INTERNATIONAL PHOTO FESTIVAL OLTEN

NEXT FESTIVAL
AUGUST 2023

OLTEN, SWITZERLAND

Every two years some of the world’s finest Photographers, Visual Storytellers, Photo Directors of leading magazines and Students gather together with institutions like World Press Photo and Magazines in the small town of Olten, Switzerland. Based in the heart of Europe, they come to celebrate their common love for Photography and to educate and share their knowledge and passion. Because of the high caliber of Speakers, International Guests, participants and workshops, the IPFO has managed, after only two editions in 2017 and 2019, to become one of the finest Photo Festivals in the International World of Photography. While the days are busy with over 60 Workshops and Master Classes at the IPFO Campus with visiting Professionals and Students from all over the world, the nights are a celebration. They are inspiring, creative filled, fun evenings with International Keynote Speakers and Nocturnes at the Museums and of course the IPFO Festival Square with tent and bar to enjoy until the early morning hours.

LINE UP FESTIVALS 2017/2019/2021

ANTON CORBIJN

Iconic Image creator for Icons. Photographer. Music and Film Director, NL

LYNSEY ADDARIO

Pulitzer Prize Winner, MacArthur Fellowship and other Awards winning Photographer and Photojournalist, London, GB

HARRY BENSON

Commander of the Order of the British Empire and Award winning Photographer, New York, US

SUSAN WHITE

The Lucie Foundation Photo Editor of the Year, 4 x Winner of the American Society of Magazine Editors Ellie Award for General Excellence in Photography and former Photography Director Vanity Fair, New York, US

DAN WINTERS

Alfred Eisenstaedt, World Press Photo and other Awards winning Photographer & Artist, Austin, TX, US

BRIGITTE LACOMBE

Four decades of inspiration and excellence, FR/US

STUART FRANKLIN

A Witness on History and Time. Magnum Photographer, UK

NICK UT

Pulitzer Prize winning Photojournalist, Los Angeles, US

CORY RICHARDS

National Geographic Explorer 2012, Photographer & Explorer, climbed Everest's summit solo and with no oxygen in 2016 and 2017, Colorado, US

„AT IPFO THE DAYS BELONG TO THE PHOTOGRAPHERS, WHILE THE NIGHT IS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE“

— LYNSEY ADDARIO, PURLIZER PRICE WINNING PHOTOGRAPHERe

EMAN MOHAMMED

Chris Hondros fellowship & award winning Photojournalist and TED fellow, Washington DC, US

LARS BOERING

Former Director, World Press Photo, Amsterdam, NL

JONATHAN WOODS

Emmy winning Documentary Producer and head of Video at Time Magazine, New York, US

JULIA FULLERTON-BATTEN

Worldwide acclaimed and exhibited Fine-Art Photographer, Hasselblad Master UK

ERIK MADIGAN HECK

One of the currently most important Photographers in the world of Fashion, US

DOMINIC NAHR

Award winning Photographer, CH

JOHN SABEL

Former Executive Vice President Motion Creative Print Marketing for the Walt Disney Studios and Creative Director, Los Angeles, US

SHANE KIMBROUGH

Astronaut & Pilot, 50th Commander ISS, 189 Days in Space, 6 Space Walks, Current 2021 member of the ISS, Houston, TX, US

RON BEINNER

Photography Producer and Editor who served as Senior Contributing Photography Producer for Vanity Fair Magazine, Los Angeles, US

„IT WAS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE! BRAVISSIMO! GIGI AND I WILL REMEMBER IT FOREVER!“

— HARRY BENSON, AWARD WINNING PHOTOGRAPHER, COMMANDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

STEPHEN WILKES

Lucie Award winning Photographer, TED fellow, New York, US

MAGDALENA HERRERA

Director of Photography at GEO Magazine, Paris, FR

PHIL TOLEDANO

Award winning Photographer & Film maker, Artist, New York, US

LEVON BISS

Photographer, TED fellow, London, GB

GILES DULEY

May Chidiac Award for Bravery in Journalism, Award winning Photographer, TED fellow, London, GB

SAMANTHA STARK

World Press Photo winner, Video Journalist, NY Times, New York, US

FABIAN OEFNER

Experimental Photographer, TED fellow, NYC, US/CH

YUMNA
AL-ARASHI

Photographer, Filmmaker and Writer, London, GB

MARCO GROB

Emmy winner and Hasselblad Master, Photographer and Director, New York, US

LINE UP FESTIVALS 2017/2019/2021

ANTON CORBIJN

Iconic Image creator for Icons. Photographer. Music and Film Director, NL

LYNSEY ADDARIO

Pulitzer Prize Winner, MacArthur Fellowship and other Awards winning Photographer and Photojournalist, London, GB

HARRY BENSON

Commander of the Order of the British Empire and Award winning Photographer, New York, US

SUSAN WHITE

The Lucie Foundation Photo Editor of the Year, 4 x Winner of the American Society of Magazine Editors Ellie Award for General Excellence in Photography and former Photography Director Vanity Fair, New York, US

DAN WINTERS

Alfred Eisenstaedt, World Press Photo and other Awards winning Photographer & Artist, Austin, TX, US

BRIGITTE LACOMBE

Four decades of inspiration and excellence, FR/US

STUART FRANKLIN

A Witness on History and Time. Magnum Photographer, UK

NICK UT

Pulitzer Prize winning Photojournalist, Los Angeles, US

CORY RICHARDS

National Geographic Explorer 2012, Photographer & Explorer, climbed Everest's summit solo and with no oxygen in 2016 and 2017, Colorado, US

„AT IPFO THE DAYS BELONG TO THE PHOTOGRAPHERS, WHILE THE NIGHT IS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE“

— LYNSEY ADDARIO, PURLIZER PRICE WINNING PHOTOGRAPHERe

EMAN MOHAMMED

Chris Hondros fellowship & award winning Photojournalist and TED fellow, Washington DC, US

LARS BOERING

Former Director, World Press Photo, Amsterdam, NL

JONATHAN WOODS

Emmy winning Documentary Producer and head of Video at Time Magazine, New York, US

JULIA FULLERTON-BATTEN

Worldwide acclaimed and exhibited Fine-Art Photographer, Hasselblad Master UK

ERIK MADIGAN HECK

One of the currently most important Photographers in the world of Fashion, US

DOMINIC NAHR

Award winning Photographer, CH

JOHN SABEL

Former Executive Vice President Motion Creative Print Marketing for the Walt Disney Studios and Creative Director, Los Angeles, US

SHANE KIMBROUGH

Astronaut & Pilot, 50th Commander ISS, 189 Days in Space, 6 Space Walks, Current 2021 member of the ISS, Houston, TX, US

RON BEINNER

Photography Producer and Editor who served as Senior Contributing Photography Producer for Vanity Fair Magazine, Los Angeles, US

„IT WAS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE! BRAVISSIMO! GIGI AND I WILL REMEMBER IT FOREVER!“

— HARRY BENSON, AWARD WINNING PHOTOGRAPHER, COMMANDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

STEPHEN WILKES

Lucie Award winning Photographer, TED fellow, New York, US

MAGDALENA HERRERA

Director of Photography at GEO Magazine, Paris, FR

PHIL TOLEDANO

Award winning Photographer & Film maker, Artist, New York, US

LEVON BISS

Photographer, TED fellow, London, GB

GILES DULEY

May Chidiac Award for Bravery in Journalism, Award winning Photographer, TED fellow, London, GB

SAMANTHA STARK

World Press Photo winner, Video Journalist, NY Times, New York, US

FABIAN OEFNER

Experimental Photographer, TED fellow, NYC, US/CH

YUMNA
AL-ARASHI

Photographer, Filmmaker and Writer, London, GB

MARCO GROB

Emmy winner and Hasselblad Master, Photographer and Director, New York, US

„YOU DON’T SEE THINGS LIKE THIS EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD“

— JOHN SABEL, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT MOTION CREATIVE PRINT MARKETING, WALT DISNEY STUDIOS

LEARN from the best

Our Festival is driven by education and inspiration. Under the brand name IPFO CAMPUS we organize Master classes and workshops with internationally renowned photographers, as well as the most elite Swiss Photographers, for students from all over the world. These classes and workshops take place yearlong - in addition to, of course, the IPFO Festival every other year. Our IPFO Campus Portfolio reviews, which take place at the festival, are a unique opportunity to showcase and discuss students' and professionals' work with an incredible board of experts. Portfolio reviewers have included Susan White (former Photo Director, Vanity Fair, NYC), Lars Boering (Director of World Press Photo, Amsterdam) and Magdalena Herrera (Photo Director, Geo France), to name only a few.