PhotoVogue launched MENA Panorama, a regional open call for photographers, filmmakers and multimedia artists from the Middle East, North Africa and their diasporas. Applications were free and closed on 24 September 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Central European Time.
The initiative sought visual narratives capable of moving beyond simplified representations of the region. Fashion, documentary, portraiture, fine art, video and experimental practices were eligible when supported by a clear artistic point of view.
Who was eligible?
The call was open to artists aged 18 and over who lived in the Middle East or North Africa, originated from the region, or belonged to a diaspora maintaining a meaningful connection with it.
Moroccan photographers, filmmakers, visual artists and digital storytellers could therefore apply whether they worked in Morocco or abroad.
Accepted projects
Applicants could submit photography, film or multimedia work, including:
- a series of up to 15 images;
- a combination of images and video;
- and/or a 60-second video trailer.
The rules explicitly excluded work generated entirely by artificial intelligence. The call prioritised image-making grounded in artistic practice and identifiable human experience—an issue explored further in Culturama’s article on generative AI and creative work.
Grants and international exposure
The programme offered $8,000 in total grants:
- $4,500 Outstanding Vision Grant;
- $2,000 Vision Grant;
- $1,500 Rising Voice Grant.
Selected artists could also present work at the 2027 PhotoVogue Festival, join online portfolio reviews and access possible publication opportunities within Condé Nast media in the region.
The campaign highlighted artists including Moroccan photographers Mous Lamrabat, Ismail Zaidy and M’hammed Kilito, reflecting the growing international visibility of Moroccan photography.
Building a strong portfolio
A convincing submission works as a coherent body of work rather than a collection of unrelated images. The presentation should explain the project’s subject, the artist’s point of view, the logic connecting the series and its contribution to the region’s visual landscape.
Technical quality matters, but so do narrative continuity, originality and the ability to resist clichés.
Status: the 2026 application deadline has passed.
