Luis Felipe Kojima Felipe Kojima Hirano

In 2026, the Pierre Verger Award (PPV) will celebrate its 30th anniversary as one of the leading events for showcasing visual anthropological work in Latin America. It is also the principal accolade for anthropological films, photographs, and drawings in Brazil. The PPV provides a platform for critical discussion about the creation, circulation, and impact of images through conferences and round-table discussions. In 2026, the PPV will embrace the theme of the 35th Brazilian Anthropology Meeting: “Anti-racism and pluridiversity: halfway through, slippery waters.” The phrase, coined by Black writer Conceição Evaristo, highlights the central role of Brazilian anthropology in overcoming racism against Black and Indigenous persons, confronting inequalities, and strengthening threatened lifeworlds in the face of the environmental emergency. The PPV will also address the large-scale impact of social networks and AI on relationships mediated by audiovisual images. In a world dominated by the rapid production of images intended for immediate consumption and lacking in depth, visual anthropology in Brazil is challenged to highlight its unique approach to knowledge production. Despite the democratization of audiovisual production, images that are widely circulated and reinforced by algorithms perpetuate stereotypes, violence, fake news, and biases against vulnerable groups, requiring the attention of anthropologists.