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Visa pour l'Image's 38th edition opens following founder Jean-François Leroy's death from cancer.
The 38th edition of Visa pour l'Image opened in Perpignan following the death of the festival's founder, Jean-François Leroy, who died of cancer. The prestigious photography festival, based in the Pyrénées-Orientales region of France, continues under the shadow of its founder's passing. Leroy's creation has become a significant platform for photojournalism and documentary photography, establishing itself as a major cultural institution in Paris and beyond. The opening of this edition marks a transition moment for the festival as it moves forward without its founder's direct leadership.
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Festival Continues Leroy's Vision for Photojournalism
The 38th edition represents continuity of Leroy's founding vision for Visa pour l'Image, a festival that became central to global photojournalism. His creation established itself as a premier platform where documentary photographers could exhibit their work and reach international audiences. The festival's opening demonstrates institutional resilience, ensuring the founder's cultural contribution endures beyond his lifetime.
Festival Opens as Founder's Era Concludes
Jean-François Leroy's death from cancer marks the end of an era for Visa pour l'Image's founding leadership. The simultaneous opening of the 38th edition in Perpignan creates a symbolic moment—the festival continues its established rhythm while the photojournalism community mourns its founder, reflecting on his decades-long contribution to the field.