The Présence(s) Photography Festival has launched its annual call for submissions, inviting photographers worldwide to participate in its 2026 edition scheduled to take place from Saturday, May 23 to Sunday, June 7 in France's middle Rhône Valley. The festival, which aims to showcase high-quality contemporary photography to diverse audiences, will be held across both banks of the Rhône River, encompassing the areas of Montélimar, Le Teil, and Viviers.
The competition is open to photographers of all backgrounds, ages, and nationalities, with the only requirement being that submitted works must be original creations by the applicants themselves. Participants may submit up to two projects, though only one can be selected for the final competition. The festival's traditional opening night celebration will occur on the Friday preceding the official launch date, though organizers note that the dates may shift by a few days.
During the festival, multiple large-screen projection sessions will provide selected photographers opportunities to present their work to audiences comprising both photography enthusiasts and industry professionals. These sessions will serve as platforms for meaningful exchanges and sharing experiences with prominent figures in the photography world. At each screening, audience members will vote for two slideshows, with the photographer receiving the most votes becoming the laureate whose series will be exhibited during the 2027 festival, with production costs covered by Présence(s) Photography.
Submission requirements are specific and must be followed precisely for consideration. Applicants must create a video slideshow lasting between 2 and 4 minutes, featuring a minimum of 10 photographs with no imposed theme restrictions. The slideshow file must be in MP4 format (H264) with HD 1080 high definition quality, and files should be named using the format "lastname_firstname." Each slideshow must begin with the project title and conclude with the photographer's name and musical references, as music rights will be paid by Présence(s) Photography to SACEM.
Before submitting their files, candidates must complete an online registration form through a provided link. The organization strongly recommends using Smash (https://fromsmash.com/) for file transfers without compression, as WeTransfer's storage duration is insufficient for their organizational needs. Cloud storage services like Google Drive or Dropbox are not accepted, and all submissions should be sent to pp.candidatures@gmail.com.
The selection process will be conducted by an artistic committee composed of professional photographers, artists, and festival organizers, who will evaluate submissions based on quality and originality of work. Their decisions will be final and without appeal. Approximately fifteen works will be selected, with notification emails sent to chosen participants by the end of February 2025. All applicants will receive confirmation of their submission receipt in early January, and those experiencing technical issues will have one week to make corrections or resubmit materials.
Selected photographers will be invited to participate in the "Photographers' Weekend," a festival highlight dedicated to networking, exchanges, and experience sharing. The organization will make every effort to arrange accommodations under optimal conditions, with respect for photographers' work being a central concern. However, due to uncertainties regarding future funding and subsidies, financial commitments cannot be confirmed at this stage of the season, though definitive conditions will be communicated upon official selection announcements.
Based on previous years' offerings, which organizers hope to renew, benefits may include a high-quality festival catalog showcasing selected work that will be distributed to photography professionals and sold to the public for 15 euros. Travel expense reimbursement up to 150 euros may be provided for photographers attending the entire weekend, along with homestay accommodations designed to foster exchanges and conviviality among participants.
The festival emphasizes that participation in this call for applications is completely free of charge, and all communication regarding the submission process will originate from pp.candidatures@gmail.com. Applicants are advised to monitor both regular email and spam folders during the submission period. Organizers also note that the festival cannot be held responsible for any modifications or cancellations beyond their control.
