Panel Talk: Visual Storytelling in Humanitarian Contexts with MSF

In a world facing myriad humanitarian emergencies, visual storytelling holds the potential to illuminate the experiences of affected communities and build bridges with a broader audience. Photographer Fernanda Pineda’s project, Riografías del Baudó, was produced in collaboration Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and demonstrates how collaborative image-making can challenge conventional forms of representation by centering local voices in the construction of narrative.

Join Pineda and fellow photographer Natalia Favre in conversation with Julieta Garófalo of MSF for a discussion on the ethics, methodology, and artistic narrative of Riografías del Baudó, and a broader exploration of photography’s changing role in supporting humanitarian work.

Bios 

Fernanda Pineda (@fernipineda) is a Colombian photographer and documentary filmmaker whose work explores themes of identity, memory, and territory through visual storytelling. Her methodology is rooted in deep engagement with the communities she portrays, ensuring that each narrative authentically reflects their lived experiences. Pineda is also the co-founder of Páramo Films, a production company dedicated to inclusive and socially engaged storytelling. In parallel, she works as a photojournalist, contributing to international outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Bloomberg, and The Guardian.

Natalia Favre (@nataliafavre_) Natalia Favre is a documentary photographer and visual storyteller based in Cuba and Argentina. Her work addresses social issues through an intimate perspective, exploring the intersection of community, identity, and territory. With several years of experience working in the cinema industry, she is particularly interested in bringing multimedia formats into her documentary practice. Her work has been featured in media such as The Washington Post, National Geographic, and the BBC, among others, and her films have been shown at international festivals in Cuba, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Mexico, and the United States. Natalia is a National Geographic Explorer, an Eddie Adams Workshop XXXV, and a proud member of Diversify Photo and Women Photograph. 

Julieta Garófalo is an Argentine cultural producer, strategic communicator, and curator working at the intersection of art, social impact, and public engagement. She currently leads the Public Engagement Unit for Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Latin America, where she has worked for the past seven years. Most recently, she co-led the production of Riografías del Baudó, a collaborative photo project with Colombian photographer Fernanda Pineda that reflects on healing and care in conflict-affected communities in Alto Baudó, Colombia.