VAiF Photobook Open Call

Selected books will become part of the VAiF Library, with the aim of being showcased in future initiatives, without any commercial exploitation.

Overview

A non-speculative event held in Thessaloniki, Greece, promoting photography, graphic design, and video, and bringing together artists from around the world, the Visual Arts International Festival (VAiF) aims to highlight the creativity and diversity of the photo book as a medium of artistic expression.
The second edition of the festival offers a wide range of events, including exhibitions of photography, graphic design, and photo books, as well as workshops and talks by renowned artists and professionals in the field. The festival features a rich program of exhibitions, documentary screenings, presentations, and educational activities designed to engage the public.

Pratical Info

You can submit self-published photobooks, publications created in collaboration with a publishing house, as well as zines or dummy photobooks, provided they are completed proposals, even if not officially published. There are no thematic restrictions, but submissions that demonstrate a clear vision, a coherent narrative, and a contemporary photographic language are strongly encouraged.

Submission must be completed via the entry form and must inlcude a PDF file of the book, either the full version or the layout, a short video (up to 2 minutes) showing the book being browsed—shared via a YouTube, Vimeo, WeTransfer, or SwissTransfer link—and one or more photos of the physical object, including the cover and spreads.

Applicants must also send accompanying material such as the book title, a project description of up to 150 words, technical specifications (dimensions, number of pages, printing method), and the creator's details including name, email, and country of residence. It is not necessary to send a physical copy of the book at this stage.

A jury will select photobooks to be featured in the group exhibition that will be presented as part of VAiF25, taking place in November 2025 in Thessaloniki, Greece. Selected creators will be notified via email and will be invited to send a physical copy of the work for the exhibition. The books will be included in the VAiF library, with the aim of presenting them in future actions, without commercial exploitation.

About VAiF

VAiF is a festival dedicated to the promotion and promotion of visual arts, focusing on photography, graphic design and video. It takes place in Thessaloniki every November, bringing together artists and art lovers from all over the world. The festival's activities include exhibitions, talks, artist presentations, guided tours, and educational programs. See the program for this year's event.