EnergaCAMERIMAGE has announced the winners of its 2025 awards, with Judith Kaufmann BVK taking the Golden Frog for Late Shift.
Directed by Petra Biondina Volpe, Late Shift follows a dedicated nurse, (Leonie Benesch), working on an understaffed hospital ward.
Accepting the award, Kaufmann said: “There is no greater gift than being honoured for something that means so much to me.
“With this film, we wanted to pay tribute to all the caregivers, mostly women, who perform this indispensable work every single day around the world.
“I would like to thank Petra Volpe, the director and writer, for her wisdom, her warmth and her constant analytical perspective. I learned so much from her.
“My deepest gratitude goes to Leonie Benesch for her dedication, precision and captivating presence.”
Kaufmann also acknowledged ongoing concerns about the festival’s representation of women: “I am aware of the intense discussions surrounding Camerimage, around the dissatisfaction that so few female cinematographers have been represented there over the years, not only in competition.
“Talent has never been limited by gender, only opportunity has. I accept this award with deep gratitude, but also with the hope that it becomes unremarkable for women to be here.
“My work is one voice among many. There are countless women – emerging, mid-career and long overlooked – whose visions have been, and are, changing this art form in extraordinary ways.
“I especially want to encourage young DPs, female DPs, to keep moving forward with curiosity and open eyes, to keep fighting for our visibility but also to trust. It is truly the most beautiful profession there is.”
Fabian Gamper won the Silver Frog for Sound of Falling, thanking director Mascha Schilinski for bringing him on to shoot a film that “feels like memories”.
The Bronze Frog went to Michał Sobociński PSC for Chopin, A Sonata in Paris, which explores the life of Polish composer Fryderyk Chopin.
Winners
Main Competition
• Golden Frog: Judith Kaufmann BVK – Late Shift (dir. Petra Biondina Volpe)
• Silver Frog: Fabian Gamper – Sound of Falling (dir. Mascha Schilinski)
• Bronze Frog: Michał Sobociński PSC – Chopin, A Sonata in Paris (dir. Michał Kwieciński)
Cinematographers’ Debuts
• Golden Frog: Adam Suzin – Father (dir. Tereza Nvotova)
Directors’ Debuts
• Golden Frog: Qi Shu – Girl
Documentary Features
• Golden Frog: Benjamin Bryan – Iron Winter (dir. Kasimir Burgess)
Documentary Shorts
• Golden Frog: Ronnie McQuillan – No Mean City (dir. Ross McClean)
Music Videos
• Golden Frog: Jake Gabbay (cinematographer) and Gabriel Moses (director) – Chains & Whips
TV Series
• Golden Frog: Corrin Hodgson and Ben Richardson ASC BSC – 1923: A Dream and a Memory (dir. Ben Richardson)
Polish Films
• Golden Frog: Piotr Sobociński Jr PSC – The Altar Boys (dir. Piotr Domalewski)
Student Etudes
• Golden Tadpole: Nico Schrenk – Skin on Skin (dir. Simon Schneckenburger), Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
• Silver Tadpole: Henri Nunn – Walud (dirs. Daood Alabdulaa, Louise Zenker), University of Television and Film Munich
• Bronze Tadpole: Francesca Avanzini – Marina (dir. Paoli De Luca), Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia
Audience Award
• Sentimental Value (cin. Kasper Tuxen DFF, dir. Joachim Trier)
