Announcing the Open Call 2026 Finalists: Global Photography Heading to Štiavnica

We are thrilled to announce the results of this year’s international Open Call for Paradajs Photo Fest. Following the deliberations of our expert jury–who certainly did not have an easy task–we present the ten finalists whose work will become the centerpiece of this summer's site-specific exhibition in Banská Štiavnica.

The theme "Welcome to Paradise!" resonated with artists worldwide, confirming the truly international reach of our Open Call. The competition received 201 submissions from 20 countries. The geographical diversity–ranging from Vietnam and South Africa to Mexico, Chile, and Uruguay–has brought a fascinating variety of cultural and visual perspectives to the ongoing dialogue about "paradise."

The Selection Process: Meet the Jury
The finalists were selected by an expert jury composed of:

• Vanda Mesiariková – Photographer and Lecturer (SK)
• Zuzana Pustaiová – Photographer and Editor-in-Chief of Fotonoviny (SK)
• Branislav Štěpánek – Curator and Critic (SK)
• Jano Viazo – Photographer and Director of Paradajs Photo Fest (SK)

The jury reviewed a total of 159 photography series and 42 individual works. Members were granted full autonomy in their selection, prioritizing artistic sincerity, visual impact, and the ability to communicate through imagery.

"We were pleasantly surprised not only by the number of entries but especially by their quality and the courage to push beyond traditional approaches. Selecting only ten projects was a significant challenge. We believe this selection will spark an important dialogue in Štiavnica this July." — Jano Viazo, Festival Director.

Open Call 2026 Finalists The final selection features artists from Slovakia, Poland, Italy, France, Latvia, and Japan.

• Konrád Bryczek (PL)
• Konrad Koźmiński (PL)
• Soňa Maletz (SK)
• Emanuele Occhipinti (IT)
• Sebastian Ożóg (PL)
• Alnis Stakle (LV)
• Erika Szőke (SK)
• Adrián Švec (SK)
• Hiro Tanaka (JP)
• Lorraine Turci (FR)

What Awaits the Finalists?

The finalists will be showcased during the main festival program in June 2026. Their work will be presented through site-specific installations directly in the historic center of Banská Štiavnica.

The Grand Prix 2026 winner will be announced during the festival's opening, 5. – 7. of June, receiving:

• An artist residency at the Hájovňa - Červená studňa cultural center.
• A solo exhibition in 2027.
• Feature publication in Paradajs Photo Mag and across our social media platforms.

We would like to thank all 201 applicants for their trust and for sharing their projects with us. The high standard of this year’s submissions confirms that Paradajs is becoming a vital independent platform for contemporary photography. See you in Banská Štiavnica this June!

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PARADAJS PHOTO is a non-profit project that lives through photography. If you would like to support us, you can do so with a one-time or recurring donation via the DARUJME.sk donation platform. Thank you!