Visa pour l'Image - International Photojournalism Festival

Visa pour l'Image: The World Reference for Photojournalism

Since 1989, Visa pour l'Image has transformed Perpignan into the world capital of photojournalism every year. Founded by Jean-François Leroy, this unique festival brings together the greatest press photographers, photo editors, agency directors, and image enthusiasts from around the world for two weeks.

A Free Festival Accessible to All

One of Visa pour l'Image's strengths lies in its complete freeness for the public. Over twenty exhibitions are presented in Perpignan's heritage sites, including the Couvent des Minimes, the Église des Dominicains, the Chapelle du Tiers-Ordre, and the Palais des Congrès. These photojournalism exhibitions cover major international current events: conflicts, humanitarian crises, environmental issues, and social and cultural reports.

Screening Evenings at the Campo Santo

Every evening during the professional week, the medieval cloister of the Campo Santo hosts open-air screenings for over a thousand spectators. These evenings are the beating heart of the festival, where the most significant reports of the year are presented, accompanied by testimonials from the photographers themselves.

The Visa d'Or Awards and Grants

Each year, the festival awards the prestigious Visa d'Or, recognizing the best reports in various categories: news, documentary, magazine, and online reporting. Grants and creation support awards are also given to support young photographers and long-term projects. The online prize is endowed with 1,500 euros.

An Essential Professional Week

The professional week brings together the major players in global photojournalism: press agencies, magazines, newspapers, publishers, and cultural institutions. It is a privileged time for networking, portfolio discovery, and debates on the future of press photography in the digital age.

International Reach from Perpignan

With over 200,000 visitors each year, Visa pour l'Image has become a major cultural event for the city of Perpignan and the Pyrénées-Orientales department. The festival significantly contributes to the international influence of the Catalan city and its tourism economy, while raising public awareness of contemporary world issues through the power of images.