ZELZAL 004 · Open call

Open call · Free to submit

004The Beauty of the Margins

جمال الهامش

Open call for image makers: photographers and directors.

دعوة مفتوحة لصنّاع الصورة: مصوّرون ومخرجون.

For image makers from the Global South and its diasporas. Your culture, seen from inside: living traditions, contemporary scenes, the people around you. The scenes, communities and rituals that live on the margins. Any subject, as long as it's yours.

Submit your work →

Closes Tue 1 Dec 2026, 23:59 Dubai time (GMT+4)

What to send

EITHER a photo series of 8 to 15 images, OR a film / video of up to 5 minutes (short documentary, music video, fashion film, video art). Directors may add up to 5 stills.

Either way: a statement of about 150 words.

Unpublished only

Work not yet shared publicly on social media or in any other publication. Private or unlisted links are fine.

A finished work or a project in progress.

Dates

Deadline: Tuesday 1 December 2026, 23:59 Dubai time.

Selected image makers are notified in mid-December 2026. Final files are due by Monday 4 January 2027.

Your rights

Free to submit. You keep your copyright. No AI-generated images or footage.

We print images whole: no crops.

ZELZAL is an independent bilingual (EN/AR) print publication of art and fashion, highlighting artists from the Global South. Printed, numbered, collectible books. Our 003 edition sold out in 24 hours.

Submit to 004

One photo series or one film only, any subject. Photos upload right here; films go in as a link. Fields marked * are required.

01You

Who you are and where you work from.

We only use it to reply about ZELZAL 004.

e.g. @yourname: this is how we credit you.

 

02The work

One photo series or one film only, any subject. A finished work or a project in progress.

Status *

Place(s), country, year(s).

We are looking for work seen from inside: your own culture, scene or community. Tell us how you are part of it. A few lines are enough.

What the work is about, who is in it, why it matters now. English, Arabic or French.

0 words

What are you submitting? *

03Rights & consent
Do you have the consent of the people photographed or filmed for publication? *

If selected, can you deliver high-resolution files by Monday 4 January 2027? *Photo series: TIFF or maximum-quality JPEG, at least 3500 px on the long side. Film / video: the full-resolution master file, plus stills for print. We print images whole: no crops.

Please confirm *

04Last thing

Keep this page open until you see your reference number. Questions: [email protected] · @zelzalworld