Fernanda Prado Verčič

The day has finally arrived! ✨ The winners of Kranj Foto Fest Open Call 2026 are here! ✨ From 𝟭,𝟲𝟬𝟴 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 by 𝟭,𝟮𝟯𝟵 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 worldwide, our jury @emmanuelle_halkin @fransangle @bitefzena @tereza_kozinc @pradofernanda selected 𝟭𝟯 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀. 🏆 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 – awarded a solo exhibition, €1,000 cash prize, and travel expenses up to €400 🏆 𝟭𝟮 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 – featured in group exhibitions ▻ All exhibiting artists will work closely with our curatorial team, with exhibition production costs covered and accommodation provided during Opening Week in August. Get ready to meet the artists selected for Kranj Foto Fest 2026! ✨ 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲: 🏅Marisol Mendez (b. Bolivia), with the project “Padre” @marisol___mendez 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗦 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, by alphabetical order: ▪Ian Cheibub, Alumbre na Macaia @iancheibub ▪Debmalya Ray Choudhuri, The Weight of the Earth @debchoudhuri ▪Chiara Ernandes, Still Birth @chiara.ernandes ▪Federico Estol, Shine Heroes @federicoestol ▪Peter Fettich, Crushed Berries @thedarkroomrat ▪Byron Mohammad Hamzah, Bunga dan Tembok / The Flower and The Wall @byronhamzah ▪Minami Ivory, Weapon of Choice @minamiivory ▪Joel Jimenez Jara, Glimmers, Feathers and Staring Skies @joelr.jj ▪Utu-Tuuli Jussila, Härmä / Hoar @ututuuli ▪Robert Marin and Matjaž Rušt, The Most Beautiful City in the World @najlepsemestonasvetu ▪Hana Selena Sokolović, Dear Orchid @hana_selena ▪Maria Sturm, You Don’t Look Native to Me @maria__sturm Thank you to everyone who applied, and to our jury for their dedication. Congratulations to the selected photographers 🎉 If you weren’t selected this time, we hope to see your work again in 2027. ▻ More at the link in bio.

Open Call! Photography+ Emerging Talent 2026 We are excited to announce the launch of the open call for the Photography+ Emerging Talent Issue. We invite BA and MA graduates, as well as image-based artists, who are within the first five years of their practice and/or their graduation, to submit their work for the opportunity to be featured in the next issue of our online magazine, Photography+. This international open call is free to enter and a jury panel will make the final selections. Our jury consists of: @emma_bowkett , @mazmanian , @pradofernanda , @maryamwb and @aminyosefi . Selected artists will be featured in our next issue of Photography+, showcased at Kranj Foto Fest and more! Deadline: 15 June 2026, 11.59pm. Find out more and apply on our website, link in bio available.

🗞️Danes je bil v Gorenjskem glasu objavljen članek, v katerem je bila izpostavljena zgodba, ki jo gradimo že več let: Kranj se vse bolj uveljavlja kot mesto fotografije. Na javni razpis @kranjfotofest 2026 je prispelo 1.608 prijav 1.239 fotografov z vsega sveta 🌎, rekord, ki festival uvršča v širši mednarodni kontekst. Tako močno izražen interes ni stvar naključja, temveč kaže, da fotografija mestu že sedaj prinaša prepoznavnost, krepi kulturne izmenjave in dolgoročno povečuje njegovo privlačnost. @mestna.obcina.kranj je obenem edina slovenska občina, ki se lahko pohvali z neverjetno redkostjo: mesto je rojstni kraj slovenske fotografije 🧐 in obenem gostitelj edinega festivala sodobne fotografije v državi 😉. S takšno edinstveno kombinacijo kulturne dediščine in inovativnosti se ne more pohvaliti nobena druga občina. Vprašanje na tej točki ni več, ali fotografija sploh sodi v Kranj, marveč kako lahko mesto razvije njen potencial. S specializiranim centrom za fotografijo bi lahko okrepili obstoječe dejavnosti, dolgoročno pa bi vzpostavili celoletno dogajanje: razstave, izobraževanja, produkcijo in mednarodno sodelovanja. Gre za izjemno priložnost, preko katere lahko mesto oblikuje svojo trajnostno kulturno identiteto, ki bo konkretno vplivala na turizem, lokalno gospodarstvo in mednarodno prepoznavnost, s čimer se bo Kranj še močneje uveljavil kot vodilno fotografsko središče. 🙏Zahvaljujemo se časopisu Gorenjski glas, da je naslovil to pomembno tematiko, in vsem našim partnerjem – sponzorjem, institucijam in posameznikom –, ki so od samega začetka verjeli v Kranj Foto Fest in ga podpirali.✨ @mzk_rs @visitkranj @mestna.obcina.kranj 📷 @strikula @lukadakskobler @primozh

• Join us in welcoming Fernanda Prado Verčič | @pradofernanda | to our #SPF2026 jury! ↳ Founding Director of @kranjfotofest - Fernanda is a curator and cultural connector dedicated to building meaningful platforms for photography. Originally from São Paulo, #Brazil, she has been based in #Slovenia since 2011 and is actively engaged as a jury member, portfolio reviewer, and nominator for major photography festivals and institutions. ↳ She is also the Artistic Director of @oko_bohinj , held in Slovenia’s Triglav National Park. ↳ 🎂 And today we celebrate as well — wishing Fernanda a very happy birthday from the entire #SPFTeam! ↳ Our additional wish? For YOU to submit your work via link in bio. #MeetTheJury #SarajevoPhotographyFestival

Iskrena hvala vsem, ki ste nam poslali svoje projekte na javnem razpisu leta 2026. 𝟭𝟮𝟯𝟵 𝗳𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗼𝘃 se je prijavilo z rekordnimi 𝟭𝟲𝟬𝟴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗸𝘁𝗶. Pravo delo pa se začenja šele zdaj, saj smo že pričeli s pregledovanjem prijav. Čeprav bo celoten postopek morda trajal nekoliko dlje kot smo pričakovali, bomo rezultate zagotovo objavili do konca marca. Spremljajte nas – in lep pozdrav iz Kranja! ✩✩✩✩✩✩ A big thank you to everyone who submitted your projects to our Open Call 2026. 𝟭𝟮𝟯𝟵 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 applied with a record number of 𝟭𝟲𝟬𝟴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀. Now, the real work begins. We started diving into every single application, and while the review process may take a bit longer than expected, we’ll be announcing the results by the end of March. So stay tuned, and cheers from Kranj! ✩ Žirija javnega razpisa 2026 / Jury Open Call 2026: ▪ Francesca Hummler @fransangle  skrbnica skupnosti in kuratorka programa pri / Community Manager and Program Curator at @der_greif  ; ▪ Jelena Janković @bitefzena  programska vodja festivala / Programme Director of the @sarajevophotographyfestival ; ▪ Emmanuelle Halkin @emmanuelle_halkin  neodvisna kuratorka in urednica / Independent Curator and Editor at @collectif.fetart  @festival_circulations ; ▪ Tereza Kozinc @tereza_kozinc  fotografinja in sokuratorka / Photographer and Co-curator at Kranj Foto Fest; ▪ Fernanda Prado Verčič @pradofernanda  ustanoviteljica in direktorica / Founding Director at Kranj Foto Fest. ♡ @mzk_rs @leica_camera_austria @lon_slovenija @mestna.obcina.kranj   @visitkranj

𝙼𝚎𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙹𝚞𝚛𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝙺𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚓 𝙵𝚘𝚝𝚘 𝙵𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝙾𝚙𝚎𝚗 𝙲𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝟸0𝟸𝟼! ▪ Francesca Hummler @fransangle Community Manager and Program Curator at @der_greif ▪ Jelena Janković @bitefzena Programme Director of the @sarajevophotographyfestival ▪ Emmanuelle Halkin @emmanuelle_halkin Independent Curator and Editor @collectif.fetart @festival_circulations @diaphanephotographie ▪ Tereza Kozinc @tereza_kozinc Photographer and Co-curator at Kranj Foto Fest ▪ Fernanda Prado Verčič @pradofernanda Founding Director at Kranj Foto Fest The jury will select 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 who will receive: ▪ A solo exhibition at Kranj Foto Fest 2026 ▪ 1000 € cash prize ▪ Travel expenses of up to 400 € ▪ Accommodation for 3 nights during the opening week ... and 𝟭𝟮 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 for: ▪ Participation in group exhibitions at Kranj Foto Fest 2026. ▪ Accommodation for 3 nights during the opening week. Applications are done via the Picter platform by 23.2.2026. Link in bio. ----- 𝚣̌𝚒𝚛𝚒𝚓𝚊 𝚓𝚊𝚟𝚗𝚎𝚐𝚊 𝚛𝚊𝚣𝚙𝚒𝚜𝚊 𝟸0𝟸𝟼: ▪ @fransangle  skrbnica skupnosti in kuratorka programa pri @der_greif ▪ @bitefzena  programska vodja festivala  @sarajevophotographyfestival ▪ @emmanuelle_halkin  neodvisna kuratorka in urednica @collectif.fetart  @festival_circulations @diaphanephotographie ▪ @tereza_kozinc  fotografinja in sokuratorka Kranj Foto Festa ▪ @pradofernanda  ustanoviteljica in direktorica Kranj Foto Festa Žirija bo izbrala 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗴𝗮 𝘇𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗰𝗮, ki bo prejel: ▪ samostojno razstavo na Kranj Foto Festu 2026 ▪ denarno nagrado v višini 1000 € ▪ potne stroške v višini do 400 € ▪ 3 nočitve v času otvoritvenega tedna festivala. Poleg zmagovalca bo žirija izbrala še do 𝟭𝟮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗸𝘁𝗼𝘃, ki bodo prejeli: ▪ sodelovanje na skupinskih razstavah na Kranj Foto Festu 2026. ▪ 3 nočitve v času otvoritvenega tedna festivala. Prijavite se lahko do 23. februarja 2026 preko platforme Picter, povezavo pa najdete v opisu.

𝙹𝚞𝚛𝚢 𝙾𝚙𝚎𝚗 𝙲𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝟸0𝟸𝟼 ➝ 𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗼 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗰̌𝗶𝗰̌, 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝗞𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗷 𝗙𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁 Fernanda Prado Verčič is the Founding Director of Kranj Foto Fest. Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, she has been based in Kranj, Slovenia, since 2011. She is actively engaged as a jury member, portfolio reviewer, and nominator for major photography festivals and institutions. @pradofernanda plays a key role in connecting photographers with significant venues in Slovenia and internationally. Driven by a strong interest in discovering new work, she consistently seeks out photographers who push the boundaries of the medium and explore new approaches to visual storytelling. Her work is guided by a clear commitment to creating opportunities for photographers to present their work and to fostering a vibrant photography community that brings together artists, critics and audiences. She is also the Artistic Director of OKO Photo Festival Bohinj, held in Slovenia’s Triglav National Park. ----- 𝚣̌𝚒𝚛𝚒𝚓𝚊 𝚓𝚊𝚟𝚗𝚎𝚐𝚊 𝚛𝚊𝚣𝚙𝚒𝚜𝚊 𝟸0𝟸𝟼 ➝ 𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗼 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗰̌𝗶𝗰̌​, 𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗷𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗸𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗞𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗷 𝗙𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮 Fernanda Prado Verčič je ustanoviteljica in direktorica festivala Kranj Foto Fest. Prihaja iz São Paula v Braziliji, od leta 2011 pa živi v Kranju. Aktivno se udejstvuje kot žirantka, pregledovalka portfolijev in nominatorka za najvidnejše fotografske festivale in institucije ter igra pomembno vlogo pri povezovanju fotografov s pomembnimi razstavnimi prizorišči doma in v tujini. Navdušena je nad odkrivanjem novih del in nenehno išče fotografe, ki premikajo meje fotografskega medija in raziskujejo nove načine pripovedovanja vizualnih zgodb. Pri delu jo vodi neusahljiva želja po ustvarjanju priložnosti za fotografe, da predstavijo svoja dela in gojenju fotografske skupnosti, ki združuje umetnike, kritike in najrazličnejša občinstva. Je tudi umetniška vodja @oko_bohinj , ki poteka v Triglavskem narodnem parku. 📷 @lukadakskobler

With this post, we conclude our look back at our previous Open Calls, and we hope it has inspired you to submit your work for the 6th edition of Kranj Foto Fest in 2026🤗. In the last year’s Open Call, from a record-breaking 1523 submissions, the jury exceptionally selected two winners, awarded one Special Mention, and shortlisted twelve finalists – with all selected artists receiving a solo exhibition within the festival programme. The two Grand Winners in 2025 were @pkritchko with “Map of Memories” and @balazs_turos with The “Nature of Things”. The Special Mention was awarded to @itsemimartin for “I Saw a Tree Bearing Stones in the Place of Apples and Pears”. The 2025 finalists were: @marciabeltraoberger , @simonchang30657073 , @josephlgc , @mohamedhassanphoto_ , @k_r_u_k_u @lludosphotos , @chrystelmukeba , @alejandraoroscovenero , @laurapannack , @the.last.red.summer , @zsofiasivak , and duo @masia.wola & @kasia___wasowska ✨In 2026 we will celebrate our 6th edition and we invite you to join us! For one month, at the height of the European summer, the old town of Kranj, Slovenia, will once again transform into an exciting hub of photography. 🔝Apply to our Open Call for Exhibitions 2026! The jury will select one winner, who will receive a solo exhibition, €1,000, travel expenses to Kranj, and accommodation. Up to 12 finalists will be selected for group exhibitions and accommodation for three nights during the festival’s opening week. The Open Call is open to all, with no thematic, age, or regional restrictions. Applications are submitted via Picter (link in bio) by 23 February 2026, and each participant may submit up to two projects. We look forward to seeing you in Kranj! Photos in this post by @strikula @primozh @balazs_turos

In our recent posts, we’ve been highlighting photographers selected through our past open calls, celebrating the projects showcased in previous editions of the festival. In 2024, during the 4th edition of Kranj Foto Fest, the Open Call for Exhibitions embraced an open theme, encouraging photographers of all levels and backgrounds to submit their projects without any thematic constraints. This approach proved liberating, and the diversity of projects received was an extraordinary response. The call received an impressive 1,014 submissions. After weeks of careful review, the jury awarded 20 projects, including one winner and 19 finalists. The Grand Winner of the 2024 edition was the duo @anazibelnik & Jakob Ganslmeier with the project “Fault Line”, presented as a solo exhibition at Stolp Škrlovec at @layerjevahisa in Kranj. The 19 finalists were: @farzana6478 , @marta.bogdanska , @jordiruizc , @demichelisluciana , @idjamil , @ismailferdous , @blazgutman , @issam_larkat , @diambramariani , @mottaghikimo , @chidigood_ , Matthieu Paley, @le_veneque , duo @caimipiccinni , @terijaki , @marceltoptop , duo @marieke.van.der.velden & @philipbrink , @kinga_wro and @aminyosefi ✨We are now accepting submissions for the 2026 edition and look forward to discovering your projects. We invite you to take a look at the link in our bio and evaluate if this sounds a nice opportunity for you and your work. 😉 Photos in this post by @strikula

In our recent posts, we are sharing a retrospective of our previous Open Calls for Exhibitions, offering inspiration for those considering submitting your work.😉 In the third edition of our festival, in 2023, we focused on the relationship between humanity and the environment, and our Open Call for Exhibitions was dedicated to the theme HUMAN – NATURE, seeking stories that revealed the interplay, impact and consequences of human actions on nature. That year, we received 656 submissions, and the jury selected 20 projects: one winner, one special mention, and 18 finalists. The project “White Gold” by @amina.kadous was awarded the Kranj Foto Fest Open Call 2023 Winner ✨, while the Special Mention went to the duo @kaya.blank – Işık Kaya & Thomas Georg Blank — for their project “Second Nature”. The finalists of the 2023 edition were: @andrealkalay , @arni_coraldo , @_filippoferraro , @jonaskako , @miller.kovacs , @jacob.maentz , @_alimarin_ , @wilkomeiborg , @tilyenmucik , @_nisreennader_ , @alvinnzh , @___maria.oliveira___ , @louiepalu , @andrejpolukord , @m.bilgesatkin , @mitar.simikic , @axeljaviersulzbacher , @paoloverzone . All 20 selected projects were exhibited in Kranj during Kranj Foto Fest 2023, across galleries, museums, and outdoor locations in the old town and in nature. 📣 Now it is your turn to join us. If you wish to exhibit at Kranj Foto Fest 2026, submit your project. We look forward to discovering your work. Submission is done via link in bio. Photos in this post by @strikula @lukadakskobler @primozh

In our second edition in 2022, we challenged photographers to reflect on the concept of “home”. Under the theme “Home: A State of Transition”, our Open Call for Exhibitions 2022 asked what are the triggers behind migration, and what are the personal narratives beyond statistics? Is home always a synonym for land, or can one feel at home anywhere, regardless of the physical territory? Selected from 305 applications, 21 projects were awarded through our Open Call and presented across the old town of Kranj. @mhammed_kilito was selected as the Grand Winner with “Before It’s Gone”, presented for the first time as a solo exhibition at Kranj Foto Fest, while @allansalas received a Special Mention for “The Rooted Heart Began to Change” with an exhibition at @layerjevahisa . Alongside them, 19 finalists were selected and transformed the city into an open-air gallery: @pauliap , @aggelos_barai , @manuelbayogisbert , @mathias_benguigui / @ak.whispers , @buisir , @gabrielechiapparini / @camillamarrese , @elena.efeoglou , @laura_el_tantawy , @jordangalephoto , @valentin.goppel , @mariagutuc , @natasakosmerl , @katerina_kouzmitcheva , @kathyanne.lim , @ludwig_nikulski , @konstantinnovakovic , @emanuele.occhipinti , @gleesonpaulino and @mitar.simikic Through photography, the festival addressed displacement caused by natural disasters, armed conflicts, and unjust social policies, while sharing intimate stories of migration and belonging (or not belonging) to a place. Now we are searching for projects to be exhibited at the 6th edition of Kranj Foto Fest. If you wish to exhibit in our festival, we invite you to submit your project. Submissions are open until 23 February via the Picter platform. Link in bio. Photo in this post: @lukadakskobler #kranjfotofest #opencallforartists #photographyfestival #photoexhibition #photofestival

Over the coming days, we’ll be sharing glimpses from exhibitions by artists selected through our Open Calls for Exhibitions over the past five editions. We begin with 2021, Kranj Foto Fest’s very first edition. Under the theme ISOLATION | FREEDOM, we invited photographers to rethink this concept at a time when boundaries, mobility, and freedom were being profoundly redefined by the COVID-19 lockdowns. Shaped by this context, the festival transformed the old town of Kranj into an open-air gallery, where empty shop windows that had been forced to close because of the lockdowns became exhibition frames, bringing new meanings and colour to streets marked by months of restriction. Windows from a butcher, a travel agency, a bookshop, a tattoo studio… along with the garden’s castle, the street gallery “Na Mestu”, the tunnels under the old town — all were transformed into exhibition spaces. The winner of our first Open Call edition was @erjola_zhuka , who received a solo exhibition at Stolp Škrlovec at @layerjevahisa with the project “Ode to My Family”. The finalists @kandradefotografias @phrandreoli @polslona @simonchang30657073 @ewadoroszenko @jorgefuembuena @petergiodani @nicolalanciotti @lancner_masa @evanicoletti_ @ludwig_nikulski @odnoviun @janpirnat @marynashtanko @akipekkasinikoski @m.uivel Rina Vukobratović @kaiykym and @martinalucyzanin also presented their works in exhibitions installed throughout the old town of Kranj. All these projects were selected through our Open Call for Exhibitions 2021, shaping the editions that followed. 🔝Now it is your turn: submissions are open for the Open Call for Exhibitions 2026. Selected projects will be exhibited in Kranj during the 6th edition of Kranj Foto Fest. Don’t miss the chance to be part of our festival! Apply via Picter. Link in bio. Photos in this post by @strikula