Filter Photo Festival is a multi-day celebration of photography that takes place every autumn in Chicago. Festival programming includes workshops, lectures, artist talks, exhibition receptions, and much more. The majority of events take place at the Festival’s hotel headquarters, Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel, and evening activities primarily take place at galleries and partner institutions around the city.

Portfolio reviews are a central element of the Festival. During a portfolio review an artist is able to share work directly with local, national, and international photography professionals, including gallery directors, curators, editors, and publishers. Emerging and established photographers are welcome to sign up for these twenty-minute, one-on-one sessions.

The Filter Photo Festival has been an important part of the Chicago arts community since 2009, and has hosted an impressive roster of established artists and photographers as Festival Keynote Speaker including Joel-Peter Witkin, Penelope Umbrico, Carrie Mae Weems, Debbie Flemming Caffrey, and Curtis Mann, among others.  This year, John Chiara will join the Festival as the 2017 Keynote Speaker.

The event is largely open and free to attend, with keynote speakers, artist talks, and gallery walks around the city at partner locations during the course of the festival. The gallery, Filter Space, will host a number of exhibitions. Visitors can take in the opening reception for: we like small things at Filter Space September 21, 6:00 – 9:00 PM. The opening is free and open to the public. we like small things, curated by Jennifer Keats, Owner and Director of The Donut Shop, presents photographic work in progress, one-offs, inkjet prints, silver gelatin, alternative processes and more. All images are 10 x 10 inches or less, in this salon-style exhibition that showcases smaller work.

2016 Filter Photo Festival attendees at a Filter Space gallery presentation

The lineup of talks during this year’s festival include:

Terry Evans
September 21, 12:00 PM
The Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel

Alejandro T. Acierto
September 22, 12:00 PM
The Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel

Sara J. Winston
September 22, 1:00 PM
The Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel

Ronit Porat
September 23, 12:00 PM
The Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel

Jeffrey Wolin in conversation with Catherine Edelman
September 23, 5:00 PM
Loyola University Museum of Art

Professionalizing the Artist: A Panel Discussion
September 24, 12:00 PM
The Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel

For more information about the Filter Photo Festival, including schedule of events, workshops, portfolio review sessions, and contact information – please visit the Filter Photo website: www.filterphoto.org

 F-Stop Magazine is a proud media sponsor of Filter Photo Festival.