When sport becomes art

A 1000^th of a second. For athletes, this is what sometimes makes the difference between a victory and a defeat, between one step or another on a podium, between a gold or bronze medal. For reporters, it is this decisive moment where everything is at stake, to capture the image that will immortalize a historic record. Celebrating these precious seconds, around ten international photographers present 250 memorable sports photos to us, in an open-air exhibition, bathed in the summer sun. It is in this setting worthy of the prettiest postcards that we meet the artists, discover little-known disciplines, admire grandiose works here and there, such as these powerful aerial photographs by Mathieu Forget, displayed on monumental formats of almost 50 m² .

Mark your calendars!
The kickoff for this 3^th edition will be given on June 15 and 16, 2024, with an exceptional opening weekend offering guided tours of exhibitions, activities and workshops, meetings with artists and round tables.

Everything happens here, on the banks of the Loire, in this postcard setting of the village of Saint-Mathurin. Welcome to the Festival 1000th of seconds, France's first festival on sports photography, offering us an immersive experience where the worlds of sport and art meet in perfect symbiosis. This 3rd edition will kick off on June 15 and 16, 2024, with an exceptional opening weekend offering guided tours of exhibitions, activities and workshops, meetings with artists and round tables. All summer, we will vibrate to the rhythm of photography and sport, discovering through the lens of these great artists and reporters, sometimes little-known disciplines, such as water polo with the black and white exhibition of Philippe Fretault, or even horse riding under the inspired eye of Christophe BRICOT. Spectacular images of climbing, skating or BMX captured by emerging talents like Pauline Ballet will enrich the artistic diversity of the festival. The Paralympic Games also occupy a special place in the programming, with two dedicated exhibitions through the expert lens of Grégory Picout and Florent Pervillé. These photographers specializing in Paralympic sport offer us a poignant and inspiring look at the strength and determination of athletes. Here, the grandiose and immersive scenography transports us to the heart of the action, into the intensity of our champions' sporting competitions.

Saint-Mathurin-sur-Loire
and the tourist trails “La Loire à Vélo” and “Vélo Francette”
From June 15 to September 15, 2024
FREE ENTRANCE