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MontPhoto Fest 2024: The invisible effort that makes magic possible
MontPhoto Fest 2024 has been a resounding success once again. But behind this celebration of nature photography lies an immense amount of work that begins many months beforehand, ends many months later, and is rarely seen. From the selection of speakers, to the preparation of exhibitions, to the management of every little detail, the festival is the result of the dedication of a tireless team and a group of volunteers who make it all possible.
Festival preparation: months of effort and dedication
Selecting speakers is one of the most complex parts of the process. Getting leading international figures and emerging photographers to participate in the festival, on a tight budget, requires tremendous dedication and a great deal of commitment from both parties.
This year, our thanks to the speakers are more than deserved, because without them the festival would not be possible.
However, in addition to this visible part, there is a less grateful but fundamental task: management and the search for financing. Paco Membrives and Josep Carreras , along with other volunteers, spent countless hours meeting with city councils, theaters, sponsors, and more to close deals, overcoming numerous obstacles along the way.
An example of this was the improvised festival bar, an essential piece that wasn’t available in the theater this year. After weeks of back-and-forth, Roser Gruart led the solution with a team of volunteers who met the challenge against the clock. With Roser , Laura Bosh, Laura Serrà, Arnau Valbuena, and Rafel Bracero at the helm as the most versatile and charming bartenders, the bar offered drinks, food, and a lot of good humor. The result not only met expectations but also became one of the liveliest meeting points at the festival.
The coordination of hotels, transportation, and restaurants was also crucial. Call times, schedule adjustments, and coordinating the arrivals of speakers and award winners made it possible for everything to fall into place.
Design, communication and scriptwriting: the soul of the festival
The image and communication of MontPhoto Fest 2024 have been essential to ensuring the festival looks its best. This year, the Nido Nómada team, led by Naia Pascual and Adrián Ordieres, has taken on this task. From the design of all visual media—posters, banners, screens, social media, exhibition materials, and more—to the preparation and dissemination of content for the website (including this new website you’re viewing), social media, press releases, and newsletters, an essential effort to reach the public and capture their attention.
We also want to highlight and thank Ferrán Munsó, who worked on the implementation of the payment gateway for ticket sales and the dinner, working almost without time and facing numerous technical difficulties. Thanks to his dedication and effort, it was possible to manage a key aspect of the organization that undoubtedly contributed to the festival’s success.
For its part, the scriptwriting of the entire festival has been an invisible but essential task. so that everything runs smoothly. In this edition, Ariadna Lacruz and Jon Juárez took on the arduous but essential task of writing the festival script, which, as usual, has been impeccable.
While Adrián Ordieres, Paco Membrives, and Naia Pascual were in charge of the gala, they were there until just a few hours before the ceremony, fine-tuning every detail: checking on the award winners, organizing diplomas, and planning the timing. The pre-awards videos, directed by Jon Juárez, added rhythm and excitement to the ceremony.
The exhibitions: craftsmanship behind each image
The exhibition of the winning photographs from the MontPhoto contest is one of the pillars of the MontPhoto Fest, and its preparation and display require a collaborative effort filled with dedication, precision, and patience. It all begins with the preparation and layout for printing, a meticulous task that this year was carried out by Jon Juárez, Paco Membrives, and Marcos Meider, with essential text corrections by Gloria Sánchez and Albert Masó, ensuring that every detail was perfect.
The installation of the exhibition of the winning photographs, as well as the three additional exhibitions this year, would not have been possible without the tireless work of Xavier Llop, Eric Fontdeglòria, Dani Farré, Juan Laguna, Montserrat Moraleda, Salvador Palaudelmas, and Paco Membrives, who dedicated countless hours to carefully and lovingly placing each piece. When it came time to dismantle them, the work continued unabated. Some of them also took on this less thankless but equally necessary task, ensuring that everything was ready for transport or storage.
In addition, Josep Carreras and Xavier Llop took charge, screwdriver in hand, of setting up the two exhibitions at the Theater, ensuring that everything was ready for the festival.
When it came time to dismantle, the work didn’t stop. Roser Gruart, Arnau Valbuena, Àngels Torrens, Glòria Sánchez, Núria del Pozo, Raquel Novella, and Josep Carreras were in charge of dismantling the bar, reception, and book sales area. At the same time, Xavier Llop, Lluc Semis, Adrián Ordieres, Naia Pascual, and Paco Membrives took on the task of dismantling the theater’s exhibits, dedicating the last few hours to leaving each space perfectly organized. It was a joint and exhaustive effort, but essential to successfully closing the festival and ensuring that everything was in order after days of intense activity.
The Changing Planet project’s tarps and outdoor structures also required significant logistics in terms of labor, assembly, and dismantling, which added to the team’s efforts. The supporting structures arrived from Carles Santana, directly from the Ebro Delta, as they are shared between the Delta Birding Festival and MontPhoto, a further example of collaboration and mutual support.
During the festival: the team's work and unforgettable moments
During the event, the role of volunteers was essential. From the presentation of credentials and book sales with Àngels Torrens, Glòria Sánchez, Núria del Pozo, Raquel Novella, Dani Farré, and Josep Carreras, to the transportation of speakers, led by Rafel Bracero, who this year served as our all-terrain driver.
The technical side was in the hands of Jordi Triadó, who spent weeks preparing all the audiovisual material to ensure that each presentation ran smoothly. Throughout the festival, Jordi, accompanied by Cristian Morera, never left his control desk, ensuring everything was in perfect working order.
The festival’s presentation, once again led by Jon Juárez, was marked this year by the addition of young photographer Ariadna Lacruz, who brought dynamism and freshness to the event. Simultaneous translations of the foreign presentations, led by Marcos Meider, also became an essential element. With his characteristic personal grace and dynamism, Marcos not only made the presentations accessible to all attendees, but also added a unique touch that has become a hallmark of MontPhoto Fest.
During the awards ceremony, hosted by Joan Romà Ortiz, there were particularly moving moments, such as Yoko Suzuki’s piano performance, accompanied by Eloïsa Matheu’s field recordings, which thrilled the audience and became one of the most memorable moments of this year’s edition. Moving and installing a grand piano in the theater was no easy task either.
In addition, every moment of the festival has been immortalized by the photography team made up of Quim Dasquens, Eva Salgado, Josep Maria Ciurana, Xavier Xaubet, Carlos Ascaso, Josep Salip and Xavier Llop, whose work has captured the essence of the event in each image.
The festival also featured unique photo outings led by Lluc Semis and Óscar Sánchez, who, with an early start, took attendees to capture the sunrise on the beaches of the Costa Brava.
But the work of volunteers is not only measured in tasks completed, but also in the care and warmth they bring to the festival. People like Isa Garrido, always present with a hug and a kind word, remind us that MontPhoto is more than an event: it’s a family. This year, we also have the support of Elena Gyldekerne, who accompanied and assisted some of the speakers, ensuring that they felt at home.
And after the festival: the work continues
When the theater lights go out, the work continues. Managing payments, shipping books, and accrediting grants are handled by Enric Fontdeglòria and Josep Carreras, who ensure everything runs smoothly.
In addition, there are countless essential tasks to be completed: returning the exhibits, preparing reports, and other logistical details that require time and dedication. A special thanks to all those whose efforts make it possible to close the festival in the best possible way and pave the way for the next edition.
Thanks to those who make MontPhoto Fest possible
We would like to extend a special thanks to each and every one of the volunteers who participated in MontPhoto Fest 2024. Without your time, effort, and enthusiasm, this festival would not be possible. Every task, from the most visible to the most discreet, has been key to making this edition a success.
We know that the people mentioned here have done far more than these lines can capture. Behind every name are hours of work, sacrifice, and an endless passion that goes beyond any recognition. This team isn’t just a working group; it’s a family that supports and motivates each other and never stops giving its best.
Despite the exhaustion, the challenges, and all the effort involved in organizing an event like this, the results speak for themselves. The magic created during the festival, the connections forged, and the impact it has on those who participate remind us, without a doubt, that it’s all worth it.
We also want to extend our gratitude to the friends, collaborators, and members of other associations who came to join us and contribute to the festival’s success. From the awards ceremony to their presence at the event, figures such as Tino Soriano, Albert Masó, Olivia Mandle, Víctor Murillo (Vice President of the CEF), and Esteban García (AEFONA Board of Directors) were present.
Our sincere gratitude to each and every one of the speakers: Alex Galán, Arturo Rodríguez, Darko Peric, David Hup, Héctor Cordero, Jaime Rojo, Kristel Schneider, María Contreras Coll, Marta Bretó, Matt Maran, Michiel Van Noppen, Pau de la Calle, Sergio Pitamitz, Ugo Mellone, Albert Masó, Adrià Grau, Javier Camacho, Quim Dasquens, and Dani Serralta. This festival would not have been possible without your generosity.
And, of course, thank you to all the attendees, who year after year fill MontPhoto Fest with energy, excitement, and passion for photography. Each and every one of you who joins us makes this event so special, and your presence is the driving force that drives us to continue improving with each edition.
Thank you, thank you so much for being the heart of MontPhoto. This festival is what it is thanks to you. See you at MontPhoto 2025!
