The IAGA 2025 [Annual General Assembly of IMAGO] was held this year in São Paulo – Brazil, at the invitation of the ABC Society: Mustapha Barat, ABC was re-elected for another three years as President of IMAGO.

What was your involvement in ABC before your presidency of IMAGO?

I joined ABC – the Brazilian Association of Cinematography in 2001, about a year after its foundation. Although I regularly attended our annual gatherings and the ABC Weeks, held alternatively in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. I became more involved In 2017 when I was invited to join the ABC Master Class Rio working group, where I also acted as treasurer. We organized over a dozen successful Master Classes at the cinematheque of the MAM, the Museum of Modern Art in Rio, including a Master Class and exhibit with Vittorio Storaro, AIC ASC whom I had first met on the set of Bernardo Bertolucci’s La Luna in 1978 in Italy. This initiative was spearheaded by ABC founding members, Affonso Beato ASC ABC, Jacques Cheuiche ABC, and Roberto Faissal ABC, among others.  In 2020, I was elected ABC’s treasurer on the board of our first woman-elected president, Tide Borges ABC. Two years later, I was elected president of ABC.

Can you tell us the circumstances leading to your candidacy as IMAGO President in 2022?

When I was first elected to IMAGO’s board, the federation was facing internal strife, further aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which limited member interaction to online meetings and emails. At the IAGA, the presidential election ended in a tie, prompting a second round at the IEGA, as required by our statutes. Unexpectedly, during the interim period, the board unanimously nominated me as president. I initially declined but eventually accepted, committed to acting impartially and steering IMAGO through a difficult transition.  At the IEGA, Elen Lotman ESC and Ron Johanson ACS were elected co-presidents, and I was asked to run as treasurer—a role I assumed officially at the start of the next fiscal year when Roger Simonsz BSC’s mandate ended. However, both co-presidents later stepped down, and I was once again encouraged to step in. Although I hadn’t planned to run, I accepted the challenge.  Coming from a Latin American society, I was seen by many as a neutral figure, someone who could help ease tensions and bring different voices to the table.

Can you tell us the challenges you faced and the achievements of this first mandate of yours?

Although my predecessor Ron Johanson ACS was co-president for a brief term, I will be the first to complete a full presidency based outside Europe. One of the biggest challenges was proving that a non-European president could effectively lead a federation that had long been Eurocentric. The other was building trust across the Board and among member societies—showing that, despite our different backgrounds, we could work together in the spirit of collaboration and in the best interest of the federation. Our greatest achievement, I believe, was rebuilding unity and stability. IMAGO had experienced some turbulent years, and together we worked hard to create a more transparent, peaceful, and inclusive space. Communication was a key part of this. We revamped the website to better showcase the work of our members and sponsors and built stronger, more consistent ties with our partners.

What are the goals for the new mandate you are running again this year?

To be honest, a year ago, I wasn’t planning to run again. The role demands a great deal of time and dedication. But I realized there was still more to do—and that with the help of our current administration and Board, we could continue the progress we’ve made. We’ve already made key strides—like updating the Internal Rules and, more importantly, the Statutes to bring them in line with Belgian law and incorporating amendments from successive general assemblies, something that hadn’t been done since 2017. This work gives all societies and committees a clearer roadmap for how IMAGO functions. It may not be glamorous work, but it was crucial. None of this would have been possible without the dedication of Alex Linden FSF our General Secretary, our Vice-Presidents Adriana Bernal ADFC and Bojana Andric SAS, the Board Members, Marcela Bourseau ABC our treasurer, Eric Guichard AFC our controller and last but not least Carolina Piquet our Office Coordinator, who have been essential in making IMAGO more transparent, efficient, and forward-thinking. Financially, we’ve brought more transparency with comprehensive detailed spreadsheets and managed to maintain a surplus balance even amid the instability caused by the pandemic and recent disruptions in the US film industry. That said, we still need to strengthen IMAGO’s presence at international cinematographer film festivals and revive essential events. More importantly, we must keep listening—to member societies, sponsors, and cinematographers worldwide—and make sure IMAGO grows as meaningful platform for professional connection and advocacy. I truly believe you can see the difference we’ve made. But we’re not done yet. If I’m given the chance, I’ll keep pushing forward with the same passion and dedication, making sure IMAGO evolves and thrives.

Finally, what can you tell us about the relationship between your Presidency and our society AIC during your first mandate?

Our relationship with AIC has been one of mutual respect and collaboration. My connection with the AIC has been one of the most meaningful parts of this journey. Having lived and worked in Italy and speaking the language helped me build a strong relationship with some of its members, including Vincenzo Condorelli AIC and, of course, its president, Luciano Tovoli AIC, ASC whom I had the honor and pleasure to meet in person when we held the 30th IMAGO Anniversary Celebrations at the 2023 IAGA in Cinecitta. I have great admiration for Luciano— not only for his pioneering work but also for his dedication to elevating the art of cinematography globally by conceiving IMAGO as a result of the exchanges that happened during the Giornate Internazionali dell’Aquila. AIC is a founding member of IMAGO and was instrumental in making the dream of creating a federation that defends both the rights and the artistic identity of cinematographers a reality. Italy’s deep cinematographic tradition and its significant role in the history of cinema cannot be overstated, and the legacy of Italian cinema continues to influence generations of filmmakers around the world. Throughout my first mandate, I’ve appreciated AIC’s contributions to our shared mission, and I look forward to continuing this respectful and productive collaboration in the years ahead.