On May 30, FotoFabrika’s Fotomarathon will once again turn Sofia into a terrain for photography, improvisation, and quick decisions. The event begins at 10:00 AM at Kino Kabana, where participants will receive their competition numbers and discover the theme of this year’s edition before heading out into the city in search of their one decisive image.

FotoFabrika’s Fotomarathon follows a simple rule: within a single day, participants must capture one photograph inspired by the assigned theme – without time for lengthy planning and without endless retakes. The format challenges photographers to react instinctively, think visually, and sharpen their awareness so they do not miss the right moment.

This year’s jury president is Alex Majoli, one of the most recognizable contemporary photographers in the world and a member of Magnum Photos. Majoli is known for his theatrical visual language, his use of light and composition, and his photographs from conflict zones, political crises, and everyday situations transformed into almost cinematic images. His presence in Sofia turns this year’s Fotomarathon into a rare opportunity for participants to present their work to an author with global significance for contemporary documentary photography.

The jury will award a prize fund of €1000, provided by the competition’s partners, the Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation, whose support makes the second consecutive edition of the Fotomarathon possible. One participant will also receive a €200 photography equipment voucher from Ozone Pro.

To take part in the competition, participants must register in advance through the application form and read the rules here.

As in previous editions, both professional photographers and amateurs are welcome to participate in the Fotomarathon. Participants may shoot with either a camera or a phone, while the most important elements remain not the equipment or post-processing, but the eye, the reaction, and the ability to tell a story in a single frame.

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