EnergaCAMERIMAGE Film Festival has revealed the winners of its 2025 awards, with Judith Kaufmann BVK scooping the Golden Frog for Late Shift.
Directed by Petra Biondina Volpe, the film follows a dedicated nurse (Leonie Benesch) who works in an understaffed hospital ward.
Upon 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 all around the world.
“I would like to thank Petra Volpe, the director and writer, for her wisdom and for her warmth and always her analytical perspective. I learned so much from her.
“My deepest greatest gratitude goes to Leonie Benesch for her dedication and precision and captivating presence.”
Kaufmann added: “I am aware of the intense discussions surrounding Camerimage around the dissatisfaction that over the years so few female cinematographers have been represented there, 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 DoPs, female DoPs, 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 took home the Silver Frog for Sound of Falling, with the German thanking director Mascha Schilinski for bringing him on to shoot a film that “feels like memories”.
And the Bronze Frog went to Michał Sobociński PSC for Chopin, A Sonata in Paris, which shines a light on Polish composer Fryderyk Chopin.
The full list of winners is available below.
- Golden Frog EnergaCAMERIMAGE 2025 Main Competition goes to Judith Kaufmann BVK for Late Shift directed by Petra Biondina Volpe.
- Silver Frog EnergaCAMERIMAGE 2025 Main Competition goes to Fabian Gamper for Sound of Falling directed by Mascha Schilinski.
- Bronze Frog EnergaCAMERIMAGE 2025 Main Competition goes to Michał Sobociński PSC for Chopin, A Sonata in Paris directed by Michał Kwieciński.
- Golden Frog in the Cinematographers’ Debuts Competition goes to Adam Suzin for Father directed by Tereza Nvotova.
- Golden Frog in the Directors’ Debuts Competition goes to Qi Shu for Girl.
- Grand Prix Documentary Features Competition – Golden Frog goes to cinematographer Benjamin Bryan for Iron Winter, directed by Kasimir Burgess.
- Grand Prix Documentary Shorts Competition – Golden Frog goes to cinematographer Ronnie McQuillan for No Mean City, directed by Ross McClean.
- The Golden Frog Award in the Music Videos Competition goes to cinematographer Jake Gabbay and director Gabriel Moses for Chains & Whips.
- Grand Prix TV Series Competition – Golden Frog goes to cinematographers Corrin Hodgson & Ben Richardson ASC BSC for 1923: A Dream and a Memory, directed by Ben Richardson.
Polish Films Competition:
- Grand Prix Polish Films Competition – Golden Frog goes to Piotr Sobociński Jr PSC for The Altar Boys, directed by: Piotr Domalewski.
Student Etudes:
- The Laszlo Kovacs Student Award – Golden Tadpole goes to cinematographer Nico Schrenk, for Skin on Skin directed by Simon Schneckenburger, from Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg in Germany.
- The Silver Tadpole goes to cinematographer Henri Nunn, for Walud directed by Daood Alabdulaa and Louise Zenker, from University of Television and Film in Munich, Germany.
- Bronze Tadpole goes to cinematographer Francesca Avanzini, for Marina directed by Paoli De Luca from the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Italy.
Audience Award:
- Sentimental Value cin. Kasper Tuxen DFF, dir. Joachim Trier
