FBP II: FOTOFILMIC BOOK PROGRAM LED BY GREG GIRARD
+ GUEST MENTORS MICHAEL KOMINEK & GONZALO SANCHEZ
MENTORSHIP: SEPTEMBER 2026- MAY 2027
BOWEN ISLAND, TOKYO, ONLINE
3 EXHIBITIONS: BOWEN ISLAND (June 2027), PARIS (November 2027), TOKYO (March 2028)
FBP II MENTORING PROGRAM PRESENTATION (SEPTEMBER 2026-MAY 2027):
Over the course of 9 exciting months, participants in this second edition FBP long form mentoring program will receive the unique opportunity to develop ready-to-pitch (or self-publish) book maquettes of their chosen photography projects from scratch. At the heart of FBP is the desire to offer photographers of all levels and backgrounds a practical, well structured approach to molding their best work or projects into compelling book objects. To achieve this important goal and pivotal step in any photographer’s career, we are immensely grateful to welcome back the first FBP edition’s acclaimed mentoring team centered around legendary documentary artist Greg Girard – the author of over a dozen highly regarded and collected photobooks – seconded by his long time publishing team: collaborators Michael Kominek of the reputed Kominek Books publishing house and gallery in Berlin, and reputed designer Gonzalo Sanchez, who both worked in tandem on many of Greg’s celebrated books over many years including “In the Near Distance” (2010), “JAL 76 88” (2024) and just recently “Snack Sakura” (2025).
FBP includes two intensive in-person retreats: first on Bowen Island at the FOTOFILMIC Space at the start of the program in September, then in Tokyo, Japan, in March, where participants will receive additional feedback on their nearly formed book projects from three highly renowned Asia-based photography editors and curators. Slotted in between and complementing these seven days of physical gathering is a robust 26-hour schedule of both individual and group remote meetings with Greg, Michael, and Gonzalo to ensure steady, continuous progress through all phases of the bookmaking process: from rigorous editing and page sequencing to build rich and nuanced storytelling arcs, to finding bold, coherent design identities with materials to match, and more.
SCHEDULE OF FBP II EXHIBITIONS (JUNE 2027-MARCH 2028):
Final book maquettes will receive three featured exhibitions internationally:
1) at the FOTOFILMIC Space on Bowen Island in the summer of 2027 (1 month duration);
2) in Paris, France, the following November 2027 (1 week duration) during Paris Photo week
3) and in Tokyo, Japan, in March 2028 (1 week duration) for a final special presentation to also include a limited number of framed prints coming from the book projects.
All images/book covers © Greg Girard, courtesy the artist and the publishers. Top row, from left: HK:PM. Hong Kong Night Life 1974-1989 (Asia One Books, 2017); City of Darkness Revisited (Watermark Publications Ltd, 2014); Under Vancouver 1972-1982 (Magenta Foundation, 2017); Phantom Shanghai (Thames & Hudson, 2010). Bottom row, from left: Hanoi Calling: One Thousand Years Now (Magenta Foundation, 2010); American Stopover (Kominek Books, 2024); JAL 76-88 (Kominek Books, 2023); right: Snack Sakura (Kominek Books, 2025)
CORE MENTOR: GREG GIRARD
Greg Girard is a Canadian photographer who has spent much of his career in Asia. His work has examined the social and physical transformations in Asia, especially in its largest cities, for more than four decades. He is the author of several photographic books. City of Darkness Revisited, published 2014, revives an early collaboration with co-author Ian Lambot, and updates their influential book, City of Darkness: Life in Kowloon Walled City (Watermark, 1993). Based in Shanghai between 1998 and 2011, his photographic monograph, Phantom Shanghai (Magenta, Toronto, 2007), with a foreword by novelist William Gibson, looks at the rapid and at times violent changes in China’s largest city as Shanghai raced to remake itself at the beginning of the 21st Century. Other recent titles include JAL 76-88 (Kominek, Berlin, 2023), Tokyo-Yokosuka 1976-1983, (Magenta, Toronto, 2019), Hotel Okinawa, (The Velvet Cell, Osaka, 2017); Under Vancouver 1972-1982 (Magenta, Toronto, 2017); Hanoi Calling (Magenta, Toronto, 2010); and In the Near Distance (Kominek, Berlin, 2010), a book of early photographs made in Asia and North America between 1973 and 1986. The International Centre of Photography in New York featured his series “Half the Surface of the World”, a survey of US military bases and their host communities in Asia, in 2012. His work is in the collection of National Gallery of Canada, Art Gallery of Ontario, Vancouver Art Gallery, M+ Museum Hong Kong, and other public and private collections. National Geographic Magazine in a special issue in 2022 cited his photograph from a story on gene editing, titled ‘The DNA Revolution’, as one of this century’s ‘100 best photos’. He is represented by Monte Clark Gallery, North America; WKM Gallery, Hong Kong; and Kominek Gallery, Berlin.
https://www.greggirard.com/
@gregforaday
GUEST MENTORS: MICHAEL KOMINEK & GONZALO SANCHEZ
Michael Kominek is a gallerist, publisher and photographer. He founded Kominek Gallery in 2008 and he represents emerging and established artist such as Bryan Schutmaat, Daisuke Yokota, Mark Steinmetz or Greg Girard. Under the imprint of Kominek Books he has published books by Alec Soth, Viviane Sassen, Rinko Kawauchi or Senta Simond.
https://www.kominekominekominek.shop/
@kominekbooks
Gonzalo Sanchez is a book designer based in Florence, Italy. Originally from Argentina, he studied Graphic Design at the University of Buenos Aires and worked over a decade in Barcelona, Spain. Collaborating with publisher Michael Kominek, Gonzalo has designed photobooks for renowned photographers like Joan Fontcuberta, Greg Girard, Mark Steinmetz, and Rob Hornstra, among others.
https://www.gonzalosanchez.co/
@gonzaloasanchez
FBP Tokyo retreat, March 2026 with guest reviewers Takayuki Kobayashi (Flotsam Books), Naoko Uchima (Art Initiative Okinawa) & Titus Spree and Naoko Ohta (Klee Inc Paris Tokyo).
FBP II SCHEDULE SUMMARY
September 2026
4-day in-person retreat (September 14-17) on Bowen Island with Greg Girard at the FotoFilmic Space.
October 2026
1 private meeting with Greg Girard (online/1-hour per student)
1 group session with designer Gonzalo Sanchez (online/3 hours)
November 2026
1 group session with Greg Girard (online/6 hours)
December 2026
1 private meeting with designer Gonzalo Sanchez (online/1 hour per student)
January 2027
1 private meeting with Greg Girard (online/1 hour per student)
1 group session with publisher Michael Kominek (online/3 hours)
February 2027
1 private meeting with publisher Michael Kominek (online/1 hour per student)
1 group session with Greg Girard (online/6 hours)
March 2027
3-day in person retreat in Tokyo, Japan (March 17-19) with Greg Girard and Asia-based guest reviewers.
April 2027
1 final private meeting with Greg Girard (online/1 hour per student)
May 2027
1 final group session with Greg Girard, Michael Kominek & Gonzalo Sanchez: finished book maquettes presentations (online/3 hours)
Summer 2027
FPB Bowen exhibition: final maquettes on display at the FOTOFILMIC Space on Bowen Island (4-week duration).
November 2027
FPB Paris exhibition: final maquettes exhibited in Paris during the Paris Photo Week (1-week duration).
March 2028
FPB Tokyo exhibition: final maquettes exhibited in Tokyo in conjunction with a curated selection of prints (1-week duration). Prints will be produced by FotoFilmic and printed, mounted and framed at a professional lab in Tokyo (frame sizes to be displayed will consist of one 24×30 inches or two 16×20 inches).
REGISTRATION FEES & DEADLINES:
Early bird: $9750 USD
[Application Deadline: Thursday, 14, 2026]
Past attendee: $9250 USD
[Application Deadline: Thursday, May 14, 2026]
Past attendee: $10450 USD
[Application Deadline: from May 15 and until filled]
Applications are reviewed weekly and on a first-come first-served weekly basis: applying early is therefore recommended for greater chances to participate. Applicants will receive regular email updates from submission to final decision (please allow for one week from the day your application is received).
TRAVEL
Flights, local transportation, meals and accommodations are not included in any registration fees. However a detailed Bowen Island and Tokyo information packet is shared with all confirmed participants to help coordinate the logistical details of their stay on Bowen Island and in Tokyo.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications to register are free (no fee to apply). Enrolment is limited to 10 participants. Photographers/visual artists from all education backgrounds and at all stages of their careers are encouraged to apply (film and digital both OK). Submitting a portfolio of 20-30 images focused on past and/or ongoing work is required in order to receive full consideration.
REGISTRATIONS, DEPOSITS & PAYMENT PLANS
Selected applicants invited to register are required to confirm their participation by sending a $5000 USD registration deposit, or a full regular/early-bird registration payment.
If sending a registration deposit, the remaining tuition balance for accepted applicants will come due in full by Wednesday June 24, 2026.
Flexible monthly payment plans are also available to accepted applicants at their request and at no additional cost. If interested in subscribing to a registration payment plan please inquire before Friday, May 15, 2026, with FotoFilmic Co-Director Bastien Desfriches Doria at bastien@fotofilmic.com. Please also note that all payment plan payments remain non-transferable and non-refundable.
CANCELATIONS/WITHDRAWALS
The deadline for selected participants to withdraw their participation and request a refund is Sunday June 14, 2026. Please note that a $250 USD cancelation fee remains applicable. Cancelation and refund requests received after June 13 will not be accepted.
In the event the program is not meeting minimum enrolment or needs to be canceled for any other reason, paid tuition will be refunded in full without any cancelation fee. Please also note that FotoFilmic cannot be held responsible for any unrefunded traveling expenses if the program is not running: purchasing travel insurance is therefore highly recommended.
QUESTIONS/CONTACT
For any questions or inquiries, please contact FotoFilmic Co-Director Bastien Desfriches Doria directly at bastien@fotofilmic.com