The Auckland Festival of Photography in 2015 runs 28 May - 20 June. New Zealand's only international photographic festival, it brings together artists, academics, curators, students, amateurs and professionals for the aim of encouraging the public to celebrate the art of photography. Truth & Fiction is a central theme in 2015’s Auckland Festival of Photography - which features 100 events and exhibitions.  “We are proud the 2015 line-up cements the Auckland Festival of Photography’s position as a leading event in the Asia Pacific region that attracts leading New Zealand-based and international photographers” says public participation director Julia Durkin. “AFP is a highlight in the winter events calendar. It has become the region’s largest free visual arts festival and we invite audiences to engage with and enjoy what’s on offer in our twelfth annual festival.” The festival is a member of the Asia-Pacific Photoforum, a collaboration of festivals of photography from Asia, Oceania and the Pacific Rim.  Several exhibitions are organised as part of the exchange collaboration. Check out the calendar of events, across multiple venues in Auckland, including:

• Annual Commission:The Auckland Festival of Photography 2015 features the 5th Annual Commission, this year presented by Sacred Hill. Each year, an Auckland-based photographer is commissioned to create a new body of work for exhibition during the Festival. The commission provides an opportunity to support and promote an Auckland photographer as well as create a cultural and artistic asset for present and future Auckland audiences to enjoy. This year’s commissioned artist is PJ Paterson. As part of the 5th year milestone celebration, the Creative New Zealand International Asia Co-commissioning Fund is supporting the 2015 Annual Commission. The new P J Paterson work will also be shown in China at the Pingyao International Photography Festival in September 2015.

• Angkor Photo Workshop Projections (showcase of Asian photography from Laos): A projection of images created in the Angkor Photo Workshops, seen here in an Asia Pacific Photoforum exchange between Angkor and Auckland.
• Lithuanian Photography: Presented by Kaunas Photo Festival, Lithuania. Three contemporary artists from Lithuania approach photography from the air, sea and street.
• Polish Street: at the Polish Heritage Trust Museum, discover the old and new face of contemporary Poland.
• Paramita: part of a cultural exchange through  the Asia Pacific Photoforum between Auckland and Pingyao, Chinese artist, Han Jianggang's exclusive NZ presentation is a 3m high mural of individual photographic boats.

Image: Malachi 4-2, 2014, edition of 3 by PJ Paterson