently. By submitting their works, participants agree to grant the organizer the rights to display and print the works for promotional purposes related to the festival, without compensation.

Submissions are made by:

  • Filling out the online submission form and uploading photos.

When submitting, participants must clearly indicate the selected category along with their personal information. All works must be submitted by the deadline specified on the form and on the festival’s website. Submissions are only accepted through the website and must meet the following technical requirements:

  • JPG format
  • 1200 px on the longest side
  • Maximum file size: 6 MB

SPECIAL NOTE FOR FINALISTS

Authors whose works are nominated for the final exhibition, upon the organizer’s request, must provide high-resolution versions of their selected photos by the specified deadline. Otherwise, based on the jury chair’s instructions, the organizer is not obligated to print the author’s work.

COMPLIANCE WITH COMPETITION RULES

All participants are required to adhere to the ethical and professional principles outlined in the competition rules. The terms and conditions clearly state that participants must provide truthful information and comply with the specified rules. In case of a violation of the terms, the organizer reserves the right to take appropriate measures, ranging from issuing a warning to disqualifying the participant or initiating legal proceedings.

Each participant is responsible for their conduct during the competition. Participants must respect legal regulations, the rights of other participants, and the rights of third parties. By entering the competition, each participant agrees to behave appropriately, which includes (but is not limited to) compliance with the competition rules.

INVESTIGATION

If the organizer suspects a potential breach of the rules, they may initiate an investigation, which may involve gathering information from the festival’s advisory board members, third parties, or the complainant. During the investigation, the organizer may temporarily suspend the participant, revoke their submission, or completely disqualify them from the competition. If the organizer, at their sole discretion, concludes that a breach has occurred, they may take appropriate action.

COPYRIGHT AND USE OF PHOTOS

Copyright and all other intellectual property rights remain with the photographers. In case of a violation of these competition rules, the organizer reserves the right to take any necessary legal action.

In all official publications and exhibitions of submitted works, as well as in presentations of the best works, the name of the author will always be credited. All participants agree that the organizer and the main sponsor may use the submitted works exclusively for promotional and marketing purposes related to the festival. This includes publication in various media (print, TV, digital), exhibitions, and other activities directly connected with the Rovinj Photodays event.

All nominated and winning works become part of the festival’s permanent collection. The festival manages the collection in accordance with professional standards, promoting both the festival’s concept and the authors’ names.

  1. Presentation of all finalists’ works, along with author statements, on the official festival website
  2. Presentation of selected finalists’ works at a group exhibition during the festival in Rovinj
  3. All nominated works from the final exhibition will remain permanently in the museum’s digital collection
  4. Written diplomas/certificates for all winners and finalists of the final exhibition
  5. Official digital catalog of the final exhibition for all finalists
  6. Complimentary half-board accommodation for all category winners, for two persons, at Island Hotel Katarina  during the festival finale in May 2025

GRAND PRIX 2025
The Grand Prix winner will receive:

  1. A cash prize of €2,000
  2. A solo exhibition with an accompanying catalog at the festival finale in May 2026 in Rovinj
  3. Complimentary half-board accommodation at Island Hotel Katarina during the stay in Rovinj in both 2025 and 2026
  4. Special placement in the museum’s permanent collection – the winning work will be preserved under the curators’ care, either in digital or printed form (as chosen by the author)
  5. Recognition/plaque: Grand Prix Photodays 2025

Sponsor-provided prizes, such as accommodation, are subject to changes depending on availability.
The festival jury is not obliged to name category finalists if the submitted works do not meet the required standards. The organizer reserves the right not to produce works in certain categories, including works nominated for the Grand Prix of the festival.

By submitting their works, all festival participants confirm that they accept the specified terms and conditions. The organizer has the right to use the submitted photographs exclusively for the promotion of the authors, the photography festival, or the sponsor’s promotion, strictly in the context of award sponsorship. The destination and means of promotion are not limited – photographs may be featured in exhibitions, media publications, official festival materials, the website, and similar channels.

Sponsors, as festival partners in promoting photography, may use the nominated photographs solely for the promotion of Photodays and the photographers.

Only the organizer is authorized to make any amendments to these rules. In the event of changes, the organizer is obligated to inform the public in a timely manner. If the organizer intends to use the photographs for purposes not related to the promotion of the competition, the author will be notified and given the option to decline the use of their work. If the author agrees to the use, they will negotiate the terms regarding financial compensation and business cooperation with the organizer.

The festival jury is not obliged to name category finalists if the submitted works do not meet the required standards. The organizer reserves the right not to produce works in certain categories, including works nominated for the Grand Prix of the festival.