2025 Nominees' podcasts

Photo Elysée · #1 – Hannah Darabi

Originally from Iran, Hannah Darabi has been living in Paris for several years. Her country has always been at the heart of her art, reflecting on its past and present. Why Don’t You Dance? is the project nominated for the Prix Elysée 2025. This series of photographs draws inspiration from the Women, Life, Freedom movement, which fights against a national government that restricts women's rights.

Photo Elysée · #2 – Roger Eberhard

This episode features Swiss photographer Roger Eberhard, an avid lover of landscapes who investigates the history of places impacted by human activity through his art. He shares, with the host Katie Kheriji-Watts, insights about Meanwhile, the project for which he was nominated for the Prix Elysée 2025, offering a deep dive into 300 years of world history through 12 photographic chapters.

Photo Elysée · #3 – Rahim Fortune

Rahim Fortune's photographs are deeply rooted in his South American heritage. He primarily uses traditional analog techniques to capture his images. In his project The Cove, the nominee of th Prix Elysée 2025 dives into his family archives and his close ties to a military town in Texas. This episode is dedicated to family and origins, visible through the perspective of Rahim Fortune.

Photo Elysée · #4 – Camille Gharbi

In her Parisian artist studio, Camille Gharbi tackles the heavy themes of sexuality and violence, particularly within relationships where power dynamics are unbalanced. The French photographer's project nominated for the Prix Elysée 2025, Intimes convictions, challenges rape culture and chemical submission within French society. This theme is particularly relevant, as it is largely inspired by the trial of Dominique Pelicot, which resonates daily in the media.

Photo Elysée · #5 – Samuel Gratacap

In his apartment in Paris, Katie Kheriji-Watts interviewed Samuel Gratacap about his 17 years dedicated to studying international migration. As a French photographer and journalist, he has practiced his art in extreme environments, reflecting both the best and worst of humanity. The Welcome Europa project, nominated for the 2025 Prix Elysée, fits perfectly within this framework by portraying the journeys of people seeking asylum in the European Union through the Western Balkan countries.

Photo Elysée · #6 – Seif Kousmate

After spending years in a corporate job, Seif Kousmate transitioned back to his true passion: photography. Through it, he has traveled the world, merging photography with journalism. Today, his art primarily focuses on subjects related to Morocco, his country of origin. Men vs. Fathers is the project he is presenting for the Prix Elysée 2025, where he explores his relationship with his father and, through it, the topic of masculinity.

Photo Elysée · #7 – Felipe Romero Beltrán

Photo Elysée · #8 – Anastasia Samoylova

Anastasia Samoylova is Russian but resides in the United States, where she continues to explore her favorite theme. In an interview with Katie Kheriji-Watts, she shares her thoughts about this theme that combines landscapes and humanity, focusing on the coexistence of nature and human activity. Her project nominated for the Prix Elysée 2025, Transformations, discusses the recent successful adaptations implemented to combat the impacts of climate change. This episode highlights a passionate and engaging photographer, balancing hope with optimism.