APhF Book Program (BP)
Unfolded Chapters
For the 2026 edition of APhF’s Book Program, the curatorial framework draws inspiration from Joan Fontcuberta’s influential reflections on photographic representation in The Photography of Nature & The Nature of Photography.
Fontcuberta’s work challenges the authority of the photographic image and questions the role photography plays in constructing knowledge about the world. In an era shaped by algorithmic images, synthetic realities, and evolving documentary practices, photography no longer functions simply as evidence—it becomes a site of speculation, fiction, critique, and reinterpretation.
This year’s edition of Unfolded Chapters seeks projects that engage with these tensions. We are interested in works that interrogate how photography mediates our understanding of nature, science, memory, archives, and reality itself. Artists are encouraged to consider photography not merely as a tool for representation but as a system that produces narratives, myths, and visual knowledge.
We welcome submissions that experiment with the structure and language of the photobook: fragmented narratives, speculative archives, hybrid documentary forms, visual essays, or conceptual investigations into the nature of photographic images. There is no restriction of the form of the publications, e.g. photobooks, zines, short and/or limited editions, newspaper, handmade, self published etc.
Selected works will be presented as part of the Unfolded Chapters exhibition during APhF:26, where photobooks will be exhibited as expanded spatial experiences—inviting viewers to engage with them as both objects and narratives unfolding in space. Unfolded Chapters, representing our annual celebration of photobooks, takes the form of a curated group exhibition anchored in a thematic exploration. This initiative stems from our desire to delve into our and your libraries, unearthing older gems. With the primary goal being to breathe fresh life into previous publications, Unfolded Chapters becomes a narrative journey that invites viewers to rediscover and recontextualize the works encapsulated in each selected publication, thus bridging the past and present in the realm of photobook storytelling.
Photobooks will be selected from an OPEN CALL and the APhRC Library, which contains more than 5,500 titles.
Deadline for submissions: 28 April 2026.
What Selected Photobooks Receive
• Up to 50 selected photobooks will be part of the Unfolded Chapter exhibition during APhF:26, June/July 2026
• Profiled in APhF print catalog
• Featured on the APhF website, social media channels and partner press publications
• Selected books will be available for the public to purchase during APhF (upon agreement with the publisher and/or artist)
• Free festival admission: All selected artists will receive complimentary entry tickets to APhF:26
How to Apply
• Apply using the online entry form and submit all required information and entry materials
• Complete payment
• Send 1 copy of your submitted book alongside your submission form, ensuring it is postmarked no later than 30 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 / short description (max. 2000 characters) / short biography (max. 1000 characters), photobook dimensions, number of pages, edition number or print run
• Photobook dimensions, number of pages, edition number or print run
• An image of the photobook cover (jpg file)
Entry Fee
The application fee is €20 for each submitted book.
Entry fee can be paid using various methods, including credit or debit card, PayPal, bank transfer, or international money order. For payment instructions, click here.
Deadline and Time Frame
28 April 2026: Deadline to submit. Photobooks MUST be must be postmarked no later than 30 April 2026; any photobooks received after the deadline will not be considered.
16 May 2026: Announcement of selected photobooks via email.
10 June 2026: APhF opening and The Photography of Nature & The Nature of Photography exhibition opening.
Requirements
• The photobook 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.
• All photobooks must respond to this year’s theme of The Photography of Nature & The Nature of Photography.
• The photobook has no print run or edition restriction
• The photobook has no release date restrictions
• Entries may only be submitted by the artist, the publisher or a third party with the written consent of the artist or publisher.
• The selected photobooks cannot be returned after the festival
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 Unfolded Chapters
1) The call is open to all publishers, photographers, and artists who use photography from all over the world.
2) Physical copies should be sent to Hellenic Center of Photography, 3 Stratigou Kontouli, 117 42 Athens (GR) and must be postmarked no later than 30 April 2026.
3) Please add a label to the outside of the package stating: “BOOK WITH NO COMMERCIAL VALUE”.
4) If the parcel containing the photobook is delayed by the Customs Office, the applicant will be responsible for covering any related clearance costs.
5) The submission fee of €20 applies to a single book. Applicants are welcome to submit more than one project. Each submission requires a separate entry form and payment of a separate fee.
6) 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.
7) All entries must be physically received and no refunds will be given if the photobooks are not delivered on time.
8) All artists will be notified of their submission status by 16 May 2026.
9) Travel to and accommodation during the festival are excluded and shall be borne solely by the applicant.
10) All books submitted to APhF 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.
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.