Face à la mer Hors les murs in Carcassonne :
Face à la mer Hors les murs (Off-site Facing the sea) in Carcassonne serves as a cultural bridge across the Mediterranean, inviting reflection on the world around us by offering a deeper understanding through architectural, heritage, cultural, and social comparisons conveyed via photography.
The festival incorporates an educational component by involving schoolchildren; the goal is to raise young people's awareness of cultural differences, foster exchanges with children in Tangier, and broaden their perspective on life on the other side of the Mediterranean.
On March 16, 2026, Mina Mostefa, Director of Face à la mer Hors les murs, announced the postponement of the second edition to 2027.
This decision followed the results of the first round of the 2026 municipal elections and the prospect of a Rassemblement National majority—a political outcome deemed incompatible with the project's values of openness and empowerment. However, the educational component was maintained in 2026, thanks to the support of the town of Trèbes.
This school twinning initiative will be continued in 2027, involving schools in the local area as well as the two French schools in Tangier.
“The Mediterranean, the concepts of neighbor and tolerance”
Direction : Mina Mostefa (Face à la mer) and Wilfrid Estève (Hans Lucas)
“Signing a partnership agreement in our city of Carcassonne represents, for us, a validation of our expertise abroad and of the relevance of our message and our work. It highlights the importance of collaboration between our institutions, centered on a shared region—the Mediterranean—and a universal language: photography.
Now more than ever, we must introduce young people to these ideas, involve them in reflecting on the world of tomorrow, and engage with their sense of curiosity.
To this end—through exhibitions staged across the city and round-table discussions aimed at both school groups and the general public—we wish to debate, discuss, and meet the future shapers of our world, all centered on a single theme:
‘The Mediterranean: the concepts of neighborliness and tolerance.’“
For 15 days, the city of Carcassonne opens up its indoor and outdoor spaces to create a genuine journey featuring photo exhibitions, discussions, and opportunities to meet the photographers.
The goal is to give the festival a broader scope by involving local schoolchildren and their teachers, enabling educational activities centered on the powerful themes championed by “Face à la mer.”
It is important to broaden our children’s perspective on events unfolding on both sides of the Mediterranean, fostering exchanges not only with children from Tangier but also with the professional photographers in attendance.
The “Off-site Facing the sea” festival bridges two cities—serving as a genuine tool for cultural and tourism promotion, especially given the 2024 launch of a direct flight connecting Carcassonne and Tangier—in support of a bold, innovative cultural and social project.
Mina Mostefa & Wilfrid Estève
Presentation of the inaugural 2025 edition of the Face à la mer Hors les murs festival in Carcassonne by her director, Mina Mostefa; interview conducted by Wilfrid Estève (RCF radio)
A PHOTO LOOK BACK AT THE 2025 EDITION
“FACE À LA MER” (FACING THE SEA) PROGRAM – CARCASSONNE 2025
Mediterranean Photography Festival in partnership with the City of Carcassonne.
Dates: May 16 to May 31, 2025 (Opening on May 16)
Photography exhibitions at various public locations throughout the city.
Lectures: School groups meeting photographers and photography experts; theme: the concept of “The Neighbor.”
Venues:
Odeum Amphitheater, Carcassonne
Saint François Xavier Chapel, Place Carnot, Town Hall Courtyard, Dominican Chapel, Museum Courtyard, Gambetta Square
• Program for Saturday May 17, 2025:
opening of exhibitions
PORTAIL JACOBIN :
YASSINE SELLAME “Skate Youth”
PLACE CARNOT :
RIME SABBAR “Red & Green”
CHAPELLE FRANÇOIS-XAVIER :
YOUNESS SEFYAOUI “One day old”
COURS DE LA MAIRIE DE CARCASSONNE :
CHARAF LAHIB “The red Poppy”
CHAPELLE DOMINICAINE :
YAN MORVAN “Bobby Sands”
YZZA SLAOUI “Sincerely Tendrara”
CÉLINE CROZE “Tingis Almaleun”
MUSÉE DE CARCASSONNE :
LEILA ALAOUI “Les Marocains”
SQUARE GAMBETTA :
AMINE HOUARI “Shifting Tangier”
AMINE OULMAKKI “Biographie d’un homme-Âne”
• Program for Friday, May 16, 2025:
• 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM:
Showcase of work by students from Carcassonne schools via the film: “Raconte-moi ta Méditerranée” (Tell Me About Your Mediterranean).
Screening and discussion with students and the public at the Carcassonne Congress Centre (L’Odeum).
• 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM:
Presentation of projects selected for the 2025 FALM x Carcassonne City Hall “Découverte” Award.
• 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM:
Presentation of “Facing the sea” and screening of the film: “Raconte-moi ta Méditerranée”.
Roundtable discussion moderated by Lorenzo Virgili (Centre de Formation Transmission) with Wilfrid Esteve (Hans Lucas), Stéphanie Gaou (Tangier), Claudio Composti (Milan), Rafaele Garnot-Sebban (Agence France-Presse), and Maureen Auriol (William Klein studio), Marie Sumalla (Le Monde), Abla Abou (Abla Galerie), and Mehdy Mariouch (Photographer, Casablanca)
Open Q&A session with the audience.
• 7:00 PM:
Inauguration ceremony at Square Gambetta, attended by the Mayor of Carcassonne and his team, partners, invited photographers and journalists, and the public, featuring tea and wines from Domaine Calmel & Joseph.