Fondacija Saša Marčeta, hosted at Bioskop Balkan the “Different Beauty” exhibition by renowned Czech photographer David Tešínský in November 2025, marking the grand opening of the 13th International Photography Festival Vizualizator. Held in late November, this exhibition highlighted bold portraits from over 80 countries, published in media outlets such as The Guardian, VICE, and Le Monde.
David Tešínský’s Work and Significance
David Tešínský, winner of the Sony World Photography Award and nominated for World Press Photo, describes himself as a bohemian dedicated to raw human stories. The “Different Beauty” exhibition showcases portrait photographs from conflict and sensitive areas—from Ukraine, through African and Latin American ghettos, to Iran. The project, supported by the Czech Cultural Center in Belgrade, reminded visitors of photography’s power to reveal dignity even in the harshest conditions
Preceding the opening was the panel discussion “From Evidence to Illusion: Media, Photography, and the Production of Pseudo-Reality,” featuring editors from leading domestic daily and weekly publications, photographers, and theoretical lecturers: Gordana Novaković, General Secretary of the Press Council; Izabela Branković, Executive Director of the Media Association; Dragan Jovićević, culture editor of Radar weekly; Prof. Dr. Danka Ninković, professor in the Journalism Department at the Faculty of Political Sciences; and Ranko Pivljanin, editor of Nova and Nova.rs. Moderator Zvezdan Mančić led the discussion on challenges in the digital age, where AI images and manipulations undermine photography’s evidential power, emphasizing the need for media literacy and ethical editorial decisions.
One of the most complex questions raised was whether photography can still serve as evidence or has become a tool for constructing pseudo-reality in an era where AI generates content of all types and formats. The festival’s slogan, “Budi prisutan” (Be Present), stood out as a central message, calling for deep reflection on visual culture amid hasty images, infotainment, and the commercial orientations of modern media. Participants highlighted key issues in conveying true events versus artificially generated content: the use of “truthful” photographs to support false narratives (misplaced context), the questionable evidential strength of photography amid AI interventions, and the urgent need for media literacy in newsrooms.
Fondacija Saša Marčeta takes pride in Bioskop Balkan hosting this event, contributing to the promotion of contemporary photography and cultural dialogue in Belgrade.
Photos: Mia Mašić, Maja Vulović, Petar Blaževski, curtesy of the Vizualizator Festival organizers.