With « Circus in Palestine », Milan Szypura, a young photography student at the EMI-CFD, did not win a Vendôme award, but did win the encouragement of several journalist jury members.

About his story, “Le cirque en Palestine”, he said: “Making movies in Palestine is part of a growing cultural movement, baptized humorously by locals, the cultural Intifada. Its home base is the amateur circus of Palestine, based in Ramallah.”

In July, 2011, Milan Szypura followed 15 students of different nationalities, from the Centre Municipal des Arts du Cirque of Toulouse, who came to study, exchange and work with 15 students in Ramallah and perform together in the Gaza strip and East Jerusalem.

The result is an unpretentious and well-made magazine story. Milan Szypura is a young, modest photographer. The type of young man Mark Grosset liked to defend.

Last may, as an intern at the local daily of Alsace, the « Dernières nouvelles d’Alscace », he wrote on his blog : “I am now an intern at the photo desk of the DNA in Strasbourg, under the direction of Christian Lutz-Sorg. It is the first time I have ever been in a photo department. Every day I am given instructions with stories to cover. New in Alsace, even though it brings me closer to my German roots, I leave, a map in my hand, covering in general 4 stories a day, not always photogenic: for me, that is the challenge.”

It is apparently true, for he is returning to the photo department on contract, albeit short term, in the same daily newspaper where the photo department is active, dynamic, and still recognizes the importance of human relations.

It is my pick of the week-end at Vendôme.

Michel Puech