INTRODUCTION TO THE EDITION
The program for this 7th edition has evolved significantly.
The mentorship component, previously reserved for photographers from the southern Mediterranean, now extends to the entire Mediterranean region.
We supported 18 photographers this year (compared to 15 in 2023 and 2024).
This edition offered new partnership opportunities and greater visibility for Facing the sea 2026.
A LOOK BACK AT THE 2025 EDITION
GUEST SPEAKERS / MENTORS
Dimitri Beck (POLKA Magazine)
Stéphanie Gaou (librairie-galerie Les Insolites)
Khalil Nemmaoui (photographe)
Mehdy Mariouch (photographe)
Abla Ababou (Galerie Abla)
Lorenzo Virgili (Centre de formation Transmission)
Rafaele Garnot (AFP)
Marie Andrieu (Photo review des RIP d’ Arles)
Marie Sumalla (Journal Le Monde)
Christophe Ralite (PIXTRAKK)
Wilfrid Estève (agence photo et plateforme Hans Lucas)
Jean-Matthieu Gautier (Revue Epic)
Claudio Composti (Art Curator italien)
Isabelle Habert (Société d’auteur la SAIF)
Sara Giuliattini (Festival parisien Polycopies)
Maureen Auriol (Hebdomadaire Marianne)
Gilles Coulon et Michel Bousquet (Tendance Floue, PODA)
Valmont Achalme et Olivia Seigneurgens (Festival In Cadaques)
Naima Kaddour (Archive Director Magnum)
WORKSHOPS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27
KNOWLEDGE SHARING WORKSHOP
– 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Lorenzo Virgili (Topics: Target audience, angle, methodology, costs, appropriate narrative style…)
– 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM: JC Milhet & Wilfrid Estève (Topics: “Face à la mer” network, distribution, the press market, importance of IPTC metadata)
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28
– “Protecting the Photographer and the Image” with PIXTRAKK and SAIF
– “Photography and Psychology: ANCHORING” with Lorenzo Virgili – “Managing the freelance photographer’s morale”
– “How to Tell a Story (or Your Own Story) Through Images” – roundtable discussion with the mentors
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29
– TALK: “The History of Magnum Agency” by Naima Kaddour, Archive Director at Magnum Photos
GRAND PRIX
The 2025 Face à la mer Grand Prix has been awarded this year to Mona Favoreu for her series On a tué Dieu au paradis (We killed God in heaven).
PRIX RÉVÉLATION
The 2025 Face à la mer Breakthrough Award has been awarded to Hanane Boukili for her series Aid El-Kebir.
PRIX LUMIÈRE
The 2025 Face à la mer Lumière Prize has been awarded this year to François Silvestre Desacy for his series Merci d’être passé (Thanks for stopping by)
Review by the organizers
A rich and successful seventh edition, with the Face à la mer network expanding year after year.
Its opening up to the wider Mediterranean region is resulting in growing visibility and impact.
Two new developments are taking shape for 2026:
– the L’Œil d’Orphée residency in Cap d’Ail (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur), echoing the world of Jean Cocteau;
– a new program, Mediterranean Youth, involving new partners.
A look back at the 2025 edition (in French) with Mina Mostefa, produced by Wilfrid Estève (RCF radio):