El primer Salvaje Fest ha dejado huella en Lleida. Más de 400 personas llenaron el teatro y los talleres durante un fin de semana en el que la fotografía de naturaleza, el arte y la conservación se encontraron en un mismo escenario. La respuesta fue tan abrumadora que las inscripciones tuvieron que cerrarse antes de tiempo.
Nature and art as drivers of the future
The festival kicked off with a day dedicated to nature tourism, where the Untamed Spain / España Salvaje project was officially presented, funded by the European Union through the Experiencias Turismo España program. There, the first results of the national hide inventory were shared—more than 500 currently active, managed by 56 companies—and the portal untamedspain.com was launched, conceived as a meeting point for responsible and sustainable experiences.
Talks that inspire
The audience enjoyed conferences and screenings that blended science, art, and sensitivity. Photographer and filmmaker Andoni Canela opened the day by speaking about the Iberian wolf and the power of imagery to raise awareness. Marc Casas highlighted listening and silence as creative tools; Mario Suárez showed that experimentation is within everyone’s reach with his creative blurs; and muralist Loubé moved the audience with a live work featuring the little bustard, a threatened species.
They were joined by leading figures such as Katy Gómez, Isabel Díez, and Alejandra Rendón representing the international collective Girls Who Click, which supports young women nature photographers. The roundtable on photography contests, featuring organizers from competitions like MontPhoto and the Memorial María Luisa, rounded out a vibrant debate with strong audience participation.
Workshops, diversity, and accessibility
Over the weekend, 216 registrations were recorded for workshops and photo outings, including activities adapted for people with disabilities. The exhibition area brought together nearly 30 stands from brands, publishers, artists, and conservation projects. And the heatwave didn’t stop the audience: the photography and art exhibitions were moved indoors, preserving the spirit of the festival.
A community on the move
Nada de esto habría sido posible sin los casi 50 voluntarios de Amics Foto Lleida y AEFONA, que hicieron del Salvaje Fest un evento profesional y cercano. El festival forma parte del proyecto Untamed Spain / España Salvaje, financiado con fondos europeos Next Generation EU, y cuenta con el respaldo de Turismo de España y Ara Lleida.
After this promising start, the organization is already working on the next edition, with the goal of establishing Salvaje Fest as an essential meeting point for photographers, artists, and nature enthusiasts.
