International Photography Encounters of Ghar El Melh Return for 10th Edition
The opening of the event will take place today, Monday, at 7:00 pm with the inauguration of the exhibition "Sawer Bel Akhdher" (Paint in Green), organized as part of the European Union Delegation's campaign of the same name. A selection of works exploring the effects of climate change on nature, wildlife, flora, and human communities will be presented, with a particular focus on Tunisia.
After a Decade of Absence, the International Photography Encounters of Ghar El Melh are Back
The 10th edition of the International Photography Encounters of Ghar El Melh will take place from September 8 to 11, 2025, in the iconic Ottoman fort of Lazaret, in Ghar El Melh, near Bizerte. This new edition marks a true renewal for an event that, since its creation in 2003, has contributed to making Ghar El Melh one of the major hubs of photography in Tunisia.
Theme: Sustainability and the Fight Against Climate Change
Organized by the Association Club Photo de Tunis (ACPT), with the support of the European Union Delegation in Tunisia and the Europe Team, the event is sponsored by the Aderc association in partnership with the Le 32 BIS gallery. It will bring together Tunisian and international photographers, professionals and amateurs, representing multiple disciplines and sensitivities.
Objective: Celebrate Photography and Raise Awareness about Environmental Issues
The objective is twofold: to celebrate photography in all its forms and to raise awareness about current environmental issues through varied artistic approaches and cross-cultural perspectives from Tunisia, Europe, and beyond.
Program Highlights
- A collective exhibition titled "Sawer Bel Akhdher" (Paint in Green), which will showcase the works of Tunisian and European photographers, offering a mosaic of perspectives on the links between nature, heritage, and humanity.
- Thematic masterclasses led by international artists and experts, exploring photography as a tool for expression, memory, and awareness.
- Photographic walks through Ghar El Melh, its old port, alleys, and natural landscapes, allowing participants to discover the richness of its cultural and ecological heritage.
- A photographic treasure hunt designed to introduce participants to the region's unique ecosystem.
Exhibition and Masterclasses
The opening of the event will take place on September 8 at 7:00 pm with the inauguration of the exhibition "Sawer Bel Akhdher" (Paint in Green), organized as part of the European Union Delegation's campaign of the same name. The exhibition proposes a selection of works exploring the effects of climate change on nature, wildlife, flora, and human communities, with a particular focus on Tunisia. Guided tours will be offered every day at different times.
Among the artists and photographers who will lead the masterclasses are Tunisians Saif Fradj and Wissem El Abed (Art to Raise Awareness about the Climate Crisis) and Hasna Ellouzi (The Ramli Agriculture of Ghar El Melh, a Model of Resilience), as well as photojournalists Ann Johansson from Sweden (Portrait Photography as a Tool for Change), Santi Palacios from Spain (Visual Journalism: Migration, Conflict, and Climate Crisis), and his compatriot Loyola Pérez de Villegas Muniz (Photographic Prism and Social Issues), and the French photographers Viviane Dalles (Engaged Photography: Finding the Right Distance) and Pierre Gassin (The Resilience of Communities in Kerkennah and the Aesthetics of Black and White).
New Feature: Masterclass on Technology for Climate Action
One of the major innovations of this edition is the masterclass "Technology at the Service of the Climate Cause," led by the Greenov'i collective. This project, launched in 2023 and funded by the European Union to the tune of 12 million euros, aims to support the ecological transition of the Tunisian economy. The session will highlight several green start-ups supported by Greenov'i, offering a platform for exchange between photographers, innovators, and actors engaged in the fight against climate change.
A Legacy of Photography and Environmental Awareness
Created in 2003, the International Photography Encounters of Ghar El Melh were, until 2009, a major event for Tunisian and foreign photographers. After a four-year interruption, they returned with two editions, the 8th and 9th in 2014 and 2015. This 10th edition aims to reconnect with this legacy while opening up new perspectives: making Ghar El Melh a space for dialogue, creation, and awareness where photography goes beyond the aesthetic framework to become a vector of action in the face of global environmental challenges.
