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International Photography Contest

Submit Your Work to the FotoDoc Photo Contest 2025!

The FotoDoc Photo Contest 2025 is now open for submissions! This international platform highlights outstanding photographic work from Brazil and around the world, awarding excellence in documentary photography every year.

About the Contest

Organized by the FotoDoc Documentary Photography Festival, the contest celebrates diverse forms of photographic expression—without restrictions on theme or approach—always prioritizing creativity, impact, and technical excellence.

How It Works

Free Entry – Submit your work at no cost in one of three categories: Single Image, Photo Essay, or Portfolio.

Curated Selection – Our festival curators review all submissions. Approved works are published on the festival’s website and Instagram after a US$ 29 publication fee is paid.

Supporting the Community – This fee helps compensate professionals involved, cover contest expenses, and fund promotional efforts. The FotoDoc Photo Contest is an independent initiative, without public funding.

Rolling Submissions – Submit Early!

Submissions remain open until June 30, 2025, and selected works are published continuously on the Selected Works – FotoDoc Photo Contest 2025 page.

Why submit early? The sooner your work is approved, the longer it will be showcased!

After the submission period ends, our curators will select 60 finalists:
30 Single Images | 21 Photo Essays | 9 Portfolios

A distinguished 5-member Jury will then meet in person to evaluate the finalists and select 25 winners, including:
15 Single Images | 7 Photo Essays | 3 Portfolios

One of the three winning Portfolios will be crowned the Grand Prize Winner, receiving the prestigious FOTODOC PHOTO CONTEST 2025 TROPHY.

Winners Exhibit at FotoDoc Festival 2025!

The winning works will be showcased in a major exhibition at the FotoDoc Festival 2025, taking place in November at the Panamericana School of Art and Design in São Paulo (SP), with exhibitions running until January 2026.

The Grand Prize Winner will receive:
Airfare & accommodation to attend the festival as a guest
A featured presentation at the Festival’s Encounters program
The FOTODOC PHOTO CONTEST 2025 TROPHY

📖 All finalists will also be published in the official FotoDoc Festival 2025 catalog!

🔥 Don’t miss your chance to be part of one of the most exciting documentary photography contests of the year!

SUBMIT YOUR WORK NOW!

FOTODOC PHOTO CONTEST 2025 RULES

Read the rules carefully! Submission links are at the bottom of the page.

With submissions open from December 2, 2024, to June 30, 2025, the FOTODOC PHOTO CONTEST is a platform dedicated to publishing the work of Brazilian and international photographers, with annual awards.

To submit your work, read the Rules carefully and choose the desired category at the bottom of the page.

1 – ABOUT THE CONTEST

1.1 Participants must submit their work in accordance with these rules. The competition accepts submissions in three categories:

• Single Image – A powerful standalone image that captures an event, story, or idea with strong visual impact.

• Photo Essay – A cohesive visual narrative addressing a specific theme or event with a clear conceptual approach.

• Portfolio – A long-term photographic project exploring deeper themes. Ideally, a portfolio should consist of images from the same series or project. If multiple series are included, they must demonstrate a coherent visual and conceptual dialogue.

1.2 Single Image submissions may include 1 to 3 images, which will be evaluated separately. Only one image per submission can be selected. Selected images will be published with a title and description provided by the photographer. If no title is provided, the curators will assign one.

1.3 Photo Essay submissions must include a cohesive set of 6 to 8 images, evaluated in sequence as a single body of work. Selected essays will be published in full with the provided title and description.

1.4 Portfolio submissions must include a set of 10 to 15 images, evaluated in sequence as a single body of work. Selected portfolios will be published in full with the provided title and description.

1.5 Photographers may submit multiple entries with no selection limit. However, they may only be awarded in one category.

1.6 The contest accepts images captured with both digital and analog photographic devices. AI-generated images are strictly prohibited. If AI-assisted editing or manipulation was used, this must be disclosed in the submission form.

2 – SUBMISSION PROCESS

2.1 Submissions open on December 2, 2024, and close on June 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM (UTC -3).

2.2 To submit, participants must complete the submission form and upload photo files in JPEG format (1920 pixels on the longest side). Incomplete or incorrect submissions will be disqualified.

2.3 The contest’s curators will evaluate all eligible submissions. Selected works will be published on the festival’s website and Instagram after payment of a US$ 29 publication fee per selected submission.

2.4 Participants will be notified via email about the status of their submission. If selected, they must complete the publication fee payment within 7 calendar days of receiving the email. Failure to pay within this timeframe will result in disqualification.

2.5 The contest is a private, independent initiative of the FotoDoc Festival and receives no public funding. All revenue from publication fees supports curatorial work, administrative costs, and promotional efforts.

2.6 Submissions are exclusively online. By submitting, participants agree to all terms outlined in these rules.

2.7 Participants are fully responsible for the visual and technical quality of their submitted files, as well as the accuracy of the provided information. These factors will influence the evaluation of their work.

2.8 Once submitted, images cannot be altered. However, the contest team may request additional information if necessary.

3 – SELECTION PROCESS

3.1 Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis by the festival’s curators. Selected works will be published as they are approved and after the publication fee is paid.

3.2 After the submission period closes, the curators will re-evaluate all published works and select 60 finalists:

• 9 Portfolios

• 21 Photo Essays

• 30 Single Images

3.3 A Jury Panel of five industry experts, including photographers, researchers, journalists, gallery owners, editors, and curators, will evaluate the finalists and select 25 winning works:

• 3 Portfolios

• 7 Photo Essays

• 15 Single Images

3.4 Among the three selected Portfolios, the Jury will choose the Grand Prize Winner, who will receive the FOTODOC PHOTO CONTEST 2025 TROPHY.

3.5 The Jury Panel members will be revealed at the time of the final results announcement.

4 – AWARDS AND PUBLICATION

4.1 Selected works will be published on the festival’s website and featured on its Instagram page. A Photographer Profile Page will also be created, including a short biography, portrait (if provided), social media links (if provided), and all selected works.

4.2 All finalists will be included in the FotoDoc Festival 2025 Catalog, which highlights the festival’s activities and featured photographers.

4.3 The 25 winning works will be exhibited in a prominent group exhibition at the FotoDoc Festival 2025, held at Panamericana School of Art and Design in São Paulo (SP) in November 2025, with the exhibition running until January 2026.

4.4 The Grand Prize Winner will receive airfare and accommodation to attend the FotoDoc Festival as a guest speaker at the Festival Encounters series and will be presented with the FOTODOC PHOTO CONTEST 2025 TROPHY.

4.5 The final results will be officially announced and widely publicized on the festival’s website and in the FotoDoc Festival 2025 Catalog.

5 – COPYRIGHT AND IMAGE RIGHTS

5.1 By participating in this call, submitters authorize the organizers of the FOTODOC PHOTO CONTEST to use the submitted images, free of charge and with proper attribution, in the following ways:

• On the festival website for an indefinite period;

• In exhibitions and projections at the festival’s own or partner events, at any time;

• In print and digital media exclusively for the promotion of the contest, at any time;

• In catalogs and other promotional materials related to the FOTODOC PHOTO CONTEST, for any duration.

Note: The use of winning photographs by the FOTODOC PHOTO CONTEST does not imply any transfer of copyright or moral rights. Authors retain full ownership and may use their works freely in any other context without prior authorization from the festival.

5.2 By submitting to the FOTODOC PHOTO CONTEST, participants declare full authorship of the submitted works, ensuring the absence of plagiarism and confirming they have obtained all necessary permissions from third parties who may hold rights over the images. Participants assume full responsibility for any claims regarding unauthorized use.

5.3 The responsibility for obtaining image rights or permissions from third parties appearing in the photographs rests solely with the author.

5.4 The contest organizers commit to properly crediting photographers in all publications featuring their work.

6 – FINAL PROVISIONS

6.1 Questions can be sent at any time to: festival@fotodoc.com.br

6.2 Submission implies full acceptance of these Rules. By participating, all submitters agree to have their works and names featured in promotions directly related to the contest.

6.3 The Jury’s decisions are final and cannot be appealed.

6.4 The FOTODOC PHOTO CONTEST is an international photography competition of an exclusively cultural nature, organized by Vertente Edição, Impressão e Produção LTDA, the legal entity responsible for the FotoDoc Festival brand, based in São Paulo (SP), registered under CNPJ: 34.862.316/0001-04.

6.5 Any legal disputes related to these Rules or the contest’s proceedings will be settled under the jurisdiction of São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Join the FotoDoc Photo Contest 2025 and take part in an international celebration of photography!

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