Registration for the contests is open from May 2 to June 6, 11:59 PM (EEST). Submissions are open from May 2 to June 8, 11:59 PM (EEST).

After registering for the contest, your participation will be confirmed within 24 hours.

HIGHLIGHT AWARD

This category is open to photographers under 30 years of age and invites submissions of photo stories, essays, and projects on an open theme. The award encourages a unique and unconventional approach to storytelling and subject matter.

Submit 7 to 12 photographs taken within the last three years (no earlier than May 2, 2022).

Submit for a chance to win a Fujifilm X-T50 with XC15-45mm lens, be published in the Vilnius Photo Circle magazine, and featured in the festival’s exhibition.

VILNIUS PHOTO CIRCLE AWARD

This category is dedicated to this year’s festival theme, Intersections, and invites submissions of photo projects that explore geopolitical, cultural, or ideological crossroads. The theme is open to the photographer’s own interpretation.

Submit 9 to 16 photographs taken within the last three years (no earlier than May 2, 2022).

Submit for a chance to win a Fujifilm X-T5 with XF 16–80mm lens, be published in the Vilnius Photo Circle magazine, and featured in the festival’s exhibition.

LIETUVA

This category is dedicated to photo projects that tell stories about Lithuania – its contemporary issues, history, and diaspora. It invites submissions from photographers of any nationality and age.

Submit 7 to 16 photographs taken within the last five years (no earlier than May 2, 2020).

Submit for a chance to win an Instax WIDE 400 with 100 Instax WIDE film sheets, be published in the Vilnius Photo Circle magazine, and featured in the festival’s exhibition.

As a finalist in each category, your work will be:

• Exhibited at the festival venue — Vilnius Energy and Technology Museum

• Included in the annual Vilnius Photo Circle magazine

• Published on our website and social media platforms

As a winner in each category, you will be:

• Invited to take part in the Vilnius Photo Circle festival (with travel and accommodation expenses covered by the organizers)

• Awarded camera prizes provided by our trusted partner, Fujifilm Lietuva

Basic guidelines

Each participant is allowed to submit up to three stories per submission category.

• Only cohesive photographic stories, photo essays, documentary projects, or reportage series will be accepted.

• Single images or image portfolios will not be considered.

• Photography in any digital format (including smartphone photography) is accepted.

• Photography in any analogue format (including daguerreotype) is accepted.

• Both color and black-and-white photography are accepted.

• Diptychs, triptychs, double exposures (whether done in-camera or in post-production), panoramic images stitched in post-production, and images with filters such as sepia or cyanotype will not be accepted.

• We also do not accept photographs with added frames, graphic elements, text, or handwriting applied after the image was taken.

Technical requirements

All photographs must be uploaded in JPEG (JPG) format. The minimum long edge length is 2,500 px, and the maximum is 4,500 px. The maximum accepted file size is 4,500 KB.

Captioning

Every submitted image must be captioned in English. At Vilnius Photo Circle, we adhere to the AP style captioning system. Your caption should answer these five questions: who, what, when, where, and why.

• First sentence: Present tense, describing the visible action.

• Second sentence: Past tense, providing context.

Example 1: Firefighter John Smith, left, helps resident Maria Lopez carry her belongings from her flooded home, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in Houston, Texas. Heavy rains over the weekend caused flash floods across the city.

Example 2: A man walks down the street during a snowstorm in New York on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. The storm caused delays in flights and left hundreds of residents without power.

Do not include your authorship in the caption field or IPTC metadata.

Ethical guidelines [code of ethics]

Photographs should authentically represent the scene as witnessed. Consciously influencing the progression of the photographed scene or altering it by recreating or staging events is strictly prohibited.

• Digitally altering images by adding, removing, or rearranging elements is strictly prohibited.

• The use of AI tools in image creation or editing is strictly prohibited.

• Adjustments such as cropping, tilting, dodging, burning, standard toning, or dust removal are acceptable if they do not mislead viewers or misrepresent subjects.

• Treat all subjects with respect and dignity. Avoid intrusive or exploitative imagery, especially of vulnerable individuals, minors or sensitive situations.

• Obtain consent from subjects when possible, particularly in private settings or when photographing vulnerable individuals or minors.

• Strive for accuracy and fairness, avoiding images that perpetuate stereotypes or present biased viewpoints.

Verification

Shortlisted entrants will be asked to submit RAW files, original untouched JPEGs, or film scans for authentication. We may also request a series of images taken before and after the submitted photographs to further verify authenticity. Failure to provide valid proof of authenticity within 7 days of the organizers' request may result in disqualification from the competition.

Image Usage Rights and Permissions

By submitting their images, photographers automatically grant Vilnius Photo Circle permission to use the images, along with captions and project descriptions, in Vilnius Photo Circle magazine, on social media, and in any form of online or offline publicity—whether currently existing or developed in the future—related to the promotion of festival activities.

For questions, contact: vilniusphotocircle@gmail.com