Chobi Mela X - call for entries for international festival of photography

CALL FOR ENTRY - Chobi Mela X, International Festival of Photography, 2019 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The theme of this edition is PLACE. Artists and Curators are invited to submit work of photography /video/ sound/ installations, and are encouraged to explore the boundaries of their medium. Apart from solo exhibitions, collective/curated works are also encouraged. The festival will feature exhibitions in print and digital form.

PLACE

No heaven, no hell, no everafter, do I care for when I’m gone
Peace here I seek, in this sand and soil, this place where I was born
As oceans deep, as deserts wide, as forests and fences loom
As children die, as lovers sigh, no cross, no epitaph, no tomb

As bullets whiz by, as shrapnel shard, as hate pours from above
As blue skies curse, the wounded I nurse, as spite replaces love
It is home I long, as I boundaries cross, a shelter that I seek
A world for us all, white brown short tall, the boisterous and the meek

If my bosom is raised, or my beard is long, or I sleep with the ‘wrong’ kind
If my politics isn’t yours, nor my country of birth, a terrorist you will find
You return my boat to the cruel sea, back to the wars you wrought
Walls you will raise, to keep me at bay, my children in danger fraught

I love the land I was born in, the tree that gave me shade
My broken home, my shattered dreams, my slain lover that goodbye bade
My slanted eyes, my dreadlock hair, my tongue though strange may be
I bleed red blood, as flows in your vein, Is there a place in your heart for me?

- Shahidul Alam

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Chobi Mela X will be launched on February, 2019. The theme of this edition is PLACE. Artists and Curators are invited to submit work of photography/video/sound/installations, and are encouraged to explore the boundaries of their medium. Apart from solo exhibitions, collective/curated works are also encouraged. The festival will feature exhibitions in print and digital form.

Last date for submissions is May 05, 2018. Selected artists will be notified by email on May 31, 2018.

Step 1: Please fill in the application form (available on Facebook page).
Step 2: Create a zip file with exhibition images or send a link of your video art/multimedia pieces/slideshows adhering to the following specifications:
• images must be 1200 pixels on the longer side with JPEG 5 compression,
• file name of the image should include the sequence followed by the artist’s name. Example: 01John.jpg,
• maximum 50 images can be submitted, please also send some images of your previous installations/exhibitions of the work if available,
• image information must include title, date, caption details, copyright and credit etc. in its file info,
• video art, multimedia pieces, slideshows to be shared with an active web link. 
Step 3: Create a separate word document which should include all image information: artist’s, short bio (max. 300 words), work title, date, captions, copyright and credit etc. Name of this file should include artists name. Example: John Captions.doc. 
Submit your portrait (1200 pixels on the longer side with JPEG 10 compression). 
Step 4: To complete the submission, send an email to chobimelabd@gmail.com with following attachments or a we-transfer link with;
1. Filled in application form
2. Zip file with images or an active web link of video/multimedia/slideshow
3. A word document with all image information and your 2000 pixel portrait

Submissions should reach Chobi Mela by May 05, 2018.

Chobi Mela retains the right to publish artworks and text from shows selected for exhibit, in promotional material relating to the festival. Such content will not be used in any other form, unless specifically authorised by the artist as in the case of a calendar. Chobi Mela does not sponsor shows and no fees will be paid to artists. However, for work that is selected, Chobi Mela expects to receive digital files for printing and the organisers will bear the cost of printing. The festival will organise gallery space and an opening reception for selected exhibitions. Chobi Mela will also publish a catalogue, which will feature all participating artists. Selected exhibitions may be toured internationally. The presence of local and international media partners will ensure extensive coverage in media.

Secretariat
Chobi Mela International Festival of Photography
Dhaka, Bangladesh
chobimelabd@gmail.com

Chobi Mela, the international festival of photography since its inception in 2000 has been the single biggest photography event in Asia and the first of a regular biennale, one that has become one of the highlights of the Asian calendar. It is organised by Drik Picture Library Ltd. and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute.