Giga Photo Festival: Capturing the Power of Connection

An artistic celebration of digital inclusion and global impact

In an increasingly digital world, being connected means much more than simply having access to the internet. It represents a gateway to education, information, opportunities, and a brighter future. This is the very idea celebrated by the Giga Photo Festival, a joint initiative by UNICEF and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), led by the Giga programme, which aims to connect every school in the world to the internet.

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Launched on April 1, 2025, the global photo contest on the theme “The Joy of Connection” attracted 3,420 participants from 89 countries. Through powerful and moving images, the public is invited to discover how connectivity can deeply impact the lives of young people around the world. The selection process was carried out in collaboration with HEAD – Geneva (Geneva University of Art and Design), involving a mixed jury of experts and students. This educational approach reinforces the project’s ambition: to use photography as a vehicle for awareness as well as a tool for social transformation.

The highlight of this initiative was the Awards Ceremony held on June 12, 2025, at the Kiosque in Parc des Bastions, Geneva. It took place alongside a public open-air exhibition on display from June 2 to 30, 2025, across Plainpalais and Bastions, in partnership with the Canton of Geneva.

To bring this international event to life, MCI Switzerland was entrusted with full-scale coordination and operational support throughout the entire production process. The agency’s responsibilities included audiovisual and technical coordination, setup and live capture, management of on-site media teams, full travel and accommodation logistics for awardees and guests, as well as sourcing and supervising photographers and videographers. MCI Switzerland also oversaw media post-production, designed and produced the trophies awarded during the ceremony, and orchestrated participant hospitality and on-site presence to ensure smooth execution at every stage.

The Giga Photo Festival does not merely highlight the faces of connectivity it actively contributes to a global cause. As a programme, Giga has already helped connect over 14,500 schools, impacting nearly 7.8 million children across more than 140 countries. Through its artistic and human approach, the event has raised public and institutional awareness of the critical need to guarantee equitable internet access for all, particularly for children and schools in underserved areas.