The International Mute Photo Festival invites photographers of all experience levels to submit photo series created exclusively with children’s instant thermal cameras for its 2027 open call, exploring the theme ‘Nature ate the pixels’.
12 August 2026
Open Call:
The International Mute Photo Festival (IMPhF) has launched its 2027 open call under the theme ‘Nature ate the pixels’. Inspired by the growing mediation of human experience through digital images, the festival encourages photographers to create work that reimagines humanity’s relationship with the natural world. Participants are invited to produce photographic series that explore harmony with nature, ecological resilience, and the regeneration of life using the distinctive visual language of children’s instant thermal cameras.
Institutional Context:
The International Mute Photo Festival is dedicated to experimental photographic practices that challenge conventional image-making. For the 2027 edition, the festival adopts children’s thermal cameras as its exclusive artistic medium, transforming an everyday toy into a contemporary creative tool. By embracing low resolution, monochrome imagery and the imperfections of thermal printing, the festival seeks work that foregrounds form, light, texture, and emotional connection over technical perfection.
Eligibility and Criteria:
The open call is divided into two age categories:
- Adult Category (18+), open to photographers of all experience levels aged 18 and over.
- Children and Youth Category (Under 18), open to young photographers with the consent of a parent or legal guardian.
Applicants must submit work in one of four thematic categories:
- Landscape
- Symbiosis
- Rebirth
- Future
All photographs must be captured and printed exclusively using children’s instant thermal cameras. Entries should consist of:
- 6 to 9 photographs for the Adult Category
- 5 photographs for the Children and Youth Category
Only minimal editing is permitted: removing timestamps and borders, and converting images to black and white. Entry is free of charge.
Evaluation Process:
The jury will assess submissions solely on the submitted photographic series and accompanying project statement. Artist CVs will only be requested from photographers whose work is selected for exhibition. Fifteen series from the Adult Category and five series from the Children and Youth Category will be selected for exhibition and publication in the official printed catalogue.
Practical Information
Submission deadline: 30 April 2027 at 23:59 EEST
Exhibition: July 2027 at the renovated Old Customs Warehouses, Karlovasi Port, Samos, Greece.
The festival will cover all production and printing costs for selected works. One artist, chosen for the most complete photographic series, will also receive travel and accommodation to attend the exhibition opening. Selected projects will be published in the official exhibition catalogue. Artists retain full copyright of their work.
Applications and Queries
Applications must be submitted as a single ZIP file by email to mutephotofestival@outlook.com.gr. Adult applicants must include a project statement, contact information, and their image files. A parent or legal guardian must send children’s and Youth submissions, including a parental consent declaration, a short reflection by the participant, participant and guardian details, and the required image files. Full submission instructions and file naming requirements are outlined in the open call guidelines.
