Interview: Robert Nzaou, director of the Festival

“The Ponton Photo Festival was born out of the daily frustrations Congolese artists face — the lack of support from their own communities and the shortage of spaces to express themselves and showcase their work. By making their art accessible to a wider audience, the festival aims to address these challenges,” said Robert Nzaou, director of the festival, when asked about the importance of such an initiative.

“The lack of funding made the first edition particularly challenging. I had to rely on my relationships with the artists to convince them to participate without financial compensation. I was very fortunate that they agreed,” Nzaou added when speaking about the selection criteria.