Regulations of the International Youth Photography Festival «Pilk 2026»

 

 

Narva House of Children’s Creativity invites creative young people to take part in the XIV International Youth Photography Festival «Pilk- 2026». Our festival has become a wonderful tradition where young photographers freely share their impressions of the world around them. In their reflections, evaluations and analysis of life, the art of photography plays a significant role. Photography helps us take a closer look at what is happening around us, be more attentive to those close to us, and observe changes in the surrounding nature.

 

The aim of the festival is to promote photography as a means of artistic expression, to encourage young photography enthusiasts to exchange ideas, and to give children and young people the opportunity to express their thoughts and their view of the world through photography. The festival also seeks to foster friendship between young photographers from our region and other countries.

 

Participants: Photography enthusiasts aged 13 to 26 are invited to take part.

 

Festival organizers: Narva House of Children’s Creativity (NDDT) with the support of the Narva Department of Culture, Narva Youth Centre and MTÜ Autori Foto.

 

Date and venue: April 25, 2026, at Narva House of Children’s Creativity.

The festival includes two programs:

• Creative program: master classes by professional photographers and a visit to Narva Castle.
• Competition program: jury evaluation, award ceremony and analysis of participants’ works.

 

Competition Categories

• Abstraction
• Forest Life
• Spontaneous (Reportage) Portrait

 

Submission Requirements

Photographs must be submitted in digital file format. The file size must be no less than 3000 pixels and no more than 5000 pixels on the longest side, with a resolution of 300 dpi. Each participant may submit up to three files in each category. The total number of photographs per participant may not exceed nine. Participation in all categories is not required. Series of photographs will not be considered.

Age categories:

• 13–17 years
• 18–26 years

Photographs must be sent by email to: photo.konkurs@nll.ee with the subject line «Pilk- 2026». Each file must include the author’s first and last name. The total size of attachments must not exceed 25 MB.

The email must include:

• Full name (as written in passport)
• Age
• Address
• Status: school pupil / student / employed
• Phone number
• List of attached files indicating category and photo titles

Photographs submitted without this information will not be considered.

Participants are not allowed to use photographs taken by another author or borrowed from the internet.

Submitted works must meet the following requirements: photographs must be of good quality, must not contain negative content, and must not display the date, time of shooting or copyright watermarks.

The final deadline for email submissions is April 2, 2026. Works submitted on April 3 will not be considered.

The selection committee, consisting of students from the “Positiiv” photo studio led by the head of the studio Zoja Hussainova, will select the photographs for the competition and exhibition in accordance with the stated requirements.

A total of 100 (one hundred) works will be selected for the exhibition. The selected competition photographs will be printed in A3/A4 format at the expense of the organizers.

The best works will participate in the main competition on April 26, 2025. The jury will evaluate the photographs according to the following criteria: artistic and technical quality (composition, color, lighting, use of technical capabilities of the camera), originality, dynamism and emotional impact.

In each category and in both age groups, winners will be awarded first, second and third places. The organizers reserve the right to establish special prizes. The jury will work on April 26 during the first part of the festival, while participants are on excursion.

 

Festival Schedule – April 25, 2026

Time	Event
11:00 – 12:00	Registration of participants
12:00 – 12:30	Festival opening
12:30 – 15:00	Master class
12:30 – 15:00	Jury work
15:30 – 16:00	Coffee break
16:00 – 16:30	Award ceremony
16:30 – 17:00	Analysis of works
17:00	Group photo

 

Jury

Photographers of MTÜ Autori Foto

The composition of the jury may be subject to change by the festival organizers.

 

Additional Information

Works participating in the main competition will remain in the festival archive. Winning works and works awarded by other organizations will continue to be exhibited in various exhibition spaces in the city of Narva and other cities of Estonia.

 

Contact Information

Head of Photo Studio Zoja Hussainova: +372 553315, zoja.hussainova@nll.ee

Development Manager Olga Sokolova: +372 55593834, +372 3599572, olga.sokolova@nll.ee