The Singapore International Photography Festival

The 3^rd Singapore International Photography Festival (SIPF) will launch on October 5^th, 2012. With its exhibitions, workshops, portfolio reviews, slideshow screenings and public forums, SIPF looks just like another photo festival. However, what distinguishes it from other photo festivals is not only its East-Asian off-the-beaten-track location, but its incredible openness.

The festival has been held biennially since 2008 in Singapore. Each time, an open call for entries is published in the months preceding the opening. “Open” is a mission statement: any photographer from anywhere in the world can submit their work. Applicants need not be professionals, as no accreditation of any kind is required. There is no predefined thematic orientation and not technical limitations. Photographers must send no less than 7 and no more than 17 images in digital format via the festival’s official website and pay a fee of $30.

This selection process allows the festival to fulfill its goal of “advancing the art and appreciation of contemporary photography” – and is an opportunity for photographers to present their most original and exciting work. 50 finalists will be selected by the Jury to have their work curated by a panel of professionals and exhibited all over the city during one month. In 2010, 6 500 images where submitted, and the final selection included 550 photographs by 49 artists of 23 nationalities.

The application deadline for SIPF 2012 is set to April 30^th, 2012.  Ms Gwen Lee, director of the festival, describes the selection process in these words: “We have received amazing work in the past two SIPF Open Calls, and so for a photo-aficionado like me, I just can’t wait to see what’s coming. We are also working with three new curators this time – Alejandro Castellote, Patricia Levasseur de la Motte and Zeng Han. The curators are highly esteemed art professionals, and we feel very honored to be able to get them involved. I’m sure the collaboration will bring something different to the festival.” 

The 3rd Singapore International Photography Festival (SIPF) photography biennial is returning for its third instalment, and will be opening on 5 October 2012.