APhF Book Program (BP)
Submit Your Dummy
The APhF Dummy Award feat. Chose Commune is a juried competition open to all unpublished photobooks worldwide. Through the competition, one individual will be selected as the winner and receive a publishing contract with the publishing house Chose Commune. In addition, 10 photobooks will be covered at the APhF print catalog and 20 books will be shortlisted and exhibited during the APhF in Athens in June/July 2026. All selected photobooks will appear online in the APhF Library. The shortlisted books are selected by a five-member jury, specialized in photobooks and photography internationally.
What Winners Receive
• The winner will receive a contract with Chose Commune for the production of a photobook, with a production budget of up to €15,000 (minimum print run: 400 copies).
• The winner will be included in the next edition of the Athens Photo Festival main exhibition program at the Benaki Museum / Pireos 138.
• 10 shortlisted photobooks will be featured in the APhF printed catalog.
• 20 shortlisted photobooks will be presented in the APhF Dummy Award feat. Chose Commune exhibition at the Benaki Museum / Pireos 138 in June–July 2026.
• Free festival admission: all submitting artists will receive complimentary entry tickets to APhF:26.
• High-profile recognition through the APhF website, social media channels, and coverage across partner media and press outlets.
• All books will be housed in the Athens Photo Research Center Library
Jury Members
The jury for this award comprises:
• Cécile Sayuri Poimboeuf-Koizumi (publisher, Chose Commune)
• Marta Weiss (Curator of Photography, Victoria and Albert Museum)
• Katy Hundertmark (curator and editor, Foam)
• Sylvia Sachini (curator, APhF Book Program)
How to Apply
• Apply using the online entry form and submit all required information and entry materials
• Complete payment
• Send one physical copy of your submitted dummy book alongside your submission form, ensuring it is postmarked no later than 28 April 2026. The book needs to be sent to the address: Hellenic Center of Photography, Stratigou Kontouli 3, 117 42 Athens – Greece
• Information required for each photobook submitted: photobook title / photographer name / year of publication / publisher, designer, editor information / description of the project / short biography / photobook dimensions, number of pages, edition number or print run
• The dummy in digital form (pdf format) / An image of the photobook cover (jpg file)
Entry Fee
The application fee is €25. Entry fees can be paid by credit/debit card or via PayPal.
Deadline and Time Frame
26 March 2026: Call for entries.
28 April 2026: Deadline to submit. All photobooks must be postmarked no later than 28 April; any photobooks received after the deadline will not be considered.
16 May 2026: Inform the 20 shortlisted artists via email.
10 June 2026: Opening of the exhibition of the shortlisted books at the Benaki Museum / Pireos 138.
14 June 2026: Announcement of the winner during the APhF night ceremony.
Requirements
• The photobook dummies must be primarily photography-driven, whether in the form of new or archival images. The inclusion of other artistic disciplines is welcome, providing the overall photobook is focused on photography.
• Projects should be in a finalized state upon submission.
• All photobooks dummies must be produced in physical form.
• The photobooks – if already printed – must be in an edition of fewer than 100 copies.
Terms and Conditions
By submitting your work to the APhF Book Program, you declare your consent with our Terms and Conditions.
Read the Terms & Conditions for the APhF Dummy Award feat. Chose Commune
1) The award is open to all photographers and artists who use photography, regardless of their age or nationality.
2) Digital copies should be sent in PDF format and be no larger than 10 MB.
3) Physical copies should be sent to Hellenic Center of Photography, 3 Stratigou Kontouli, 117 42 Athens (GR) and must be postmarked no later than 28 April 2026.
4) Please add a label to the outside of the package stating: “BOOK WITH NO COMMERCIAL VALUE”.
5) If the parcel containing the photobook is delayed by the Customs Office, the applicant will be responsible for covering any related clearance costs.
6) Entries may only be submitted by the artist or a third party with the written consent of the artist/publisher.
7) The submission fee of €25 applies to a single project and should be paid either in advance or on submitting the finalized photobook.
8) Applicants are welcome to submit more than one project. The submission fee is €15 for each additional project by the same applicant.
9) All submissions should include a completed submission form, including a duly signed declaration of consent, a complete description of the project (max. 2000 characters with spaces), a biography of the artist (max. 500 characters), and contact details and relevant social media/website links.
10) All entries must be physically received and no refunds will be given if the photobooks are not delivered on time.
11) Shortlisted applicants will be informed by no later than 16 May. The winning project will be announced during the festival during a special ceremony on 14 June.
12) Travel to and accommodation during the festival are excluded and shall be borne solely by the applicant.
13) Physical copies may be returned to the sender, if requested within 2 months after the festival ends. The artist covers the €5 handling fee and shipping costs.
14) No physical copies shall be returned to individual applicants after 2 months from the final day of the festival.
15) The APhF commits to handling the received and exhibited books with the utmost care. However, the festival cannot be held responsible for any damage that may occur to the books on display during their viewing by the public.
16) The decision of the APhF Jury is final and may not be contested.
Contact and FAQs
For queries, you can contact us via email at books@photofestival.gr.
For Frequently Asked Questions about the Book Program, click here.