OPEN CALL

SGDF Photography Open Call

Deadline: 30 September 2026, 2359hr Singapore Time

The Singapore Documentary Festival (SGDF) is seeking the best of documentary photography from across Southeast Asia. Our 2026 Open Call invites Southeast Asia-based image-makers to submit compelling visual narratives that reflect the preoccupations of local communities and celebrate diverse regional talent. Selected works will be presented in a group exhibition as part of SGDF in April 2027.

Out of six selected projects, one will receive the Truth Seeker Foundation Prize, which comprises a SGD 5,000 cash grant. The Prize recognises an exceptional documentary photography project that addresses critical social and environmental issues in the region to foster empathy and inspire positive change. The remaining five runners-up will each receive a SGD 1,000 cash prize.

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What Selected Projects Receive

Opportunity to showcase in a group exhibition at the Singapore Documentary Festival in April 2027.

One project will receive the Truth Seeker Foundation Prize of SGD 5,000. Five runner-up projects will receive a SGD 1,000 cash prize.

Budget return flight and accomodation to attend the exhibition opening and programmes in April 2027 in Singapore.

Meet The Jury


The projects will be selected by the following panel, alongside a representative of the Truth Seeker Foundation.

Kelsang Dolma

Director of FOTO Bali Festival

Kelsang Dolma is a cultural strategist specialising in cultural platform-building, with over a decade of experience across India and Indonesia. She is currently Director of PR and Special Art Projects at Nuanu Creative City in Bali. There she is the Founding Director of FOTO Bali Festival, Bali’s international photography festival, and of Art & Bali, the island’s first boutique international art fair. She also directs the FOTO Bali Award and leads Labyrinth Art Gallery inside the Creative City.
 
Born and raised in India, she has worked with the Serendipity Arts Festival, SaffronArt, the Chennai Photo Biennale, JaipurPhoto, the Indian Ceramics Triennale, The Gujral Foundation and PHOTOINK, New Delhi. Her practice is grounded in strategic storytelling and context-driven programming — building spaces that invite collaboration and critical engagement.

Candida Ng

Asia-Pacific Photo Director of AFP

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Amrita Chandradas

Documentary Photographer & Curator for Truth Seeker Foundation Prize

Amrita Chandradas is a Singaporean documentary photographer whose work explores identity, the environment, and social issues across Southeast Asia and beyond. 

A Magnum Photos & IdeasTap 30 Under 30 winner, she holds an MA in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography from the London College of Communication. Her work is featured in several international publications such as The National Geographic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Bloomberg Business, BBC, NPR, and the Financial Times, among others.

Chelsea Chua

Artistic Director of Singapore Documentary Festival 

Chelsea Chua is a curator and arts programmer who is interested in our relationship with images and image-making. In her previous role as Programme Director at Objectifs – Centre for Photography and Film, she worked with artists, photographers, curators, filmmakers and other cultural entities across Southeast Asia to develop projects such as exhibitions, screening programmes, workshops and mentorships. Her recent engagements with the region include being a mentor for the South Asia Incubator, Photo Kathmandu (2025), and co-curating the Jakarta International Photography Festival (2025 and 2026).

Who Should Apply

We welcome applicants working primarily with still images who meet the following criteria:

Applicant Eligibility

  • Applicants must be from Southeast Asia. Southeast Asian practitioners who are currently working/living outside the region may also apply. 
  • Applicants should have at least five years of professional photography experience, including internships, editorial assignments and freelance work. 
  • Applicants must be able to communicate effectively in English. 
  • Applicants must have full copyright ownership of all submitted work.
  • Applicants may submit only one project for consideration.

 

Project Requirements

  • Submitted projects must be documentary in nature, focusing on contemporary social issues situated within the Southeast Asia region.
  • We accept both completed bodies of work and ongoing projects. 
  • If you are submitting a completed body of work, the work must have concluded within the last 5 years.

How To Apply

01

Bio, CV & Portrait

Please provide a short biography, portrait and an up-to-date CV outlining your photographic practice, relevant experience, exhibitions, publications, awards, and other professional achievements.

02

Project Synopsis

Your project synopsis should be no more than 250 words and respond to the following prompts:

  • What is this project about?
  • Why did you embark on this project?

03

Project Images

Share 15 to 30 images from your project

  • JPG format at 72 dpi, with 2000 pixels on the longest side 
  • Shared as a compressed file or PDF.
  • Do not send hi-res images.
  • Images can be accompanied by captions.

04

Portfolio

  • Share up to 3 of your latest projects

Timeline

30 September 2026,
2359hr Singapore Time

Application deadline

November 2026

Selection Announcement

End November 2026 –  January 2027

Artists to work with exhibition team on image selection, sequencing and layout for exhibition

February – March 2027

Production of images
and exhibition

April 2027

Exhibition opening and programmes during Singapore Documentary Festival

Application & Selection

Successful applicants will be informed by November. Shortlisted applicants may be contacted in October for interview or further information. We regret that we will not be able to provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants. 

Applicants that demonstrate the following will be at an advantage:

  • A coherent body of work with strong visual impact and a compelling narrative
  • A clear and vested interest in the project and/or the communities involved
  • Projects tackling urgent and relevant contemporary social issues may be prioritised


Queries about the SGDF Photography Open Call can be emailed to soak@objectifs.com.sg.

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Deadline: 30 September 2026, 2359hr Singapore Time