Rotterdam Photo 2025

Emerging from the omnipresent culture of imagery, the new wave of photographic talent consists of true digital natives. They've grown up in a world where images reign supreme, and they play a pivotal role in capturing the essence of freedom, culture, human connection, and unity. This generation exemplifies the delicate balance between finding a genuine subjective perspective (ethics) and crafting the perfect visual expression (aesthetics). With insatiable curiosity and a thirst for innovation, they push the narrative and technical boundaries of photography to new heights.

At Rotterdam Photo, we are committed to empowering this intricate balancing act with a solid foundation---a theme broad enough to invite a myriad of independent photographers to join our festival, yet clear enough to provide visitors with a cohesive narrative that links the diverse issues raised by individual creators.

For the 2025 edition, our theme is Shared/Connected.

In the wake of half a century of neoliberalism, a new ideology is stirring: commonism. This movement challenges the relentless privatization and commercialization of shared resources and goods, as well as the enclosure of scientific knowledge and information. It stands against any form of hierarchical inequality or dominance of one group over another, offering an alternative to diluted notions of collectivism and social cooperation.

How much are we truly willing to share? And how can this be captured visually? Rotterdam Photo seeks to chart this new ideological landscape through the lens of contemporary photographers, while also embracing their critical perspectives on a utopian, commonistic society. Can we truly define a common good in an open society like ours, or is it just a superficial commitment?

The strong communal bonds of the past have been replaced by weak social connections, untethered from religious or socialist mandates. Yet, we now face the dystopian reality of ubiquitous connections, where for decades we've been compelled to share everything–particularly opinions and personal worldviews. The digital and logistical web we've woven is, in this sense, the sole authority that knows, organizes, and governs all.

What tools do we have now to live together meaningfully? How can this sense of connectedness be shared in a way that everyone values? What technological innovations will aid us in this quest?

These pressing questions resonate deeply with today's visual artists and photographers, inspiring projects that explore (re)discovered family ties, identity issues, social and ecological engagement, and the role of artificial means in these endeavors. This has given rise to what seems to be a neo-existential movement in photography. It is precisely this movement that Rotterdam Photo seeks to highlight in this year's Open Project Call.