1995 was a winning year for Jérôme Brézillon! Just months after winning the World Press Photo Master Class, he was selected for a special prize by the Jean-Luc Lagardère Foundation’s Photographer grant jury for his project on French middle schools. "Whether in Paris or elsewhere in France, they're a separate world, a social space, a turning point, and we don't know nearly enough about them." The black and white project was very important to him, and expanded the range of subjects he has covered even further. It was a watershed year for his career, especially in light of his difficult beginnings. With a two-year DEUG degree in cinema and modern literature in hand, Jérôme was an advertising assistant for several years. In 1987, he decided to found his own studio, which he eventually closed. In 1992, he traveled to Bosnia, producing a report that earned him “a modest bit of visibility." He has since returned to the country, publishing Sarajevo Ville Captive with publisher Syros in 1995. As a photographer for Télérama, Libération, Info Matin and L’Humanité Dimanche, among others, Jérôme continues to exhibit work in a wide variety of subject areas. An overview of his work is available at the following site, click here

Achievements since winning the grant

In 1997, Jérôme joined the Métis agency, which comprises eight photographers, including Philippe Loparelli (1993 Photographer grant-winner).
In 1998, he produced a long report on Jeanne Moreau for the Cannes issue of Studio. The report was also shown at the UGC Citéciné theatre.
In 2000, he produced a report on America's deep south and the death penalty. That same year, he collaborated on the film Made in USA by Solveig Anspach. The photos were later exhibited in 2001 at the FNAC.
In 2002, he showed images of El Paso 79935-TX at the Festival Terres d’Images in Biarritz. He worked regularly with Libération, Les Inrockuptibles, Télérama, L’Express and others.
In 2004, Stand Art Life was published by Trans Photographic Press.
In 2005, he was guest of honor at the 39th Salon Photographique d’Allauch, organized by the Phocal Association, where he exhibited Stand Art Life, photos he took in the United States between 1988 and 2003.