Night nominee

Manama is the capital and largest city of Bahrain. First mentioned in Islamic chronicles about 1345, it was taken by the Portuguese (1521) and by the Persians (1602). It has been held, with brief interruptions, by the ruling Āl Khalīfah dynasty since 1783, with British political influence from 1900 until the country became independent in 1971.The discovery of petroleum on Bahrain in 1932 revolutionized the city’s economy and appearance, with the construction of many modern buildings designed by international architecture studios. Still unknown to a greater audience, its skyline facing the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean has an innovative green approach that has quickly evolved into a study of the multifaceted relationship between people and their environment, shaped by factors ranging from the city's historical roots to the behaviors and lifestyles of its inhabitants. This practice, to bridge gaps in urban development and contribute to the city's growth while respecting its organic evolution, makes Manama a multinational and outward-looking location to be discovered.

A Philosophy graduate, Francesca Pompei is specialised in Art and Architecture Photography and her professional collaborations include projects for AD-Italia, the Vatican City State, Emre Arolat Architecture, Jaca Book, Living Corriere della Sera, Artribune, Venaria Reale, the Cultural Heritage Ministry, the Italian Embassy in Qatar, TheTimes, The Guardian and The Washington Post. Artist selected to celebrate Italy’s Republic Day 2020 and 2021, she is winner of prestigious competitions such as Architecture MasterPrize 2022 and The Art of Building. She is included among the Exceptional Women In Architecture Photography and in the Annuario d'Arte Italiana 2022 promoted by Quadriennale di Roma and published by Treccani .
Her projects have been published on an international level and exhibited as part of solo and group exhibitions. She is a member of Sign Press and PhotoVogue, in addition to her role as a Professor of Photography in the Image and Storytelling Studio course of the Design, Multimedia and Visual Communication Department of the Faculty of Architecture in Sapienza University, in Rome. Since 2023 she has been appointed Photography Subject Expert at the faculty of Architecture of Sapienza University in Rome. Since 2025 she has been member of the Freelancers Network of The Washington Post.