Rafael Fabrés (b.1982. Madrid.) is a photographer and filmmaker specializing in documentary storytelling.
He holds a BA in Media Communication (UEM) and a Master’s Degree in Cinematography (ESCAC).
Rafael´s work explores the connections between identity, displacement and belonging in his projects.
After having lived in Central and Latin America for more than a decade working as a photojournalist, he felt compelled to dig deeper into his past experience and expand his visual approach beyond his previous perspective.
This led to his first book titled Cafuné (2020), focusing tangentially on the "pacification" of the favelas in Rio; the work was a personal perspective of the Marvelous City during the Pope’s visit and the massive protests in 2013, the World Cup of 2014 and the Olympic Games of 2016.
The book “Cafuné” was launched at the 2020 Visa Pour L´Image festival and won awards at the 2020 Prix de la Photographie Paris, the 2021 Lucie Photobook Prize, the 2022 Rotterdam/Tiradentes Photo Festival, the 2023 Florida Museum of Photographic Arts International Photography Competition and the 2023 Les Nuits Photographiques de Pierrevert Festival.
A series of short films, photo projects and exhibitions followed, all part of an ongoing interactive Web Project founded by the Spanish Brazilian Studies Institute.
Rafael is currently working in his two next long term projects between City of Mexico and Madrid.
Publications + Clients
TIME, Getty Images,The New York Times, Stern, Der Spiegel, El Pais Semanal, Paris Match, Le Monde, L´Express, De Volkskrant, L´Expansion, Daily Telegraph, Aljazeera, AP, Bloomberg, Canon, NPR, Iberia, UNICEF, MSN France, Red Cross, NRC Next, Caser, YAHOO, Modus magazine, Yo Donna, Dagens Naeringgsliv, Philosophie Magazine, De Standard, Mia Magazine, Dagens Niheter, DPA, El Mundo, Fashion and Arts Magazine, FHM Norway, Fish Eye Magazine, GEA Photowords, RAW Magazine, Helsingin Sanomat, Il Fatto Quotidiano, Ilta Sanomat, IN Magazine, Knack Magazine, Revista luces, La Nacion, LF Magazine & Gatopardo.
Awards
2023- Urban Photo Awards. Trieste Photo Days - Urban Book Award Winner
2023- International Photography Awards - Book Monograph Honorable Mention
2023- Muse Photography Awards - Platinum Winner
2023- Florida Museum of Photographic Arts - International Photography Competition Winner
2023- Les Nuits Photographiques de Pierrevert
2022- Tiradentes Rotterdam Photo Festival. Finalist
2021- Lucie Photobook Prize. Finalist
2020- PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris Book/Documentary Professional Silver Award Winner
2018- Mexico International Film Festival Music Video Category Winner.
2017- European Cinematography Awards Best Music Video Category Winner.
2016- European Journalism Centre (EJC) Grant Winner.
2013- POYi Award of Excellence News Story Category.
2013- Photocrati Fund Honorable Mention.
2013- Manuel Rivera-Ortiz Foundation Grant Finalist.
2013- International Photography Awards Honorable Mention Editorial-General News.
2013- International Photography Awards Honorable Mention Editorial-Photo Essay and Feature Story.
2013- Emphasis Crowdfunding Campaign Winner.
2012- EDDIE ADAMS Workshop XXV Selected.
2012- PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris Bronze Award Press- War Category.
2012- International Photography Awards Honorable Mention Editorial-General News.
2012- Prix ANI (Association Nationale des Iconographes) Finalist.
2023- (solo) Urban Photo Awards. Trieste, Italy
2023- (group) Florida Museum of Photographic Arts - Tampa, USA
2023- (group) Estartspace - Madrid, Spain
2023- (group) Les Nuits Photographiques de Pierrevert (screening) - Pierrevert, France
2021- (solo) Centro Estudios Hispano Brasileño Universidad Salamanca - Salamanca, Spain
2020- (group) Visa pour l'image Festival (screening) - Perpignan, France
2019- (group) "DKV Creadores de Conciencia" - Madrid, Valencia, Zaragoza & Gijon, Spain
2018- (group) "DKV Creadores de Conciencia" - Barcelona, Spain
2017- (group) "Upfront Colective" - CDMX, Mexico
2016- (solo) Academia de España - Rome, Italy
2016- (group) "Upfront Colective" - Madrid, Spain
2015- (solo) EFTI - Madrid, Spain
2014- (solo) DOCfield14 - Barcelona, Spain
2014- (solo) Photon Festival - Valencia, Spain
2013- (group) Paraty Em Foco (screening) - Paraty, Brazil
2013- (solo) Visa pour l'image Festival XXV- Perpignan, France
2013- (group) Les Rencontres d'Arles - Arles, France
2012- (group) Bronx Documentary Center (screening)- New York, USA
Press & Interviews
- PICTURES OF THE YEAR INTERNATIONAL
- PRIX DE LA PHOTOGRAPHIE PARIS
- EL PAIS
- EPS
- LE MONDE
- EL MUNDO
- EPS
- INFLUYO
- EFTI
- CANON
- EPS
- LE MONDE
- WIRED
- CEBUSAL
- FUNDACION CULTURAL HISPANO BRASILEÑA
Education
2022- HOJA DE RUTA Photobook Workshop. Madrid
2019- ESCAC. Master´s Degree in Cinematography. Barcelona
2017- BLANK PAPER Colectivo. Madrid
2017- CENTRO Escuela de Imagen. Mexico City
2012- EDDIE ADAMS Workshop XXV. NY
2012- RISC (Reporters Instructed in Saving Colleagues) Workshop. NY
2010- EFTI School. Degree in Photography. Madrid
2008- UEM. Media Communications Degree. Madrid
Workshops
Walter Astrada, Christopher Anderson, Ernesto Bazan, Fosi Vegue, Moritz Neumuller & Sybren Kuiper
CONTACT
+34 616429716 (Spain)