SIPA Talks 2026 Program

• 2:30pm – 3:00pm

  REGISTRATION DESK

  To ensure minimal disruption to others, we kindly ask that you arrive at the theater entrance at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start time and be seated no later than 5 minutes prior to the event.

KEYNOTES1st SESSION

• 3:00pm – 3:30pm

  Cheraine Collette

  “When Imagination Becomes Photography”

  Cheraine Collette’s work lies at the intersection of photography, painting, and imagination. Created entirely from her own photography, layered compositions, and digital hand-painting, she brings to life visionary worlds where nature, wildlife, architecture, and myth coexist in perfect harmony. In this talk, Cheraine will share her artistic journey, reflect on beauty as a universal language, and reveal the creative process that transforms photography into symbolic storytelling, transcending the boundaries between reality and imagination.

  Discover the talk

  

• 3:30pm – 4:00pm

  Andrew Harnik

  “Framing Power”

  From the halls of the White House to major international summits, photographer Andrew Harnik takes audiences behind the scenes of American political power through images that capture tension, leadership, and humanity. A visual journey through presidential campaigns, diplomatic encounters, and defining historical moments, revealing the unseen side of the places where decisions capable of shaping the world are made.

  Discover the talk

  

• 4:00pm – 4:30pm

  Carol Guzy

  “ICE Broken Families”

  Four-time Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer and photojournalist Carol Guzy takes the audience on an intense journey through a life spent documenting humanitarian crises, wars, natural disasters, and stories of resilience around the world. Through iconic images and deeply human stories, Guzy reflects on the emotional and ethical challenges of photographing suffering, transforming photojournalism into a powerful act of empathy, dignity, and remembrance.

  Discover the talk

  

• 4:30pm – 5:15pm

  Round table

  Documenting Latin America

  Panel discussion on the social transformations shaping Latin America.
  Latin America is a land of extraordinary cultural richness, deep contrasts, and constant social change. Through photographic projects and firsthand stories from different countries across the continent, themes of identity, resilience, memory, environment, and human rights emerge powerfully, offering an authentic and contemporary perspective on the realities shaping this region of the world.
  
  Join an engaging conversation with Arturo Rodriguez, Juan Carlos, and Sandra Hernandez, moderated by Valentina Clemente. The photographers will share field experiences and reflections on the role of documentary photography in portraying communities, conflicts, traditions, and contemporary transformations, revealing how images can become powerful tools for awareness, dialogue, and cultural understanding.

  

• 5:15pm – 5:30pmTeatro dei Rinnovati

  COFFEE BREAK

KEYNOTES2nd SESSION

• 5:30pm – 6:10pm

  Round table

  Inside the Action: The Human Side of Sports Photography

  Panel discussion on the unseen realities behind global sporting events.
  Behind every great sporting achievement lies a deeply human story shaped by sacrifice, pressure, vulnerability, resilience, and emotion. Beyond the spectacle of competition and victory, sports photography reveals the invisible moments that define athletes both on and off the field.
  
  Join an engaging conversation with Joel Marklund, Dean Mouhtaropoulos, and Adam Pretty, moderated by Valentina Clemente.
  Through stories from some of the world’s most iconic sporting events, the photographers will share their experiences capturing the emotional intensity and resilience behind top-level competition, revealing the hidden side of sports and the universal emotions that connect athletes and audiences around the world.

  

• 6:10pm – 6:40pm

  George Steinmetz

  “Population – Meeting the Needs of 10 Billion”

  From the vast agricultural landscapes of China to human-shaped environments across Europe, Asia and Africa, acclaimed photographer and explorer George Steinmetz investigates one of the defining challenges of our time: how to feed and sustain a rapidly growing global population. Through breathtaking aerial imagery and powerful storytelling, Steinmetz offers a compelling perspective on the fragile balance between development, natural resources and the future of our planet..

  Discover the talk

  

• 6:40pm – 7:10pm

  Florian Ledoux

  “Between Breaths”

  Among the frozen landscapes of Svalbard, award-winning photographer and filmmaker Florian Ledoux takes audiences on an intimate journey into the heart of the Arctic through the extraordinary story of Grinch, a young orphaned polar bear. Accompanied by the screening of the documentary film of the same name, this powerful visual experience combines breathtaking imagery and emotional storytelling to explore solitude, resilience, and the fragile bond between humanity and the natural world in a rapidly changing planet.

  Discover the talk

  

• 7:10pm – 7:40pm

  Jasper Doest

  “Meet Bob”

  Documentary photographer Jasper Doest presents the extraordinary story of Bob, a Caribbean flamingo rescued after a serious accident on the island of Curaçao. Through intimate and emotional imagery, accompanied by a deeply human narrative, Doest explores the delicate relationship between people and wildlife, transforming Bob into a powerful symbol of resilience, compassion, and coexistence between humanity and nature.

  Discover the talk

  

• 7:40pmTeatro dei Rinnovati

  Jasper Doest END REMARKS

• 7:45pm – 9:00pmTeatro dei Rinnovati

  WELCOME APERITIF WITH THE MAYOR OF SIENA