> News
MontPhoto Fest 2024: The invisible effort that makes magic possible
The MontPhoto Fest 2024 awards ceremony, held in Lloret de Mar, was full of special moments that will remain etched in the memory of all attendees. Beyond the prestigious awards, the ceremony became an exciting spectacle where music, tributes and art came together to celebrate the passion for nature photography.
Festival preparation: months of effort and dedication
The selection of speakers is one of the most complex parts of the process. Getting major international figures and emerging photographers to participate in the festival, with a tight budget, requires a lot of dedication and a great deal of goodwill on both sides.
This year, the 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 funding. Paco Membrives and Josep Carreras, together with other volunteers, spent countless hours meeting with the city council, theatre, sponsors… to close agreements, overcoming multiple obstacles along the way.
An example of this has been the improvisation of the festival bar, an essential piece that was not available in the theatre this year. After weeks of back and forth, Roser Gruart led the solution with a team of volunteers who took on the challenge against the clock. With Roser herself, Laura Bosh, Laura Serrà, Arnau Valbuena and Rafel Bracero at the helm as the most versatile and charming waiters, the bar offered drinks, food and a lot of good humour. The result not only met expectations, but became one of the liveliest meeting points of the festival.
The coordination of hotels, transport and restaurants was also essential. Hours of calls, schedule adjustments and the coordination of arrivals of speakers and award winners made it possible for everything to fall into place.
Design, communication and scriptwriting: the soul of the festival
Another of the highlights of the evening was the special recognition given to Paco Membrives , president of MontPhoto, who received the gold pin of the Spanish Confederation of Photography (CEF) . This award, presented by Víctor Murillo , vice president of the CEF, is a symbol of gratitude and admiration for his tireless work in promoting nature photography and his contribution to the world of photography in general.
The scriptwriting of the entire festival has been an invisible but essential task to ensure that everything runs smoothly. In this edition, Ariadna Lacruz and Jon Juárez took on the arduous but essential task of writing the script for the festival, which as usual has been impeccable.
While Adrián Ordieres, Paco Membrives and Naia Pascual wrote the script for the gala, they were there until a few hours before the gala adjusting every detail: checking the prize-winners, organizing diplomas and preparing the timing. The videos prior to the awards ceremony, made by Jon Juárez, gave rhythm and emotion to the ceremony.
The exhibitions: craftsmanship behind each image
The exhibition of the winning photographs from the MontPhoto competition is one of the pillars of MontPhoto Fest, and its preparation and assembly require a joint effort full of dedication, precision and patience. Everything begins with the preparation and layout for printing, a meticulous task that this year was in the hands of Jon Juárez, Paco Membrives and Marcos Meider, with the essential text corrections carried out by Gloria Sánchez and Albert Masó, ensuring that every detail was perfect.
The assembly of the exhibition of the winning photos, as well as the other 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 placing each piece with care and attention. When the time came to dismantle them, the work did not stop. 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 on, screwdriver in hand, the assembly of the two exhibitions at the Theatre, ensuring that everything was ready for the festival.
When the time came to dismantle the venue, the work did not stop. Roser Gruart, Arnau Valbuena, Àngels Torrens, Glòria Sánchez, Núria del Pozo, Raquel Novella and Josep Carreras were in charge of dismantling the bar, the reception and the 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 exhibitions in the theatre, devoting the last few hours to leaving each space perfectly organised. It was a joint and exhaustive effort, but essential to successfully close the festival and ensure that everything was in order after days of intense activity.
The canvases and exterior structures of the Changing Planet project also involved significant logistics in terms of labour and assembly and dismantling, which added to the team’s efforts. The structures that support them came from the hand of Carles Santana, directly from the Ebro Delta, since they are structures shared between the Delta Birding Festival and MontPhoto, another example of collaboration and mutual support.
During the festival: the team's work and unforgettable moments
During the event, the role of volunteers has been essential. From handing out accreditations and selling books with Àngels Torrens, Glòria Sánchez, Núria del Pozo, Raquel Novella, Dani Farré and Josep Carreras; to the transfer of speakers, led by Rafel Bracero, who this year became our all-terrain driver.
The technical section was in the hands of Jordi Triadó, who spent weeks preparing all the audiovisual material to ensure that each presentation worked perfectly. During the festival, Jordi, accompanied by Cristian Morera, did not move from his control table, ensuring that everything was ready.
The presentation of the festival, once again in the hands of Jon Juárez, was marked this year by the incorporation of the young photographer Ariadna Lacruz, who brought dynamism and freshness to the event. The simultaneous translations of the foreign presentations, 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 brought a unique touch that is already a hallmark of MontPhoto Fest.
During the awards ceremony, presented by Joan Romà Ortiz, there were some particularly emotional moments, such as the performance of Yoko Suzuki on the piano, in dialogue with the field recordings of Eloïsa Matheu, which made the audience’s hair stand on end and became one of the most memorable moments of this edition. Moving and installing a grand piano in the theatre was no easy task either.
In addition, every moment of the festival has been immortalised 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, even getting up early, took attendees to capture the sunrise on the beaches of the Costa Brava.
But the work of the volunteers is not only measured in the tasks carried out, 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 is a family. This year, we also had 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 lights go out in the theatre, the work continues. The management of payments, the sending of books and the accreditation of grants are in the hands of Enric Fontdeglòria and Josep Carreras, who ensure that everything fits together.
In addition, there are a host of essential tasks to be carried out: the return of exhibitions, the preparation of reports and other logistical details that require time and dedication. Special thanks to all those who, with their efforts, make it possible to close the festival in the best possible way and prepare the way for the next edition.
Thanks to those who make MontPhoto Fest possible
We want to give a special thanks to each and every volunteer who has been part of 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 much more than these lines can contain. Behind each name there are hours of work, sacrifice and an infinite passion that goes beyond any recognition. This team is not just a work group; it is a family that supports each other, motivates each other and never stops giving their best.
Despite the fatigue, the challenges and all the effort that goes into organizing an event like this, the results speak for themselves. The magic that is created during the festival, the connections that are born and the impact it generates on those who participate remind us, without a doubt, that it is all worth it.
We would also like to extend our thanks to our friends, collaborators and members of other associations who came to accompany us and contribute to the success of the festival. From the awards ceremony to their presence at the event, figures such as Tino Soriano, Albert Masó, Olivia Mandle, Víctor Murillo (CEF vice president) and Esteban García (AEFONA Board of Directors).
Our most sincere appreciation 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. Without your generosity this festival would not have been possible.
And, of course, thanks to all the attendees, who year after year fill MontPhoto Fest with energy, emotion and passion for photography. Each of the people who accompany us make this event so special, and your presence is the engine that drives us to continue improving each edition.
Thank you so much for being the heart of MontPhoto. This festival is what it is thanks to you all. See you at MontPhoto 2025!
Other news
