PRESS RELEASE
Frankfurt am Main, 24 September. 2024
EPA Images, a leading visual content provider headquartered in Germany, commemorates its 40th anniversary with a poignant photo exhibition titled “1/28: Migration Routes” that opened today at the Instituto Cervantes in Frankfurt.
For this exhibition, opened by the Spanish Consul in Frankfurt Enrique Criado, EPA Images has compiled pictures of migrants’ perilous journeys with a focus on the major irregular migration routes across the Mediterranean, through Central America, and within Southeast Asia.
One in 28 people on the planet is a migrant, as the title suggests. Through the lenses of 28 EPA photographers, the exhibition captures the human faces of this global phenomenon, highlighting the stories of Afghans and Syrians fleeing war, Sub-Saharan Africans and Central-Americans seeking opportunity in the richer North, and Rohingyas escaping violence in Myanmar, among others.
“Home to one in every 495 migrants in the world, Germany has proven to be a welcoming place for people like myself and many of the employees of EPA Images in this country, where different cultures representing 19 nations work together.” said Julia R. Arévalo, President & CEO of EPA Images. “Without their contribution, our company and our society would not be as rich and diverse as they are today.”
“EPA Images is committed to delivering high-quality images that capture the world’s most pressing issues such as migration. The exhibition ‘’1/28′ is a testament to this commitment, showcasing the power of photography to tell stories that matter.”, she added.
The migrants in these photos “have chosen to escape from a distressing situation with the idea that the destination they are heading to will allow them to find a better life.”, said Miguel Angel Oliver, President of Agencia EFE from Spain and Chairman of EPA´s Supervisory Board.
“It is crucial that this journey has witnesses, that governments and societies know the dangers and challenges they face. And that is what news agencies and mass media are for. That is what EPA images is for.” he said.
The exhibition also serves as a reminder of the personal impact of migration. EPA’s Editor-in-Chief, Amel Benhachemi Pain, was forced to flee Algeria as a teenager during the civil war in the 1990´s and eventually found a new home in Germany.
“Leaving your home, your family, and everything you know is a heart-wrenching experience and not always a choice, it calls for continuous adaptation skills,” Pain said. “This exhibition is a tribute to the resilience of migrants and a call for empathy and understanding.”
The event was attended by representatives from photo distributors such as Shutterstock, action press AG, as well as news agencies like ANSA and Xinhua. Additionally, organizations such as Pro Asyl Frankfurt were present, alongside members of cultural institutions in Frankfurt, former FAZ photojournalist Barbara Klemm, and representatives from the Deutsche Börse Photo Forum and from the museum dedicated to the late EPA and AP photographer Anja Niedringhaus, killed in Afghanistan in 2014.
The European Pressphoto Agency B.V., rebranded as EPA Images in 2022, was created on 12 November 1984 through an agreement between seven European news agencies. Its main shareholder is Agencia EFE, the leading news agency in Spain and Latin America.
EPA Images’ wire service moves about 2,000 pictures daily, sourced from its own 130 visual journalists and those of its shareholders.
“1/28: Migration Routes” will run until November 28 at the Institute Cervantes. Admission is free and the print images will be available for purchase at the end of the exhibition, with 20% of the proceeds being donated to Pro Asyl Initiative in Frankfurt.
Contact: Vanessa Keller, Marketing & Communications Manager at EPA Images
Email: marketing@epaimages.com
Phone: +49 69 244321 806 / 808
For more information about EPA Images, visit www.epaimages.com
About EPA Images European Pressphoto Agency B.V. (rebranded as EPA Images) was created by an agreement among seven European news agencies in November 1984. The vision of the founders was driven by the demand for an independent quality picture service originally designed for the needs of the European media market. In early 2003, EPA made its service available to the worldwide market, beginning its global operations. In 2014, EPA launched its global video service. Today’s EPA photo and video services are based on the broad network of EPA Images’ visual journalists all over the world and on the daily production of its member agencies ANA-MPA, ANP, ANSA, EFE, KEYSTONE, LUSA, MIT and PAP, which are all market leaders in their respective countries.
