Canon has been collaborating with Visa pour l’Imageone of the leading photojournalism festivals in the world, and will also be featured at this year’s edition, which will take place from 29 August to 3 September in Perpignanin the south of France, during the Pro Week.
During the event it will pay tribute to the documentary sector by assigning the Canon Female Photojournalist Grantan award that has been awarded for twenty-two years and that this time ends up in the hands of the Franco-Russian photographer Natalya Saprunova for his contribution to the world of photojournalism.
Member of the French photographic agency Zeppelin and photography teacher at Graine de Photographe in Paris, the woman – who in her work addresses the themes of social transformation, identity, youth, spirituality and femininity – will receive 8,000 euros to carry out her project by documenting the life of Evenksan indigenous community of reindeer herders in the Russian region of Yakutia.
The Canon Video Grant instead this year the Spaniard receives it Irene Baqué for the realization of the short film winner of the competition. The videomaker will use the € 8,000 grant to work on her project The Casa de todasin which he will document the lives of 16 ex-prostitutes living in a shelter in the red light district of Tepito, Mexico City. Shooting will begin next year and the documentary will screen at the 2023 festival. Irene, whose films explore important themes such as identity, gender, youth culture and social justice, will also be lending Canon video equipment to support her work.
This event is especially important for young emerging talents from all over Europe, the Middle East and Africa, because they will be able to participate in the festival through the Canon Student Development Program, an opportunity that is repeated for the sixth consecutive year. Thirty talented photography students will have the opportunity to follow an important five-day workshop working with leading professionals through guided tours of exhibitions, seminars and hands-on sessions.
For example, this year’s speakers include the famous photojournalist James Nachtweythe awarded alumni Rehab Eldalil And Yuki Iwamuraas well as internationally renowned photojournalists and photo editors such as Anush Babajanyan, Paolo Verzone, Thomas Borberg And Dimitri Beck.
Students will also have the opportunity to submit their work to the judgment of some of the best experts in the sector including Olivier Laurent (The Washington Post), Fiona Shields (The Guardian), Benoit Baume (Fisheye magazine), Chiara Bardelli Nonino (Vogue Italia), Bonnie Bryant (Designer) and Marco Longari (Canon Ambassador and AFP Chief Photographer in Africa).
During the festival the documentary photographer Brent Stirton will exhibit the work published on National Geographic in which it deals with the theme of meat from wild animals, sustainability and zoonoses. The shots were made in Guyana, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Papua New Guinea, the USA and the Republic of the Congo.
The projects of the two winners of the Canon Female Photojournalist Grant 2021 And 2022, Sabiha Cimen And Acacia Johnson. In addition, an exhibition area has been set up at the Palais des Congrès, venue of the festival, where visitors will be able to experience the various Canon products first hand. All accredited photographers will also be able to receive a free inspection and cleaning service offered by experienced Canon Professional Services (CPS) technicians.