Who we are
Get to Know the F/262 International Photography Festival
The F/262 Photography Festival is a biannual celebration of contemporary photography, visual storytelling, and creative exchange. Based in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal, our mission is to decentralize photographic culture by creating an international platform rooted in local identity.
Founded by artists, for artists, F/262 champions fresh voices, experimental visions, and dialogue between creators and the community. We blend exhibitions in public and gallery spaces, hands-on workshops, mentorships, and open calls, inviting both emerging and established photographers to take part.
Whether you’re an image-maker, curator, student, collector, or enthusiast — this is your space to connect, reflect, and be inspired.
What F/262 Stands For
The name F/262 carries layers of meaning.
F/ is not just a Festival. It also stands for Photography, Focus, F-Stop, Family, Fun, Família, Friendship, Freedom — values and ideas that shape the spirit of the event.
262 may look like an f-stop value, but in truth it’s the area code of Caldas da Rainha and Óbidos, the two cities that host the festival. It’s a nod to place, roots, and belonging.
Colors & Identity: Our palette is inspired by the flags of Caldas da Rainha (purple, yellow) and Óbidos (blue, yellow). We reinterpret them with blue, purple, and lens-orange — the orange drawn from camera markings, a visual wink to photography itself.
Together, these elements create more than a logo — they form a visual identity that connects photography, community, and territory.
Why F/262 caldas da rainha
This festival didn’t appear overnight. It’s been slowly taking shape over the years — rooted in experience, reflection, and the desire to give something back.
Back in 2018, I was invited to L’Été des Portraits in Bourbon-Lancy, not just to exhibit but also to serve as a jury member. Being involved on both sides — artist and curator — gave me a deeper understanding of what makes a photography festival meaningful. The town itself also left an impression: Bourbon-Lancy reminded me so much of Caldas da Rainha. Both are thermal cities with long histories of wellness and art. It felt like a sister city — and it planted a seed.
In 2020, I was invited to Kranj, Slovenia, as part of their European Union Cultural Capital candidacy. There, I participated in a series of open-air exhibitions across public space — a format that showed me how photography can breathe life into a city’s rhythm and architecture.
Most recently, I was honored with a Gold Award at Lens op de Mens, an outdoor photography festival in Pelt, Belgium. Once again, I saw how powerful photography can be when it’s taken outside the gallery and placed into the streets, into the public sphere.
Over the years, I’ve built an international career — exhibiting, mentoring, and founding Light Syndicate Academy to support fellow creatives. And although I was awarded the Medal of Cultural Merit by the city of Caldas da Rainha in 2014, I’ve always felt I hadn’t yet truly contributed to my hometown the way I wanted.
That’s where F/262 comes in.
This festival is my way of returning something meaningful. Of creating opportunities. Of showing the power of photography not just as an art form, but as a shared, public, community experience.
And Caldas da Rainha is the perfect place for it.
As a UNESCO Creative City, recognized for its cultural contribution to crafts and folk art, Caldas is a town steeped in artistic legacy — with a growing contemporary pulse. It’s ready for something bold, collaborative, and global.
F/262 is more than a photography festival.
It’s a platform for connection, visibility, and creative exchange.
It’s a long-overdue love letter to the city that raised me.
And it’s just the beginning.
“Caldas has always had the soul of an art city. F/262 is just helping turn up the volume.”
João Carlos
Our team
MEET THE TEAM
At the heart of F/262 is a small but passionate team of artists, educators, curators, and cultural producers who believe photography can shift perspectives and move people to action.
We come from diverse backgrounds but share a commitment to elevating visual culture and supporting the creative community.
Here, everyone contributes: from building exhibition walls to curating themes, writing grants to managing workshops. We’re hands-on, collaborative, and fiercely independent — because that’s the only way a festival like this can thrive.
João Carlos
Festival Founder, Director & Curator
João Carlos is a multi-award-winning photographer, educator, and curator with over 25 years of international experience. A brand ambassador and cultural leader, he has exhibited worldwide, served on the boards of leading photography associations, and now directs the vision and curation of F/262..
Dina Silva
Finance, Budget & Festival Operations
Finance and hospitality professional, formerly Director of Finance at Four Seasons, now coordinating festival budgets with precision. Founder of Coletivo Corrente D’Ar, she brings strategic vision, luxury insights, and nonprofit stewardship to F/262.
Pedro Camacho
Communications, Marketing & Public Relations
Pedro is Account‑Based & Digital Marketing Manager at Fujitsu North America, based in Caldas da Rainha. He specializes in visual storytelling and campaigns that amplify brand presence through creative strategy
João Agostinho
Design, Branding & Visual Identity
Founder and Creative Director of JA Design Studio, João brings over a decade of experience in branding, design, and creative strategy. With studios in Caldas da Rainha and London, his work combines bold creativity with smart design solutions, shaping memorable visual identities for global brands and cultural projects.
Diego Veríssimo
Analog Lab Coordinator
Diego Veríssimo Holds a degree in Photography from the Polytechnic Institute of Tomar and teaches in several national institutions. At F/262, he coordinates the Analog Lab, exploring experimental and analog processes in contemporary practice.
Paulo Plaza
Volunteer & Community Engagement Coordinator
Paolo will lead the development of the volunteer program and foster local community involvement to support F/262’s activities and outreach. Based in Torres Vedras, he holds a degree in photography and has taught at IPCI Lisbon, bringing both educational and project management experience to the team.
Nuno Gervasio
Foto Film Fest Coordinator
A digital storyteller specializing in mobile photography and video. Programmer and curator of Shortcutz Lisboa, an international short film movement, and collaborator of MOTELX and MONSTRA festivals. Director of the documentary “111 Years and 10 Days” (2018), and currently PhotoFilm Coordinator at the F/262 International Photography Festival.
Tatiana Saavedra
FotoFilm Fest Co-Coordinator & Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator
Photographer and inclusion advocate, Tatiana leads the F/262 FotoFilmFest while driving the festival’s diversity and inclusion initiatives. A member of the Hans Lucas studio in Paris, her work explores identity, belonging, and representation across visual arts and cultural platforms.
Lara Costa
Photo Book Club Coordinator
Lara holds a photography certificate from IPCI and is pursuing a Master’s in Creative Industries Management at the University of Porto. She has exhibited personal projects, contributed to the 2023 European Parliament trainees’ photobook, and at F/262 coordinates the Photo Book Club, connecting her research in cultural events and visual storytelling with the festival community.
Rosalinda Chaves
Well-Being Coordinator
Psychologist and photographer leading creative therapy workshops through Desfoco. Integrates well-being and visual education into community programming.
Rodrigo Eloi
Next Gen Coordinator
Rodrigue Eloy studied photography at Lycée Professionnel Victor Laloux in France, specializing in professional photography. At F/262, he leads the Youth & Education Programs, coordinating the Under 25 Competition, workshops for ages 5–25, and initiatives that amplify the voices of the next generation of photographers.
Leonor Santos
Next Gen Co-Coordinator
At just 16, Leonor is the youngest member of the F/262 team, serving as Co–Next Gen Coordinator. A student at Escola Secundária Bordalo Pinheiro in the audiovisual course, she brings a strong passion for photography and video. Her role reflects the festival’s commitment to empowering younger voices and ensuring the next generation carries the vision forward.
Pedro Davim
Webmaster & Ticketing
Digital specialist overseeing the festival website, ticketing system, and online visitor experience to ensure smooth usability and reliability.
Daiane Eloisa da Silva
Festival Legal & Compliance Advisor
A privacy and data protection lawyer (DPO) dedicated to safeguarding individual rights in the digital age, she also brings a creative eye to photography. Through D’Art Protography, she captures street life, events, and family moments with authenticity and sensitivity.
Filipa Banza
NGO & Social Projects Coordinator / Stories of Solidarity Coordinator (FSOS Coordinator)
Emerging photographer based in Almada, her work focuses on environmental issues related to coastal ecosystems, social issues, and documentary photography. Has volunteered since 2017 at an NGO dedicated to coastal decontamination. Is the NGO & Social Projects Coordinator / Stories of Solidarity Coordinator (FSOS Coordinator)
Milla Yankovska
Production Coordinator
Versatile creative with experience as a model, actress, and production assistant. Studied Production at Escola 35mm, combining artistic insight with strong organizational skills. Passionate about storytelling and teamwork, she is currently Production Coordinator at the F/262 International Photography Festival.
Founder’s Note
Copyright © 2026 by João Carlos