PRESENTATION OF THE EDITION
A new edition of Facing the Sea in Tangier—which would not have been possible without the support of the Institut Français du Maroc and Studio Hans Lucas. The Photo Meetings of Tangier are now supported by SAIF to bolster their development.
This edition reaffirmed FALM’s Mediterranean ambition, drawing photographers from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Italy, Canada, and France. More than 500 photographers—ranging from emerging talents to established professionals—have joined FALM since May 2019. The initiative features an annual week of participatory gatherings and educational activities held on both shores of the Mediterranean (in Tangier, as well as during festivals in Arles, Perpignan, and Corbeil-Essonnes).
As of this year, the program is divided into two components: individualized mentorship, reserved for photographers from the southern Mediterranean, and a component open to all registered photographers, regardless of country, age, or experience level (featuring roundtables, screenings, and networking opportunities).
We received 200 applications from Morocco, Algeria, France, Italy, Spain, Canada, Lebanon, Cameroon, Niger, Senegal, and Burkina Faso. Fifty photographers were selected. Facing the sea had the honor of welcoming Christoph Wiesner, Director of Les Rencontres d’Arles and a member of the 2022 Grand Prix jury.
A new feature this year is the launch of the first FALM residency, bringing together Antoine D’Agata (Magnum Photos) and Céline Croze (2019 Révélation Prize winner) to document a specific territory over the course of three weeks (with the final presentation scheduled for 2023).
Presentation of the 2022 edition by Mina Mostefa, director of Facing the sea, produced by Wilfrid Estève (RCF radio):
LOOK-BACK IN PHOTOS
THE PHOTOGRAPHERS
Yassine Sellame, Moroccan photographer
Imane Zaoin, Italian-Moroccan photographer
Youcef Senous, Algerian photographer
Nissim Gasteli, Tunisian photographer
Hiba Dahibi, Moroccan photographer
Btihal Remli, Moroccan photographer
Mehdi Ait El Mallali, Moroccan photographer
Diyae Bourhim, Moroccan photographer
Abdelhamid Belahmidi, Moroccan photographer
Achraf Elmiri, Moroccan photographer
Walid Ben Ghezala, Tunisian photographer
Lamia Bendidi, Moroccan photographer
GUEST SPEAKERS/MENTORS
Jean-Matthieu Gautier, revue EPIC
Dimitri Beck, Polka
Claudio Composti, Ragusa Foto Festival
Stefano Carini, Agence Noor
Lorenzo Virgili, Transmission
Marie Sumalla, Le Monde
Rafaele Garnot, AFP
Stéphanie Gaou, librairie-galerie Les Insolites
Ulrich Lebeuf, photographe indépendant, directeur artistique du festival MAP
Abla Ababou, Abla Galerie
Marie Andrieu, Photo Review Arles
Lionel Antoni et Elisabeth Hebert, L’Œil Urbain
Stefano Carini, Agence Noor
Abla Ababou, Galerie Abla
Guillaume Lanneau, SAIF
Christophe Ralite, Pixtrakk
Sara Giuliattini, Polycopies
Elsa Seignol, Revers Éditions
Jean-Matthieu Gautier, EPIC
Christoph Wiesner, directeur des Rencontres d’Arles (RIP)
WORKSHOPS
Program for November 30 – December 3, 2022, combining daily one-on-one mentoring with group thematic workshops:
Wednesday, Nov. 30
2:30 PM: “Photo Agencies” workshop (with Stefano Carini/Agence Noor, Wilfrid Estève/Hans Lucas)
4:00 PM: “Photo Galleries” workshop (with Abla Ababou/Galerie Abla, Stéphanie Gaou/Les Insolites, Claudio Composti)
Thursday, Dec. 1
2:30 PM: “Partners” workshop (with Lorenzo Virgili/Transmission, Guillaume Lanneau/SAIF, Christophe Ralite/Pixtrakk)
4:30 PM: “Photobooks” workshop (with Sara Giuliattini/Polycopies, Elsa Seignol/Revers Éditions, Jean-Matthieu Gautier/EPIC).
Friday, Dec. 2
2:30 PM: “Press” workshop (with Marie Sumalla/Le Monde, Dimitri Beck/Polka, Rafaele Garnot/AFP)
4:30 PM: “Festivals” workshop (with Lionel Antoni and Elisabeth Hebert/L’Œil Urbain, Ulrich Lebeuf/MAP Toulouse, Marie Andrieu/Photo Review Arles).
Saturday, Dec. 3
2:00 PM: Portfolio review
4:00 PM: Talk and screening featuring Grand Prix candidates and the jury
6:00 PM: Screening of participants’ work, presentation of FYZ and NFINTI, announcement and award ceremony for the 2022 Face à la mer Grand Prix.
GRAND PRIX
The 2022 Grand Prix was awarded this year to Imane Zaoin for her series Aita.
PRIX RÉVÉLATION
The 2022 Révélation Prize was awarded this year to Yassine Sellame.
2022 Photo Meetings: Review by the organizers
A return to a “normal” edition following the pandemic, confirming FALM’s Mediterranean impact and the loyalty of both its photographers and partners—including the arrival of new ones for 2023.
The organizers highlight increasing difficulties in recent years regarding visa acquisition (fees, refusals, renewals), though this has not dampened the momentum of development:
– continued development of the Face à la mer network website and creation of a workspace within FYS to host a team of photographers from the network
– expansion of communications and merchandising (dedicated posters and postcards, recruitment of a community manager, growth on social media).
Two notable outcomes resulting from support provided in previous editions deserve highlighting:
– the series produced by Céline Croze (2019 Révélation Prize winner) during the first FALM residency, alongside Antoine D’Agata, went on to win the Prix Nadar;
– and Amine Houari (2021 Grand Prix winner) participated in a group exhibition at the Polka Gallery in Paris (a Hans Lucas x Polka Factory collaboration, March 10–May 6, 2023).