PHOTO COMPETITION - 2026

This will be the 3rd edition of the TBIFF Photography Competition. The competition will run from July 2026 to October 2026, with a different theme each month. Contestants may enter for as many months as they wish. Participation is FREE.

Winners

1. The judges will select 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners each month (12 winners in total in 4 months).

2. The judges will select up to 3 runner-up entrants each month (under 12 runners-up in total in 4 months).

3. An overall Grand Prize winner will be selected by the judges, chosen from 12 monthly winners.

4. An overall 2nd Place and 3rd Place winner will also be selected from all monthly winners.

Prizes

5. The overall 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners will each receive cash prizes (TBC).

6. The overall 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners will each receive full film festival passes for TBIFF-27 (running 29 January – 7 February 2027).

7. The overall 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, and all monthly winners, will receive Certificates of Honour.

8. All monthly winners and runners-up will have their images printed and exhibited in the TBIFF Photography Competition Exhibition (29 January – 7 February 2027).

1. On the first day of each month, we will post the theme for that month on our Instagram account (@thebayfilmfestival) and website (www.thebayfilmfestival.com).

2. All images entered should be of, or taken in, the Morecambe Bay area. All entries must be new photographs taken during the month of submission.

3. Entries are accepted using any available camera, including film, digital and smartphones.

4. To enter, post your photo(s) on your Instagram account and copy the following text into your description*:

📷 With this photo I am taking part in the photo competition for the best photo of Morecambe Bay organised by @thebayfilmfestival #TBIFFphotocontest26 #morecambe #morecambebay #bayphotography

5. Each participant may submit not more than 3 photos per monthly round. Please do not submit multiple photos in an Instagram carousel - if you do, only the first photo will be accepted.

6. If it is not clear from your photo that it was taken in the Morecambe Bay area, please state the location in the description.

7. If it is not clear from your Instagram account, what is your name, please state your name in the description.

8. Please check that your photo has received a LIKE from the TBIFF account on the first day of the month following your submission. If it has not, it is possible we have missed it - please contact us as soon as possible.

9. At the beginning of each month, following judging, the results will be posted on our Instagram account. Photographs will be judged on the merit and creativity of their interpretation of the monthly theme by our panel of judges (details TBA).

10. Entrants under the age of 16 must have parent or guardian consent to enter.

* Important: if you do not copy this text, we will not see your entry. Do not add this description to photos posted before the month began - we follow the hashtag’s new photos each month and older posts are likely to be missed.

In keeping with the spirit of the Film Festival, this year each month is dedicated to the distinctive visual style of one iconic film director. Head to Morecambe Bay and show us the world through their eyes. Each month's theme will be announced on the first day of each month on social media and here.

1. By entering this competition, the copyright of your photo(s) shall remain with you. You agree that The Bay International Film Festival has the right to exhibit your photo(s) and to share them on social media. You will be given full credit as the photographer.

2. You confirm that the rights of the photo(s) entered belong to you.

3. You agree for your photo(s) to be used in marketing materials and press releases announcing the exhibition.

4. You agree to provide the best available quality digital file of your photo for printing, if selected for the exhibition.

5. You confirm that the photo was taken in the Morecambe Bay area.