The Rencontres d'Arles 2007 reflect the passionate commitment of specialists in many different areas of photography: the Awards nominators, chosen from among top museum directors; the collectors injecting new life into one aspect of the discipline; the militants in Beijing standing up for a creative hub that is unique in the world; the photographers who since 1947 have opted for a now mythic independent agency; the altruistic patrons without whom much work would find only a limited audience; and the lovers of India who have drawn attention to its creative output. The outcome is a Festival programme bursting with discoveries and curiosities. François Hébel, Rencontres d'Arles director. The Rencontres d'Arles Awards Many new talents have emerged since the Awards were initiated with the Fondation Luma in 2002. The calibre of the nominators for this year is remarkable – all are directors of internationally reputed bodies, revealing their individual sensibilities in fifteen exhibitions they and giving a helping hand to promising new artists. The photography professionals present during opening week will decide the winner of the 2007 Discovery Award. This time round each nominator will choose two books of the year, rather than one: the best thematic book or monograph on a photographer's career, and the best book to emerge from an individual creative project.