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For five days, the port city of Veracruz in Mexico transforms into a hub for documentary photography. The streets and public spaces are adorned with images that narrate stories about river pollution, territorial changes, the impacts of climate change, and the memories of various Latin American communities. Behind these compelling visuals are dedicated photographers who have spent months, and in some cases years, getting to know the people and places they capture.
A Celebration of Documentary Photography
This year marks the sixth edition of the International Festival of Journalistic and Documentary Photography, Mirar Distinto, which takes place from November 4 to 8, focusing on the themes of memory and water. The programme includes exhibitions, workshops, lectures, and discussions among photographers, journalists, artists, and editors from various countries, all aimed at bringing these important stories to a wider audience.
The festival arrives at a critical juncture for photography. With social media providing a constant stream of visual content and artificial intelligence enabling the creation of increasingly realistic images, Mirar Distinto sparks a dialogue about the significance of documenting reality and the human experiences that shape this process.
“The aim of a space like Mirar Distinto is to rescue the human element,” explains Alí Marín, a photographer and co-founder of the event, during an interview. “The festival fosters network building and aims to continue promoting human dialogues.” This ethos of sharing experiences and fostering community has been a cornerstone of the festival since its inception over a decade ago, although the context has evolved significantly.
A Festival Born Amidst Press Violence
Mirar Distinto originated in Xalapa, Veracruz, in 2014, during the controversial presidency of Javier Duarte, whose administration was marked by violence, harassment, and repression against the press. In this challenging environment, a group of photojournalists established a space for learning, sharing experiences, and discovering new ways to work.
Among the founders were Koral Carballo, Félix Márquez, Sergio Hernández, Rubén Espinosa, Yahir Ceballos, Alberto Delgado, and Alí Marín. They also shared a common concern regarding the limited training opportunities for photographers, as much of the available resources were concentrated in Mexico City. The initial activities focused on practical aspects, such as covering protests, understanding safety measures, and improving their working tools. “The goal was to shorten paths, train ourselves, and create opportunities that were geographically denied to us by being in the south of the country,” Alí Marín states.
Tragically, on July 31, 2015, Rubén Espinosa was murdered in Mexico City following threats and harassment due to his journalistic work. This crime profoundly impacted the group behind the festival, yet they resolved to persevere. “Of course, it became much more complicated, but we didn’t stop,” Alí recalls.
Growth and Evolution of the Festival
In 2016, the festival returned with new activities, including portfolio reviews that allowed local photographers to showcase their projects and receive feedback from editors and professionals from elsewhere. Over the years, Mirar Distinto expanded to include workshops, exhibitions, conferences, and international guests. By 2023, the festival relocated to Veracruz, leveraging the streets and public spaces to bring documentary photography to audiences beyond the professional sphere.
The first five editions attracted over 5,000 participants from 22 countries and addressed vital issues such as violence against the press, human rights, migration, and territoriality. In 2020, the festival contemplated the role of photography during the pandemic, while the 2023 edition focused on identity and environmental themes.
Exploring Water and Memory
For this year’s sixth edition, Mirar Distinto has chosen water and memory as its central themes. This decision arose from discussions among the organisers, who also engage with these issues in their photographic projects and found them to be effective lenses through which to address challenges faced by various communities in Latin America.
Water serves as a conduit for discussing climate change, pollution, resource extraction, and access inequities, “despite being a universal right,” as Alí notes. Furthermore, the festival aims to highlight the cultural and spiritual connections that Indigenous peoples maintain with water, beyond its mere use as a natural resource.
Memory raises additional questions: who has the right to tell their own story, which narratives have been excluded, and how the versions we know about the past are constructed. “How we have narrated ourselves, how we have been told,” the photographer reflects.
Showcasing Compelling Projects
These concerns resonate in the selected projects for the festival. The international call for “Memory and Water” received 385 submissions from 29 countries, with 10 chosen for large-format display along the Malecón of Veracruz. Among the showcased works is that of Patricio Martínez, focusing on the conservation of one of Mexico City’s last living rivers, and Onnis Luque, who has documented the contamination risks faced by the cenotes of Yucatán. Glorianna Ximendaz from Costa Rica also contributes with “Peel it Good,” a project reviving archives and images related to the working conditions and history of the banana industry.
In addition to the exhibitions, the festival will host panel discussions such as “Perspectives on Water” and “Perspectives on Memory,” where photography and arts professionals will share their experiences, discuss their projects, and explore the diverse ways they have chosen to tell these stories.
Connecting Through Shared Experiences
Beyond showcasing photographic projects, Mirar Distinto invites attendees to contemplate the importance of documenting reality in an era dominated by the mass circulation of images and AI. Alí Marín emphasises that documentary photography retains a connection to what occurs in front of the camera.
The festival seeks to foster this intimacy through its activities, aiming to bridge the gaps that often exist between seasoned photographers and newcomers. Rather than maintaining a hierarchical relationship, Mirar Distinto encourages participants to engage in conversations, exchange knowledge, and learn from one another.
This approach allows an emerging photographer to share a beer or a casual meal with someone who has won prestigious awards like the World Press Photo or Pulitzer Prize, seeking advice or discussing their projects.
At a time when many of our interactions have shifted to screens, Mirar Distinto provides a unique opportunity to meet face-to-face with those behind the images, learn from their experiences, and forge connections that may continue long after the festival concludes.
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