Call for Photography Submissions
ALForum 2025
If you are a photographer or an active media producer with a passion for capturing and documenting powerful stories through your lens, then this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss!
If you are a photographer or an active media producer with a passion for capturing and documenting powerful stories through your lens, then this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss!
About the Forum
The ALForum 2025 will bring together around 1,000 participants including civil society and academic entities, young leaders, media outlets, influential figures, governments and institutions representatives, policymakers and other relevant stakeholders from 43 countries across the Euro Mediterranean region. Together, we will share ideas, co-create actionable solutions, and engage in transformative discussions in the field of intercultural dialogue.
The ALForum 2025 is structured around three core dimensions inspired by our slogan:
“Inspiring Knowledge, Driving Action, Uniting Cultures”
Who is This Call For?
Photojournalists, photographers, documentary photographers, and street photographers from the 43 Euro-Mediterranean countries who are passionate about telling stories through their lens. This call is for visual storytellers who through their work, shed the light on untold narratives, challenge perceptions, and raise awareness through the power of photography.
What Are We Looking For?
It is becoming impossible to ignore the rise of intolerance, hatred, and diminishing acceptance in the world around us. It’s everywhere, on the streets, in the news, and across our digital spaces. While negativity is easily captured, the essence of meaningful dialogue and human connection is often harder to visualise.
Dialogue between cultures and civilisations is all around us. It is not confined to formal meetings or structured discussions. It happens in everyday moments, in spontaneous conversations, shared traditions, acts of kindness between strangers, and countless other expressions that show the beauty of human experiences.
This is why we are looking for powerful images and impactful descriptions that capture intercultural dialogue in real, everyday settings. Photos and texts that tell the untold stories of connection, understanding, and coexistence.
Call open until 24 April 2025 (23:59 CET)
Applications in English, French or Arabic must be submitted before 24 April 2025, 23.59 CET via the online application form only.
What Your Photo Can Be About?
Your photo submission can fall under one of the following three categories:
First Category: The ALForum Lens
This category reflects the core theme of the ALForum. How dialogue can “inspire knowledge, drive action, and unite cultures”. Photos under this category can:
Showcase cross-cultural collaboration, intercultural exchange, building connections and understanding through knowledge-transfer
Portray actions aim at driving social cohesion and improving societies, with a focus on inclusivity and active participation in the process
Highlight interculturalism in different forms; dance, music, food, art, etc and how these cultural expressions bring people together and promote unity within the Euro-Medittereanan region
Second Category: The Thematic Lens
Photos under this category can highlight key themes shaping the Euro-Mediterranean region today:
Peacebuilding, Conflict Resolution/Prevention, Coexistence, and Inclusive Dynamics
Countering Disinformation and Misinformation in the Euro-Mediterranean Region
Living Together: Promoting Tolerance and Understanding
Youth Engagement in Participatory Dialogues and Decision-Making Processes
Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence Technologies
Social Innovation as a Catalyst for Inclusion in Culturally Diverse Societies
Empowering Women to Challenge Gender Stereotypes and Beyond
Integrating Social Dimensions in Climate Change Policies
International Cultural Relations and Cultural Diplomacy
Creative Industries and Art
Third Category: The Creative Lens
This open category invites photographers to showcase their own interpretation of dialogue, human connection, cultural exchange, or mutual understanding beyond the listed themes.
Submission Requirements
Submissions must fall under one of the following styles: photojournalism, photo documentary, or street photography with a human-centered focus. Staged or heavily edited photos will not be accepted to ensure authenticity
Photos must respect human dignity and privacy. Photos should not exploit or misrepresent individualsPhotos must be taken in one of the 43 Euro-Mediterranean countries
The photographer must declare being the original creator and hold full rights to the image
Photographer must declare that proper consent was obtained where applicable.Photographies must be in high resolution JPEG files, with a maximum of 2MB in size (the minimum of the longest side being no less than 2000 pixel, the quality no less than 300 dpi)
Why You Should Apply ?
By submitting your photo, you will have the opportunity to:
Showcase your work through the collective exhibition “The Lens of Dialogue” to a diverse audience composed by experts, researchers, and changemakers, including civil society and academic entities, media outlets, influential figures, government and institution representatives, policymakers, and other relevant stakeholders and gain international recognition
Have your selected submission featured on ALF and BBC Media Action platforms and websites, increasing your visibility and enhancing your work
Get the chance for your work to be featured by the media outlets attending the ALForum
Receive a financial reward of 500 euro – if your work is selected to be part of “The Lens of Dialogue” collective exhibition and of 1.000 euro – if you are additionally invited to participate in person at the ALForum (ALF will cover the cost of international flights, accommodation and main meals)
The selected photographers who will participate in person at the ALForum will be asked to take and submit to the ALF, at least ten photographs that capture the spirit and the human dimension of the event.
Where Your Work Will Be Showcased?
Selected photos will be printed and featured in the “Lens of Dialogue” collective exhibition, an ongoing joint exhibition by the ALF and BBC Media Action at National Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Albania in Tirana from 18 to 20 June as part of ALForum 2025. Each photo will be showcased with the photographer’s name, credentials, and the story behind the image, ensuring proper recognition and deeper engagement with the audience.
This exhibition aims to visually showcase the impact of dialogue, providing a platform to highlight the power of visual storytelling in shaping inclusive narratives across the Euro-Mediterranean region.
Usage Rights
Submitted photographs must be original and owned by the photographer, who must hold full copyright and intellectual property rights. The photographer is also responsible for obtaining any necessary consents or permissions for individuals or properties featured in the photos.
If selected for the collective exhibition “The Lens of Dialogue”, the photographer will be required to sign a written consent form, granting ALF the right to use the photo in the exhibition and in related ALF promotional materials, both digital and print.
Selection Criteria
All submissions will be evaluated by a selection committee from the ALF Secertariat and BBC Media Action. The selection will be based on the quality of applications received. A gender, youth and geographical balance between regions and countries and diversity of cultural backgrounds will also be observed. The evaluation process will consider the following key elements:
Visual Storytelling (35%)
The ability of the photo to convey a strong, meaningful story that aligns with the chosen category. How effectively the image portrays moments of human connection, mutual understanding, and cultural exchange, reflecting the shared experiences and beauty of the Euro-Mediterranean region
Authenticity & Emotional Impact (35%)
Photographs and descriptions that capture genuine, candid moments that feel authentic and not staged. Photos and texts that create a deep connection and emotional engagement with the audience
Artistic Quality (30%)
Composition, lighting, framing, and clarity of the photo. Effective use of photographic techniques
Indicative Timeline
03/04/25 Launch of the call
17/04/25 Online information session (details will be published on the ALF website)
24/04/25 Deadline to receive submitted applications
04/05/25 Publication of the selection results
18-20/06/25 ALForum 2025 Tirana
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| 31/01/25 | Launch of the call |
| 10/02/25 | Online information session (details will be published on the ALF’ website) |
| 01/03/25 | Deadline to receive submit applications |
| 29/03/25 | Publication of the selection results |
| 18-20/06/25 | ALForum 2025 Tirana |
This Programme is developed in the framework of the Action Grant NDICI-GEO-NEAR/2022/434-371 in accordance with the ALF Multiannual Work Programme 2022-2025.
In case of technical assistance or questions related to the call, please send your questions to alf.forum@alfsecretariat.org
Frequently Asked Questions:
What does it mean to be affiliated?
Being part of a certain entity or institution across the Euro-Med region. Only affiliated individuals who are available to participate in person during the days of the ALForum are eligible to apply.
Is this call only for speakers or moderators?
This call is primarily for speakers. If you are also interested in moderating a session, please check the box on the application form that states interest in the role of facilitator.
How does the selection and grouping process work?
After submissions, proposals will be evaluated by the ALF Secretariat. Selected proposals will be organised into 75-minute thematic sessions, grouped according to topics and languages.
Will speakers have to fund their own stay to attend the ALForum in Tirana?
ALF will cover travel expenses (flights, transportation, visa, etc…), accommodation and main meals for the accepted speakers for the whole duration of the ALForum.
If you are a photographer or an active media producer with a passion for capturing and documenting powerful stories through your lens, then this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss!
If you are a photographer or an active media producer with a passion for capturing and documenting powerful stories through your lens, then this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss!
If you are a photographer or an active media producer with a passion for capturing and documenting powerful stories through your lens, then this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss!
If you are a photographer or an active media producer with a passion for capturing and documenting powerful stories through your lens, then this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss!
Call for Photography Submissions
ALForum 2025
