Rules
Rome ÈFestival – Street Photography Awards – 2026

Organisation, dates and theme
Title: Rome ÈFestival – Street Photography Awards – 2026
Dates: 16–18 October 2026instagram+1
Location: Rome, Officine Fotografiche.

Participation

The competition, an integral part of an international festival dedicated to photography as an art form, is open to professional and non‑professional photographers aged 18 or over.

Alongside the traditional categories — Single Image, Black and White, Smartphone and Series/Project — a fifth, separate and clearly distinct category has been introduced for images generated by artificial intelligence.

This category is reserved exclusively for images that have not been created through conventional photographic processes, nor simply edited or digitally retouched, but instead generated entirely by means of prompts and commands given to artificial intelligence systems.

AI images may compete only within their specific category and will be awarded separate prizes (gold, silver, bronze).

The decision to introduce this section stems from the growing relevance and, at the same time, the controversial nature of the use of artificial intelligence in the photographic field. Many photographers have expressed concerns about its impact on the industry — concerns that we share. For this reason, we have chosen to create an autonomous category, in order to avoid overlaps or ambiguities and to protect both participants and the clarity of communication with the audience.

All entries in the various categories and the purchase of any special passes are to be understood as participation in the cultural activities of the non‑profit association EFFE4.0, which is dedicated to promoting photographic culture and enhancing the artistic work of participants.

By registering for the competition, each participant will receive an EFFE4.0 membership card valid for the year 2026, which grants access to all activities organised by the association: exhibitions, inclusion in the festival catalogue, possible publication on the official channels (website, Instagram, YouTube) and participation in cultural initiatives organised throughout the year.

Categories

The competition is divided into five distinct categories:
– Single Image (colour or black and white)
– Black and White Image (monochrome only)
– Smartphone Photo
– Photographic Project (series/portfolio)
– AI‑generated Image (separate and clearly indicated category)

Requirements for “street” categories

Applies to: Single Image, Black and White, Smartphone, Series/Project.

-Images must be taken in public spaces: streets, squares, public transport and other locations accessible to the public.

-Images or photographs that are fully staged with posing models are not allowed.

-Images created with posed subjects on commission are not accepted.

-For these categories, images created, altered or modified using generative artificial intelligence tools are not permitted. Any use of AI that goes beyond simple, non‑generative technical adjustments will result in disqualification.

Files and post‑production

Technical specifications
Format: JPG/JPEG, sRGB colour profile
Maximum file size: 2 MB per image
Watermarks: no visible watermarks, logos or signatures are allowed.

Post‑production for classic street categories
(Applies to all categories except the AI category)

Allowed:
– Basic adjustments: exposure, contrast, sharpness, colour correction
– Moderate cropping
– Removal of sensor dust and correction of minor technical defects.

Not allowed:
– Adding or removing significant elements using cloning tools or generative tools
– Composite images created from multiple shots
– Substantial alterations that change the documentary nature of the image
– Any use of generative AI tools (such as text‑to‑image, inpainting, outpainting, “generative fill” or similar functions) to create, add, remove or reconstruct relevant parts of the image.

Smartphone category

Files must be created with a smartphone using standard shooting modes.

Extreme HDR, portrait mode or complex creative effects may be limited or excluded if they significantly alter the scene.

The aim is to remain faithful to the documentary spirit of street photography.

AI category

Images created or heavily modified using generative artificial intelligence tools (text‑to‑image, inpainting, outpainting, etc.) are allowed.

AI‑generated images do not compete for the main prizes dedicated to street photography and will have dedicated prizes and a separate jury.

The AI section will be judged exclusively by Claudio Palmisano, who will assign the specific awards dedicated to this category.

This separation is intended to keep generative artificial intelligence distinct from traditional photography.

Copyright and use of images

Intellectual property

The author guarantees to hold the rights to the submitted images and to be authorised to enter them.

The author retains full copyright on their images.

Usage rights for the organisers

Rome ÈFestival and the organising committee reserve the non‑exclusive right to use finalist and winning images for:
– Festival promotion (website, social media, press releases)
– Printed and digital promotional material
– Exhibitions linked to the festival
– Printed and digital catalogue distributed internationally.

Any further commercial use (such as print sales) is prohibited without a prior written agreement with the author.

Eligibility, exclusions and liability

Who can participate

– Open to participants from all countries
– Minimum age: 18 years
– Both professional and amateur photographers are welcome.

Who cannot participate

– Members of Rome ÈFestival and of the Cultural Association EFFE4.0
– Main sponsors of the festival
– Members of the jury and their first‑degree relatives.

Unacceptable content

The following are not allowed:
– Defamatory content
– Discriminatory content
– Incitement to hatred
– Explicit pornography.

Legal responsibility

Participants must comply with local laws on privacy and image rights.

Street photography in public spaces is generally legal, but each author must assess the legal framework and limitations in their own country.

Submission, anonymity and entry procedure

Entry procedure

Registration and image upload are possible exclusively via the dedicated online platform.

Files must not contain the author’s full name in the “author” metadata field (the platform will remove or hide it if present).

This ensures complete anonymity during the selection process.

Entry fees

Single categories

Single Image – Colour/Open
– 1–3 images: 20 € total
– 4–8 images: 40 € total

Black and White Images
– 1–3 images: 20 € total
– 4–8 images: 40 € total

Smartphone
– Up to 5 images: 20 € total

Photographic Project
– 1 project (5–15 images): 35 €
– 2 projects: 50 €

AI‑generated Image
– Up to 5 AI‑generated images: 30 € total

Multi‑category passes

EFFE4 PRO multi‑category Pass
Includes: Single Image + Black and White + Smartphone
Price: 50 € total (instead of 100 €)
Maximum 5 images per category
Discount: 50%

Full EFFE4 multi‑category Pass
Includes: all categories (Street, Black and White, Smartphone, Project)
Price: 70 € total (instead of 135 €)
Includes 1 project + up to 15 single images
Discount: 50%

The deadline for submitting works is 31 July 2026.

Finalists will be announced by 13 September 2026 on the festival website and on the EFFE4.0 Instagram page.

Selection, jury and awards

Selection process

The selection takes place in two stages:
– Initial on‑screen selection by the curatorial committee
– Final evaluation by an international jury.

Jury

The jury is composed of photographers and professionals with recognised experience:
– Pau Buscatò (Spain)
– Rui Palha (Portugal)
– Barbara Di Maio (Italy)
– Liliana Ranalletta (Italy)
– Dario Coletti (Italy)
– Claudio Palmisano (Italy)
– Sonia Simbolo (Italy)
– Arez Prod (Italy)
– Mario Mencacci (Italy)
– Gianluca De Dominici (Italy)

Judges will vote blindly. Based on the overall score, the following will be selected as finalists and exhibited during the festival: 50 single images, 30 black and white images, 15 smartphone images, 10 AI‑generated images and 10 series/projects.

After this stage and the on‑screen selection of the finalists, the organisers reserve the right to request:
– For all “street” photography categories (Single Image, Black and White, Smartphone, Projects): the original RAW file (or, for smartphones, the original uncompressed file directly from the camera) for each finalist image, in order to verify the authenticity of the shot and compliance with these rules.
– For the AI‑generated Image category: information on the generative software used.

Failure to provide the requested RAW file or proof relating to AI generation within the specified timeframe may result in the disqualification of the image and the replacement of the finalist.

Once the verification stage is complete, the judges will award first, second and third prizes in each category. The jury’s decisions are final and not subject to appeal.

Evaluation criteria

– Adherence to street photography
– Originality of vision
– Narrative strength
– Stylistic consistency
– Technical quality
– Consistency of the series (for projects).

Categories and prizes

The top three entrants in each category will receive a prize:
– Single Image (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
– Black and White Image (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
– Smartphone Photo (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
– Photographic Project (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
– AI‑generated Image (1st, 2nd, 3rd)

Prizes are offered by the event’s partners: Fotodiego, Fowa and Ricoh GR.

Details regarding prizes and honourable mentions will be provided in the official call for entries and published on the festival website before registrations open.

Exhibition and catalogue

Physical exhibition

Finalist and winning images will be exhibited during the festival (16–18 October 2026) in a physical exhibition in Rome, at Officine Fotografiche.

International catalogue

All finalists will also be included in a printed and digital catalogue, distributed internationally and produced by the organisers at no additional cost to the authors.

The catalogue offers valuable international visibility.

Exhibition of the AI section

The section dedicated to artificial intelligence will be clearly indicated and exhibited separately from the sections devoted to traditional street photography, in order to respect the distinction between documentary photography and AI‑generated images.

Privacy

Personal data provided by participants will be processed in accordance with current privacy regulations (EU Regulation 2016/679 – GDPR).

Data will be used solely for managing the competition and for promotional communications related to the event (festival information, newsletter, invitations).

Acceptance of the rules

Binding conditions

By taking part in the competition, participants fully and unconditionally accept these rules.

Submitting images via the online platform constitutes formal acceptance of all the clauses contained in this document.

Disputes

Any disputes or situations not expressly covered by these rules will be decided by the organisers. Their decision is final and not subject to appeal.

Information and contacts

For more information on the competition, entry procedures and updates about the festival:
Website: https://www.romaefestival.com/
Email: info@romaefestival.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/effe4.0_streetphotography/

Rules updated in March 2026.

Rome ÈFestival – Street Photography Awards 2026 is organised by the Cultural Association EFFE4.0.