The inaugural Saltzman-Leibovitz Photography Prize, established by photographer Annie Leibovitz, in collaboration with photographer and philanthropist Lisa Saltzman, is delighted to announce its first-ever winner: Zélie Hallosserie, a talented 21-year-old French photographer whose compelling documentary work illuminates the urgent realities of migration and exile in northern France.
Currently completing her final year of photography studies in Belgium, Hallosserie’s artistic practice uses a compassionate yet incisive documentary approach. Her ongoing project, The Game, captures the personal journeys and stories of migrants in Calais, an often perilous final junction before reaching the United Kingdom.
For several years, Hallosserie has documented migrants from countries such as Iraq, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Sudan, and Eritrea who face constant dangers in their attempts to cross the Channel, risking their lives through unsafe boats and stowing away in trucks. Tragically, at least 72 people have died during these crossings since January 2024.
Since 2022, Hallosserie has engaged with a local shelter, providing temporary refuge for migrants, building genuine relationships, and offering photography workshops that empower residents to express their experiences creatively. Her approach challenges reductive media portrayals, restoring dignity and individuality to her subjects.
“Photography allows me to defend subjects close to my heart, to create genuine connections, and to constantly challenge my own perspective,” says Hallosserie. “This recognition was unexpected, but I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity and visibility it brings to a cause and project that mean so much to me.”
