“Last year we noticed the disparity in the number of applications between men and women. Out of the twenty or so photographers exhibited, there were only three women and we have never had parity since the festival began,” explains Denis Lebert, secretary of the association. Hence the idea of highlighting women and the sea for the 15th edition. The theme of this photo festival dedicated to Man and the Sea, which takes place every summer in the open air in the streets of Guilvinec and Treffiagat-Léchiagat, has not changed, but it is a question of paying particular attention to the work of women photographers or to the perspective taken by photographers, men or women, on the links that unite women and the sea. A call for applications has thus been launched for the 2025 edition with a deadline for submitting applications set for December 15, 2024.
Developing partnerships with schools
The new team of President René-Claude Daniel is also exploring other avenues of work to further strengthen the attractiveness of the festival, selected by the Beaux-Arts magazine as one of the ten photography festivals not to be missed this summer.
“We do popular education in the noble sense of the term,” says Denis Lebert. The festival attracts an audience that would not necessarily enter a museum or gallery, “so we reach other audiences.” Their wish is to further strengthen the partnership with local schools via multidisciplinary projects around image awareness in which the Paul-Langevin college, as well as the maritime high school and the Laennec high school participated this year.
A highlight with the photographers at Pentecost
The highlight with workshops and round tables with photographers, organized for the inauguration, was a success with the presence of 19 of the 22 exhibitors. The formula will be repeated and extended over a weekend, that of Pentecost, to allow for exchanges but also visits to the exhibition sites with the photographers.
The place of old photos as well as that of amateur photography is also the subject of reflection. A photo competition project could see the light of day to highlight the talent of the inhabitants of the territory. In addition, the photographic marathons offered to vacationers in July and August will be renewed as well as the Wednesday meetings at Haliotika. The last conference-meeting takes place this Wednesday, September 11 on the theme “The Bigouden queens of the interwar period”, with Stéphane Pencrec’h and the festival continues until September 30.
Practical
Contact: [email protected] or Denis Lebert on 06 37 87 24 56. More information on the website: wwwfestivalphotoduguilvinec.bzh
