2025 Filter Photo Festival

Filter Photo is pleased to present the 17th Annual Filter Photo Festival. This four-day event celebrates the vibrant art community in Chicago through photography-inspired programming. Photography curators, collectors, and critics from across the country will conduct portfolio reviews with aspiring artists and photographers. There will also be a variety of photography workshops exploring everything from translating a project to book form, to building powerful narratives. Additionally, the Festival will feature a series of daily artist talks, including renowned artist Diana Markosian as the featured evening speaker. Attendees will also have the opportunity to casually share work during Roaming Reviews and connect with peers and our sponsors in the Festival Lounge. Finally, there will be a special reception at Filter Space for two exhibitions: A layin’ on of hands…, a solo exhibition by Alayna N. Pernell, and On the Shelf 2025, a photo book exhibition juried by Tim Carpenter.

The 2025 Filter Photo Festival will primarily take place at the Columbia College Chicago Student Center in downtown Chicago, with additional programming taking place at partner organizations and institutions throughout the city. Portfolio reviews and workshops are paid events that require advanced registration; all other programming is free and open to the public.