WATCH AGRIGENTOOGGI'S AWARDS EVENING

The cloister of Agrigento's Town Hall was transformed into a theater of images, sounds, and stories. It was here that the 17th edition of the " Photograph the Festival and San Calogero " competition was held, an event born from the vision of journalist Domenico Vecchio . The initiative has always sought to connect the passion for photography with the city's most deeply rooted traditions: the Sagra del Mandorlo in Fiore, a spring festival celebrating almond blossoms and friendship between peoples, and the Feast of San Calogero, which recounts popular devotion to the "Black Saint." This year, the two festivals were also included in the calendar of Agrigento 2025, the Italian Capital of Culture , but while the official program was criticized for its fragmentation, the photography contest demonstrated a long-term vision.

The evening was more than just an awards ceremony. The more than 770 photographs projected in sequence created a dynamic scenography, bringing together faces, places, and rituals of Agrigento. A blend of languages and experiences that went beyond simple photography. In addition to selecting the best photographs, the evening also paid tribute to those who make Sicily great beyond its borders. Thus was born the " Sicilian Pride Beyond Borders " award, given to five figures who have brought the name of Agrigento and the region to the world.

The strength of this competition lies in its ability to tell the story of Agrigento through images. Each photograph becomes a fragment of collective memory, capable of showing beauty, devotion and even contradictions. The rites of the feast of San Calogero, with the statue carried on shoulders and barefoot devotees, coexist with glimpses of the Almond Blossom Festival, where the colourful costumes and folk groups recall Agrigento's openness to the world .

The heart of the evening was a conversation between Domenico Vecchio and Giovanni Taglialavoro , a journalist and television writer. Taglialavoro recounted his early days at Teleacras and reflected on the management of Agrigento 2025, calling it " a missed opportunity " due to the lack of a true calendar that highlights local identities. Hence his proposal: to create a laboratory where Agrigento photographers can share their art with those who want to learn. The seemingly simple idea responds to a need: to transform an annual event into a permanent engine of culture and education. Taglialavoro's suggestion is to invest in people , not just in the spotlight of an event. At a time when the city should shine as a Capital of Culture, many observers instead lament the lack of structured projects, like the one proposed by Taglialavoro.

Agrigento deserved for culture to become a tool for urban regeneration, not a fleeting stage . In this context, the "Photograph the Festival and San Calogero" photography competition went in the opposite direction. By rewarding both professionals and enthusiasts, it created a lasting visual memory that engaged the citizens. After 17 years, "Photograph the Festival and San Calogero" has become an event that unites generations. The award-winning photos don't just sit in a drawer: they're used for promotional campaigns for the Mandorlo in Fiore festival and to tell the story of Agrigento beyond its borders. While some events during the capital year leave no trace, this competition archives, passes on, and motivates.

It's no coincidence that the number of participants increases with each edition: this year, more than one hundred people uploaded 638 images for the Mandorlo section and 134 for San Calogero. In an era when cultural marketing often focuses on quick-access shows, the Agrigento evening demonstrated that telling profound stories through the lens can be more impactful than a million-dollar concert. The hope is that the energy seen in the cloister of the Town Hall will become contagious and that, beyond the controversies over the management of funds, there will be talk of generative projects . Agrigento has men and women of culture, photographers, artists, and journalists ; it's up to public decision-makers to enhance them, avoiding reducing culture to fireworks.

The 2025 edition of the photography competition demonstrated that culture isn't just a spectacle, but the patient construction of memory and identity. If Agrigento truly wants to be a cultural capital, it must look to grassroots best practices and recognize that investing in skills and participation pays off more than a one-night event. Because, as Taglialavoro suggested, a true cultural capital is built day by day , shot by shot.