Seeking to challenge complex social, economic, environmental and human rights issues through documentary non-fiction storytelling and education.

VII in Sarajevo: Festival of the Image

From May 9th-11th, the newly formed VII Academy, a project of the VII Foundation and partner of the VII Photo Agency, will host a three-day festival of photography and visual journalism in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. This educational event is free and open to all, and includes presentations by VII Photo Agency photographers, discussion panels focusing on media and visual journalism, film screenings, portfolio reviews, and much more.

Sarajevo and the Balkans are deeply embedded in the culture of VII. The agency was built on the relationships established during the war in the 1990’s by the founding members of the agency. The late Alexandra Boulat, Ron Haviv, Gary Knight, and Christopher Morris all photographed the war with Paul Lowe, who now lives in Sarajevo. Ziyah Gafic was born in Sarajevo and was raised there during the war of the 1990’s, and he and Sara Terry have immersed themselves in representing post-conflict Bosnia.

Based in Sarajevo, the VII Academy is building a permanent presence in the Balkans to work with local cultural institutions and create an education platform to train young men and women in visual media practice.

During this first event, three workshops taught by VII Photo Agency photographers will take place parallel to the Festival. These include “No Man’s Land”, a women-only workshop that is free to eligible participants led by Linda Bournane Engelberth and Anush Babajanyan. The powerhouse trio of Sara Terry, Daniel Schwartz, and Philip Blenkinsop will teach what happens “After the Image”, discussing exhibition and bookmaking for those who want to pursue those challenging and complex publishing options. Christopher Morris and Franco Pagetti will team up to take aspiring fashion photographers to the highest level in their abilities to conceive of and execute themes in “Moda na Balkanu // Balkan Fashion”. Scholarships to both “After the Image” and “Mode na Balkanu // Balkan Fashion” are also available to applicants from the region.

Program

PHOTOGRAPHERS IN CONVERSATION: CASE STUDIES
Join photographers including Ed Kashi and Christopher Morris as they delve into their most challenging projects, sharing insight in the what and how of shaping stories—and publishing them.

PANEL DISCUSSIONS
Listen to and pose questions to our panel of journalists and thinkers from across the Balkans and surrounding countries as they address topics that include women in the region’s media and the role of journalism in this post-conflict society.

PORTFOLIO REVIEWS
Sign up during online registration for one-on-one portfolio sessions with photographers from VII Photo Agency.

FILM SCREENINGS
Join us for evening sessions enjoying VII’s latest film projects.

Exhibitions, a walking tour of the city, networking events, and more will round out our schedule of events during three days that celebrate visual media and the city of Sarajevo.