International Photography Festival Organ Vida
Organ Vida Festival is a biannual international photography festival that takes place during September in Zagreb, Croatia. The festival gathers international young contemporary artists with the common pursuit to advance the art and practice of contemporary photography, and ignite conversations about critical and global socio-political issues.
Organ Vida annually holds open calls on different topics with the aim to stimulate critical thought and social dialogue through examining societal, political and personal issues. The main exhibition is a problematic curated exhibition of the selected artist via open call and it is displayed in the Museum of Contemporary Art Zagreb, a Festival main partner.
Alongside the main festival exhibition, Organ Vida program also includes solo and group shows, academic conferences, workshops, artist talks, portfolio reviews, lectures, movie program, music performances, and parties. Many international prominent experts and critics of contemporary photography, photographic and art theory actively participate in the festival program. The events take place at some of the most unique and striking venues across the city of Zagreb.
Interactivity, innovativeness, creativity, and immersion are at the heart of what makes Organ Vida such a successful festival – allowing it to become the biggest and freshest photographic event in Southeast Europe with over 10,000 visitors.
Festival was founded and directed by Marina Paulenka. From 2019 the festival program is led by a curatorial collective of 5 independent professionals: Luja Šimunović, Barbara Gregov, Lea Vene, Klara Petrović and Lovro Japundžić.
Festival Board:
Prof. Leonida Kovač, Ph.D., Academy of Fine Arts, University of Zagreb
Prof. Žarko Paić, Ph.D., Faculty of Textile Technology, University of Zagreb
Prof.Sandra Vitaljić, Ph.D., Academy of Dramatic Art, University of Zagreb
Paola Orlić, art historian, a producer at Animafest Zagreb Festival
Lea Vene, art historian, cultural anthropologist, and fashion theorist
Vlatka Kolarović, journalist and editor-in-chief of HRT3, a Croatian television channel for culture
Ivana Hanaček, art historian and curator, BLOK curatorial collective
Leila Topić, art historian and curator, Museum of Contemporary Art Zagreb
Marina Paulenka, curator and artist, founder of ORGAN VIDA, Artistic Director at UNSEEN
Featured
Past editions
ORGAN VIDA OFF YEAR I 2021
11TH INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL ORGAN VIDA I 2020
ORGAN VIDA OFF YEAR I 2019
10TH INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL ORGAN VIDA I 2018
9TH INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL ORGAN VIDA I 2017
8TH INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL ORGAN VIDA I 2016
7TH INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL ORGAN VIDA I 2015
6TH INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL ORGAN VIDA I 2014
5TH INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL ORGAN VIDA I 2013
4TH INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL ORGAN VIDA I 2012
3RD INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL ORGAN VIDA I 2011
1ST & 2ND INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL ORGAN VIDA I 2009 & 2010
