Toulouse (AFP)
Covid, ecological crisis and urban revolts will be on the agenda of the 32nd edition of Visa for the image, held at the beginning of September in Perpignan, announced the organizers, stressing their roots in this city in the south of France which could tip over into the far right camp at the municipal level.
The choice to save the "physical dimension" of the meeting, the first photojournalism festival in the world, imposed itself "at a time when many photojournalists row, almost without orders for two months," stressed in a press conference video the director of the festival, Jean-François Leroy.
Asked about a possible capture of the city by the deputy of the National Rally (RN) Louis Aliot during the second round of the municipal elections on June 28, he put forward "promises not to touch Visa" made and "reiterated" to organizers by the candidate.
"There is no reason to deprive Perpignan residents of Visa, it would be a shame for everyone to withdraw us (...) but I will ensure the integrity of my freedom of choice", he said. added.
"A little reduced" because deprived of emblematic places and evenings screenings, in the name of strict compliance with health rules, the 32nd edition, from August 29 to September 13, will be matched to compensate for a digital dimension, notably through the support of Google.
Among the "strong subjects" put forward by Mr. Leroy, a report by Peter Turnley on "The human face of the Covid-19 in New York", alongside a collective exhibition "Pandemic (s)", first round of this crisis.
The program, still provisional, of the 20 planned exhibitions also gives pride of place to ecological and sustainable development issues, notably showing "A planet drowned under plastic" under the lens of James Whitlow Delano.
Photographer Nicole Tung, production grant for women photojournalists from the Ministry of Culture, will give an account with "The protesters" of the struggle of the Hong Kong demonstrators against the Beijing regime, among the highlights of other urban uprisings .
This edition will be "very feminine" and it is a "coincidence" noted Mr. Leroy, explaining that the photos were chosen "according to their quality".
© 2020 AFP