VIENNA.- On June 20 and 21, 2015 the third edition of the ViennaPhotoBookFestival turns the Brotfabrik in Vienna into a hotspot for all photography lovers, photobook collectors, artists, publishers and dealers once again. Initiated three years ago by the OstLicht Photography Gallery and the Anzenberger Gallery, the festival has quickly established itself as Europe’s largest photobook event.

Together with our cooperation partners, Photon Gallery and Superar, far more than 1000 square metres are available to more than 80 international book sellers in 2015.

A Unique Platform for Photobooks
Recent years have seen interest in artistic photobooks increase immensely. Photobooks have long become sought-after collectors’ items and have established themselves as an independent artistic medium. The ViennaPhotoBookFestival offers a unique platform for these trends and has met with enthusiastic acceptance with from more than 80 exhibitors from all over the world, including Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, Great Britain, France, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, Hungary, Germany and Austria. Thus, collectors and photography fans can learn about major publishers’ current photobook productions and will have an opportunity to acquire rare collectibles as well as small, high-class editions offered directly by the artists.

Star Appearance by William Klein
The American star photographer William Klein, one of the most important protagonists of the photobook scene, has agreed for the first time to give a lecture. Klein’s distinctive black-and-white photographs had a decisive influence on Japanese photobook culture during the 1960s and 1970s. The most prominent photobook critic of our times, Colin Pantall (UK), and the star publisher Michael Mack (UK) will share their knowledge with the audience, and Michel Auer (CH), Manfred Heiting (US), Gerry Badger (UK) and Andreas H. Bitesnich (AT) will participate in a panel discussion on “Collecting Photobooks”, sharing their broad experience and expertise. Additional international guests include Olivia Arthur (Magnum photographer, project Inge Morath – Danube Revisited, UK), Nicolo Degiorgis (author of the most successful book of 2014, Hidden Islam, IT) and Ania Nalecka (one of the world’s best photobook designers, PL).

Discovering New Talent
The ViennaPhotoBookReview, launched successfully last year and dedicated to the discovery of new talent, will be continued. Far more than twenty photographers all over Europe will participate and submit their photobooks.