Canon Celebrates 35 Years of Supporting Photojournalism at Visa pour l’Image Festival

For the 24th year, Canon, in partnership with Visa pour l’Image, will award an €8,000 grant to a female photojournalist pursuing a long-term documentary project.

This September, Canon will continue its long-standing commitment to photojournalism by championing the work of photojournalists at Visa pour l’Image for the 35th consecutive year. The festival's Pro Week, held from September 2-7 in Perpignan, France, will see Canon honor the art of documentary storytelling through the presentation of two prestigious grants and the Student Development Programme for emerging talent.

Grants Recognizing Outstanding Photojournalism

For the 24th year, Canon, in partnership with Visa pour l’Image, will award an €8,000 grant to a female photojournalist pursuing a long-term documentary project. This year's grant recipient is Dutch photojournalist Cynthia Boll, who is recognized for her project "Reshaping Home: Indonesia’s Capital Migration." The project focuses on the significant relocation of Indonesia's capital from Jakarta to the new city of Ibu Kota Nusantara, due to the original city's rapid sinking. The grant will support Boll in capturing the daily lives and experiences of residents as they transition to the new capital.

Additionally, Canon and Visa pour l’Image will present the 5th Canon Video Grant to London-based filmmaker Alan Lau for his short-film documentary "The Gordian Knot." The project explores the challenges faced by young Nepali cattle in the face of slaughter, examining the interplay of authority, religion, and economic pressures in the region.

Nurturing the Next Generation of Photojournalists

Canon remains dedicated to fostering emerging talent and will once again provide an invaluable opportunity for young photographers from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa through its Student Development Programme. This year's program will host 25 photography students for a five-day workshop featuring group and individual portfolio reviews, practical workshops, and lectures from renowned professionals.

Participants will benefit from insights shared by Canon Ambassadors and industry experts including Laura El-Tantawy, Elisa L. Iannacone, Marco Longari, Ilvy Njiokiktjien, Brent Stirton, and Paolo Verzone. The workshop will also include guided tours of the festival's exhibitions and a showcase by Anastasia Taylor-Lind, the 2023 Canon Female Photojournalist grant winner, who will present her project "5K from the Frontline" on frontline communities in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region.

Canon’s Presence at Visa pour l’Image

At the Palais des Congrès in Perpignan, Canon will host a dedicated showcase area where visitors can experience the latest in Canon's camera, lens, and printer technology, including the new EOS R1 and EOS R5 Mark II. The company will also highlight its "World Unseen" initiative, in collaboration with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), aimed at enhancing visual engagement for people with sight loss and encouraging sighted individuals to perceive imagery from a new perspective.

Furthermore, accredited photographers will have the opportunity to print their work using Canon’s fine art printing technologies and receive a complimentary check-and-clean service from Canon Professional Services (CPS) technicians.

Canon's ongoing support for Visa pour l’Image underscores its dedication to advancing photojournalism and nurturing the next generation of visual storytellers.