February, 2021: On assignment in The Gambia. My current project is based around returnees, who left by ‘the backway’ to Libya but who have since returned to home. Documenting them – through film and photography – as they begin to rebuild their lives, with the support of the organisation, Catholic Relief Services.
Image: Rose stands in front of her shop on a busy junction in the Bakoteh area of Gambia. In a few short months, she has already expanded the size of her shop by half. With the income from her shop, she supports her family – including employing her mum to work in the shop and paying for her sister to go to college. (Image of Jason Florio courtesy of Helen Jones-Florio)
See more of Jason Florio’s work on irregular migration:
I am honoured to have worked as Director of Photography on the short documentary film, ‘I Cannot Bury My Father’. And, thrilled that it has been selected for this year’s African Film Festival, New York, 2021. More news and links coming soon.
Advertising the screening of ‘I Cannot Bury My Father’ short documentary at the African Film Festival, New York. Director of Photography – Jason Florio
In 2005, Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh murdered 56 West African migrants out of fear they were mercenaries intending to overthrow him. The disappearance of their slain bodies robbed families of healing and closure by being unable to bury their loved ones. Isaac Mensah, one of the victim’s sons, shares the emotional toll of this atrocity and his quest for answers… ‘I Cannot Bury My Father’, African Film Festival
Photographer, and filmmaker, Jason Florio, with Isaac Mensah and his family, during the filming of ‘I Cannot Bury My Father’, Ghana. Image courtesy of Festus-Jackson Davies
Buy fine art photography prints by Jason Florio from helenjonesflorio.com online gallery. Eclectic, limited edition collections. Many prints are available in large format.
Our ethos at the Helen Jones-Florio photography prints gallery is to offer a seamless, bespoke, fine art print purchasing service. Whether it be a one-print or multi-print order, we work one-one with every client. We use the services of master printers to provide museum-quality prints… helenjonesflorio.com
‘Jason Florio’s work is breathtaking! I’ve used his photography in my favorite projects, and his pieces steal the show! Helen Jones-Florio is so great to work with and I highly recommend!’Hark+Osbourne Interior Design
A triumphant, and momentous day for The Gambia, West Africa. Ten’s of thousands of euphoric Gambians lined the streets for miles – and miles! (an estimated over 100,000 Gambians flocked the main road) – to welcome home their new president, Adama Barrow. Due to potential security risks, Barrow had briefly exiled himself to neighbouring Senegal, where he was inaugurated at the Gambian Embassy, Dakar.
On December 1st, 2016, the Gambian people voted out their autocratic President Yahya Jammeh, after 22 years in power, and elected Adama Barrow as their new president. Jammeh conceded defeat, but a week later announced that he was annulling the election results and would not step down. A grassroots movement #GambiaHasDecided emerged in reaction.
Activists initially set up billboards with the slogan #GambiaHasDecided. The billboards were torn down by Jammeh loyalists. Not to be intimidated, the activists around the country turned to spray painting the slogan.
