Interview Zakaria Selmani - Maghreb Photographer of the year 2025

Hello Zakaria, you are the « Maghreb Photographer Of The Year » 2025. For this, you won $400. What do you think about being selected as a winner among hundreds of other photographers ?

It is a profound honor to be named Maghreb Photographer of the Year 2025. To be chosen among so many talented photographers is both humbling and inspiring. This recognition strengthens my commitment to pursuing authentic storytelling through photography, and it also feels like a tribute to the culture and people who have shaped my vision.

Can you tell us about your background and how you became a photographer ?

I was born in Algeria, where I originally studied biology before moving to Canada to continue my education. My passion for photography began early, when I started taking pictures with my first phone camera. In 2018, I participated in a national photography exhibition in Algeria, which marked the beginning of my journey as a photographer. Since then, I have participated in numerous national and international exhibitions and received several awards. In 2022, I was honored with the official Photographer Artist Card in Algeria, a recognition that motivated me to further pursue my documentary and artistic vision.

What about the « Soul of Fantasia » series — how did you build this project and what do you plan to do in the future ?

The Soul of Fantasia series was born from my fascination with Algeria’s cultural traditions and my desire to move beyond ordinary representation. My goal was not only to portray the visual beauty of the Fantasia horse festivals, but also to capture their atmosphere, emotions, and cultural significance. This project is part of my broader search for a personal style and artistic voice. In the future, I plan to expand on this approach, creating projects that combine cultural documentation with creative storytelling, while developing my own evolving aesthetic.

As a winner, you will join the jury of the next edition. What advice can you give to photographers who want to apply next year ?

My advice is to photograph with sincerity and persistence. Keep exploring, keep shooting, and never stop searching for your own visual language. Beyond technique, what makes a photograph truly powerful is the individuality of the artist behind it. I encourage participants to embrace their own perspective, to go beyond the expected, and to create images that are both personal and unique.

Zakaria Selmani (@the_zsart) is an Algerian photographer based in Montreal, Canada. Rooted in documentary and street photography, his practice is defined by a search for subtle beauty within the ordinary. Through his lens, everyday scenes are transformed into narratives that carry both intimacy and universality, marked by a distinctive and personal touch. His journey began with a simple phone camera, which became an essential tool for observation and storytelling. In 2018, he participated in a national photography exhibition in Algeria, an early milestone that encouraged him to pursue his path more seriously. Since then, his work has been shown in several national and international exhibitions, earning him recognition and awards. In 2022, Selmani was officially recognized as a professional photography artist with the Algerian Artist Card