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Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award 2025 - winners announced

THE WINNER OF THE MARILYN STAFFORD FOTOREPORTAGE AWARD 2025 is

Jodi Windvogel

FOR HER WORK

Life under occupation: Inside Cissie Gool House & Cape Town’s Housing Crisis

This work documents daily life inside a former public hospital in Cape Town that has been occupied since 2017 by over 1,500 people resisting displacement. Transformed into a self-organised community, the occupation responds directly to Cape Town’s deepening housing crisis. Life Under Occupation focuses on the strength, dignity, and mutual care that residents build in a space marked by legal uncertainty.

Children play in the hallway of Cissie Gool House.
A resident helps prepare a room for a woman and her children. She has been with the occupation since the beginning and was offered the larger space through a collective community decision.
Reyana Kube (23) sits on her bed before heading to her night shift. She has called Cissie Gool House home for the past seven years.
jodi-headshot

Jodi Windvogel is a South African documentary photographer and filmmaker whose work is rooted in long-form storytelling, often focusing on deeply personal narratives. Their photography explores themes of land, memory, gender, and displacement – always with the intention of challenging stereotypes and reframing how marginalised communities are seen and understood. With a thoughtful, intimate approach, Jodi captures moments of strength and vulnerability, creating space for empathy and honest conversation.

For more information about the Winner and Honourable Mentions please visit the FotoDocument news post here

The Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award, facilitated by FotoDocument and supported generously by Nikon UK, is granted annually to a professional female photographer towards the completion of a compelling and cohesive documentary photo essay, which addresses an important social, environmental, economic or cultural issue, whether local or global. The overall winner is awarded a grant of £3,000. All shortlisted applicants are featured on the FotoDocument website and will be publicised by both FotoDocument and Nikon UK. The Award is reserved solely to women documentary photographers, working on projects that are intended to make the world a better place and which may be unreported / under-reported. They should, in part, showcase positive solutions to any issues raised in order to contribute to constructive photojournalism, in line with the aims of FotoDocument and the wishes of Marilyn Stafford. Women from any stage of their careers are welcome to apply, whether emerging, mid-career or established. They must already have started the photo essay for which they are seeking funding and able to show work in progress. In addition, they must already have completed at least one other documentary photo essay to demonstrate track record. Entrants must be over 18, they may be any nationality and based anywhere in the world. It is free to submit.

2025 Submissions were reviewed by international panel including:

Andrea Bruce: award-winning photojournalist, co-owner NOOR photo agency, Nikon ambassador;

Donna De Cesare: award-winning photojournalist, associate professor University of Texas;

Nina Emett: award-winning founding director FotoDocument, documentary photographer, curator;

Neo Ntsoma: award-winning photojournalist, founder Neo Ntsoma Productions;

Ana Maria Arévalo Gosen: Winner of Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award 2023, Photographer.

Lina Clerke: honorary judge and daughter of Marilyn Stafford.