This project provides an opportunity to learn new techniques from renowned photographers, including an award winner from the World Press Photo Foundation. A professional jury will evaluate all submissions, and the best works from each country will have the chance to win a fully funded study visit to the Netherlands in the coming year.

CONDITIONS FOR ENTRY

The open call is open to young photographers, both professional and amateur, from the Western Balkan countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Applicants must be born after 1 January 1995.

Each participant is invited to submit 5 photographs. Entries must be original works created by the applicant, either on photographic emulsion or digitally. Submissions should be accompanied by a short curriculum vitae/biography (including date of birth) or a motivational letter.

A jury of photography experts will select five participants per country to take part in an online masterclass with Dutch photographer Ilvy Njiokiktjien. Following the masterclass, participants will be asked to develop a photographic project that connects everyday realities in the region with those in the EU, highlighting both readiness and aspiration to join the European community. The call encourages visual stories that go beyond stereotypes, whether by addressing disinformation, responding to apathy, or challenging excessively critical narratives while offering fresh, authentic perspectives from the younger generation.

At the end of the process, an exhibition will be organised in each of the 6 participant countries, featuring selected photographs from the applicants.

Finally, the jury, in collaboration with Ilvy Njiokiktjien, will select one winner from each country. These winners will be awarded a fully funded trip to Amsterdam to attend the World Press Photo “Winners’ Week” in May 2026.

OPEN CALL AND PROJECT CALENDAR

Submission deadline: 21 September 2025, 23:30 (Amsterdam time)

Notification of selected participants: 25 September 2025

Online masterclass: (TBD)

Deadline for submitting final body of work: (TBD)

Exhibitions: Opening dates will take place between late October and mid-November 2025 in each participating country. All selected participants will be informed in due time.

Final results: Notifications will be sent to all participants.

SUBMISSION OF WORKS

The candidates should fill in a Google form.

Entries are limited to 5 photographs.

The maximum dimension for individual photos is 1920 pixels (longer side), 72 dpi, in JPEG format with the best compression quality.

AI photographs are not accepted.

Photographs should be accompanied by an artist’s statement and a short curriculum vitae/biography (including birth date), or motivational letter.

JURY

Albania: Blerta Kambo / Imagine

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Ziyah Gafic & Ajla Eljsani Arnautlija, The VII Foundation

Kosovo: Xhemajl Rexha & Getoarbe Mulliqi, Association of Journalists of Kosovo

Montenegro: Dejan Kalezić, PhotoCG

North Macedonia: Robert Jankulovski, Macedonian Center for Photography

Serbia: David Pujado, Belgrade Photo Month

AWARDS

The jury will select five participants per country to take part in an online masterclass with Dutch photographer Ilvy Njiokiktjien. After the masterclass, an exhibition will be organised in each of the six participating countries, featuring selected photographs from the applicants.

In collaboration with Ilvy Njiokiktjien, the jury will also select one winner from each country. These winners will be awarded a trip to Amsterdam to attend the World Press Photo “Winners’ Week” in May 2026.

COPYRIGHT AND THE USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS

Copyright and all other authors’ rights belong to the photographer. In case of violation of these rights, the organisers will take necessary legal measures.

Photographers will be credited on all official festival publications and during the exhibition of their work. All contestants acknowledge that the organisers and general sponsors may use submitted photographs for marketing and promotional purposes, including announcements in the media (press, TV, digital), and exhibitions related to this project.

The organizers will be administering the collection according to the established professional rules and principles with the intention of promoting the project and individual photographers.