Photo|Frome hosted a remarkable evening of conversation on Saturday 12th April, bringing together three leading figures from the worlds of photography and film.
The event featured Susan Meiselas, world-renowned president of the Magnum Foundation and recipient of this year’s Sony World Photography Awards’ Outstanding Contribution to Photography; celebrated film director Ken Loach; and Frome-based photographer Joss Barratt, who has documented Loach’s film productions through stills photography for over three decades.
The ‘In Conversation’ event formed part of this year’s Photo|Frome festival of photography currently running at various venues throughout the town until 27th April.
“Tickets sold out in a little over nine hours and the 157 crowd in attendance filled out Rook Lane Chapel to capacity,” said Joao Diniz Sanches, co-founder of Photo|Frome. “The audience witnessed Frome resident, magazine editor, and arts journalist Ash Khandekar expertly moderate an insightful, fascinating conversation that, despite tackling the difficult and distressing subject of inequality (this year’s Photo|Frome theme), was often lifted by expressions of deep humanity from the assembled panellists.
“It was an absolute pleasure – and privilege – to be able to bring photographic and cinematic royalty to our market town, and to have such crucial themes discussed so astutely by individuals so well versed in them.
“That the audience, made up of many local faces but also decent visitor numbers attracted by the rare stature of this encounter, engaged so positively with the proceedings proved hugely rewarding, and further elevated an already very special evening.
“For those unable to make it on the night, the talk was filmed and will be made available to view at a future date so that all who may wish to see it, shall be able to.”