Francesco Zizola

Francesco Zizola (Rome, 1962) has photographed the major crises and conflicts that have unfolded across the world over the past 30 years. A strong ethical commitment and a distinctive personal style characterize his photographic work. His projects and assignments for numerous Italian and international publications have taken him around the globe, giving him the opportunity to document humanitarian crises that often remained on the margins of the news.

Francesco has received numerous awards, including ten World Press Photo awards and six Picture of the Year International awards. He has published ten books, among them “Sale Sudore Sangue” (Postcart 2020), Luna, appunti per sognatori (Quaderno Fiaf 2020), “Uno sguardo inadeguato” (Grandi Autori Fiaf 2013), “Iraq” (Ega 2007), and “Born Somewhere” (Delpire 2004), dedicated to the condition of childhood in 27 countries around the world. In 2003 Henri Cartier-Bresson included one of Francesco's photographs among his 100 favorites. This collection gave rise to an exhibition, ‘Les Choix d’Henri Cartier Bresson’, and a book.

In 2007, together with a group of colleagues, he founded the agency NOOR, based in Amsterdam. In 2008 he was among the founders of 10b Photography in Rome, a multifunctional center dedicated to professional photography. He served on the jury of World Press Photo for the 2014 edition and won the SIAE award for “creative talent” with his short film “As if we were tuna” as part of the Venice Film Festival in 2018. As curator and artistic director, he is currently leading the “Collezione Roma” program for the Department of Culture of the Comune di Roma, as well as World Press Photo exhibitions in various Italian cities.

Francesco lives in Rome.