Judith Kaufmann

Director of Photography bvk

© Jim Rakete
About Filmography Work samples News and dates

From 1982 until 1991 camera assistant for Thomas Mauch, Gernot Roll, Raoul Coutard, Nurith Aviv, Heinz Pehlke, Jürgen Jürgen i.a., operator for Axel Block.

Since 1991 director of photography for feature films and documentaries.

Languages
German, English (fluent)
Awards
Golden Frog Award Camerimage 2025 for "Late Shift"
German Cinematography Award 2025 for "Late Shift"
Nomination Best non-english-language feature film, Academy Award 2024
Award for Best Cinematography, Festival of German Film 2023
Austrian Film Award 2023 for Best Cinematography for "Corsage"
Diagonale Award 2023 for Best Cinematography Feature Film for "Corsage"
Nomination German Film Award 2023 for "Teachers' Lounge"
Nomination German Film Award 2019 for "A Regular Woman"
Nomination German Film Award 2019 for "All About Me"
Austrian Film Award ROMY 2019 for "All About Me"
Creative Energy Award 2015, Intl. Filmfest Emden for "Freistatt"
Nomination German Film Award 2015 for "13 Minutes"
Nomination German Cinematography Award 2015 for "13 Minutes"
Saar Film Special Award 2014 for "Dreamland"
Nomination German Cinematography Award 2014 for "Dreamland"
German TV Award 2012 for "End of a Night"
Honorary Award of German Cinematography Award 2012
DEFA-Foundation Award 2011 for the Advancement of German Film Art
German Filmcritics Award 2010 for "When We Leave"
German Cinematography Award 2010 for "When We Leave"
Nomination German Film Award 2007 for "Four Minutes"
German TV Award 2006 for "Bella Bock: The Carpet Layer's Wife"
Marburger Cinematography Award 2006
German Cinematography Award 2003 for "Shattered Glass"
Bavarian Film Award 2002 for "Elephant Heart"
FEMINA-Film-Award 2000 for "Dragonland"
Nomination German Cinematography Award 2000 for "Dragonland"
Website
https://judith-kaufmann.de
Cinema & TV (selection)
2025
Gentle Monster
Director: Marie Kreutzer
feature film
Frank & Louis
Director: Petra Volpe
Sundance Film Festival 2026 (wp)
Zodiac Pictures
feature film
2024
Cicadas
Director: Ina Weisse
75th Berlin Intl. Film Festival 2025 Panorama
Lupa Film
feature film
Yellow Letters
Director: Ilker Çatak
76th International Berlin Film Festival 2026, Competition (WP)
if... Productions/Haut & Court/Liman Film with ZDF/alamode Filmverleih/arte
feature film
Late Shift
Director: Petra Volpe
Special Gala at 75th International Film Festival Berlin 2025 (WP)
Golden Frog Award Camerimage 2025
German Cinematography Award 2025
Zodiac Pictures/MMC Zodiac
feature film
2023
The Glory of Life based on the novel by Michael Kumpfmüller
DoP and Co-Director
Director: Georg Maas
Tempest Film/Lotus Film
feature film
2022
In Love, Hilde
Director: Andreas Dresen
74th Berlinale 2024, Competition (WP)
Pandora Film
feature film
Poison based on the play by Lot Vekemans
Director: Désirée Nosbusch
41st International Film Festival Munich 2024 (WP)
36th Galway Film Fleadh 2024
Deal Productions/Phanta Film/Studio Hamburg UK
feature film
2021
Teachers' Lounge
Director: Ilker Çatak
Nomination Best non-english-language feature film, Academy Awards 2024
German Film Award in Gold 2024
LUX Audience Award 2024
Award for Best Cinematography by Festival of German Film 2023, Ludwigshafen
Nomination for German Film Award 2023 for Best Cinematography
if... Productions with arte/alamode Filmverleih
feature film
Corsage
Director: Marie Kreutzer
75th Intl. Film Festival Cannes 2022, Un Certain Regard
Diagonale Award 2023 for Best Cinematography Feature Film
Film AG/Komplizenfilm/Samsa Film/Kazak Productions with ORF/ZDF/arte
feature film
2020
Tatort – Borowski and the Good Person
Director: Ilker Çatak
Nordfilm for NDR
TV movie
2019
Wanda, My Miracle
Director: Bettina Oberli
16th Zürich Film Festival 2020 (Opening Film)
Zodiac Pictures
feature film
Stambul Garden
Director: Ilker Çatak
Flare Film
feature film
The Interrogation
Director: Matti Geschonneck
Network Movie for ZDF
TV movie
2018
A Regular Woman
Director: Sherry Hormann
Tribeca Film Festival 2019
Nomination German Film Award 2019 for Best Cinematography
Vincent TV with ARD Degeto
feature film
The Audition
Director: Ina Weisse
Idéale Audience/Lupa Film with ZDF/arte
feature film
2017
Outside in My Head
Director: Eibe Maleen Krebs
39th Film Festival Max Ophüls Prize 2018
Juna Film with ZDF/arte
feature film
All About Me
Director: Caroline Link
Nomination German Film Award 2019 for Best Cinematography
Austrian Film Award ROMY 2019 - Best Cinematography
UFA Fiction/Feine Filme
feature film
2016
Tatort – Amour fou
Director: Vanessa Jopp
Real Film Berlin for rbb
TV movie
The Divine Order
Director: Petra Volpe
Zodiac Pictures
feature film
The Other - A Familiy Story
Director: Feo Aladag
Independent Artists for ZDF
TV movie
2015
Simon Says Goodbye to His Foreskin
Director: Viviane Andereggen
Element E Filmproduktion
feature film
The New National Gallery
Director: Ina Weisse
Lupa Film
TV documentary
The Same Sky
Special Gala, 67th Berlin Film Festival 2017
UFA Fiction/Rainmark Film/Beta Film for ZDF/BBC
TV series
2014
13 Minutes
Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel
65th Berlin Film Festival 2015, Competition
23th Film Festival Camerimage 2015
Nomination German Film Award 2015 for Best Cinematography
Nomination German Cinematography Award 2015
Lucky Bird Pictures
feature film
The Witness House
Director: Matti Geschonneck
Moovie GmbH for ZDF
TV movie
2013
Inbetween Worlds
Director: Feo Aladag
64th Intl. Film Festival Berlin 2014, Competition
38th Mostra Internacional de Cinema, Brasilien 2014
Best Cinematography, 3rd Mallorca Intl.Film Festival, Spain 2014
Independent Artists
feature film
Freistatt
Director: Marc Brummund
36th Festival Max Ophüls Prize 2015, Competition
Creative Energy Award 2015 Intl. Film Festival Emden
Das Goldene Lamm Filmproduktion
feature film
2012
Two Lives
Director: Georg Maas
Gothenburg International Film Festival 2013
Intl. Filmfest Emden-Norderney 2013
Biberach Film Festival 2012
B&T Films/Zinnober Film
feature film
Back on Track
Director: Kilian Riedhof
Neue Schönhauser Filmproduktion
feature film
2011
The Look. Charlotte Rampling Chapter "Exposure" with Peter Lindbergh
Director: Angelina Maccarone
Prounen Film/Tag/Traum Filmproduktion
TV documentary
Murder in Ludwigslust
Director: Kai Wessel
Teamworx for ZDF
TV movie
The End of a Night
Director: Matti Geschonneck
Network Movie for ZDF
TV movie
2010
If Not Us, Who?
Director: Andres Veiel
61st Intl. Berlin Film Festival 2011
zero one film
feature film
2009
The End is My Beginning
Director: Jo Baier
Collina Film
feature film
All the Best
Director: Kai Wessel
28. Intl. Filmfest München 2010
Allmedia Pictures for ARD Degeto/BR
TV movie
2008
Outta Control
Director: Nicole Weegmann
26th Intl. Film Festival Munich 2008
Cologne Film for ARD
TV movie
When We Leave
Director: Feo Aladag
60th Berlin Flm Festival 2010, Panorama
Deutscher Kamerapreis 2010
Independent Artists
feature film
2007
Tatort – Where Credit Is Due
Director: Angelina Maccarone
Studio Hamburg for ARD
TV movie
Heart of Fire
Director: Luigi Falorni
58th Berlin Film Festival 2008, Competition
TV 60 Filmproduktion/Burkert/Bareiss Development
feature film
Bella Block - Voyage to China
Director: Chris Kraus
41st Intl. Hofer Filmtage 2007
UFA Fernsehproduktion for ZDF
TV movie
2006
To Live
Director: Angelina Maccarone
Elsani Film
feature film
I Didn't Mean to Kill
Director: Dagmar Hirtz
TV 60 Filmproduktion/Burkert/Bareiss Development for ZDF
TV movie
The Last Piece of Heaven
Director: Jo Baier
Sperl + Schott for ARD
TV movie
2005
Four Minutes
Director: Chris Kraus
Shanghai Intl. Film Festival 2006 (Premiere)
Toronto Intl. Film Festival 2006
40th International Hofer Filmtage 2006
Nominierung Beste Kameraleistung CAMERIMAGE 2006, Lodz/Polen
Kordes & Kordes Film
feature film
2004
Unveiled
DoP and Co-Script
Director: Angelina Maccarone
Intl. Film Festival Karlovy Vary 2005
Intl. Film Festival Kopenhagen 2005
Haifa Film Festival 2005
Filmfest Hamburg 2005
MMM Filmproduktion
feature film
Bella Block - The Carpet Layer's Wife
Director: Kai Wessel
German Televosion Award 2006 for Best Cinematograpghy
Objectiv Film for ZDF
TV movie
2003
Jena Paradies
Director: Marco Mittelstaedt
38th International Hofer Filmtage 2004
Equinox Filmproduktion with ZDF
feature film
Peas at 5:30
Director: Lars Büchel
Senator Film Produktion
feature film
2002
Tatort – The Black Troll
Director: Vanessa Jopp
Nomination German Cinematography Award 2003
Radio Bremen for Radio Bremen
TV movie
Elephant Heart
Director: Züli Aladag
Bavarian Film Award 2002 for Best Cinematography
Nomination German Cinematographer Award 2003
Best Cinematography, International Film Festival Istanbul 2003
Cameo Film with WDR
feature film
2001
Shattered Glass
Director: Chris Kraus
20th Film Festival Munich 2002
Intl. Film Festival San Sebastian 2002
Deutscher Kamerapreis 2003 für Beste Kamera Spielfilm
AV Communication with BR/SWR/arte
feature film
2000
Now or Never
Director: Lars Büchel
Lichtblick Film/Mr. Brown Entertainment
feature film
Angel and Joe
Director: Vanessa Jopp
Neue Impuls Film
feature film
1999
Forget America
Director: Vanessa Jopp
Avista Film
feature film
Swetlana
Director: Tamara Staudt
Tag/Traum Filmproduktion for WDR
TV movie
Mother-in-Law
Director: Dagmar Hirtz
Multimedia Filmproduktion for ZDF
TV movie
1998
Dragonland
Director: Florian Gärtner
49th Berlin Film Festival 1999 Perspective New German Cinema
Silver Plaque Chicago Intl. Television Competition 1999
Interfilm-Prize, Film Festival Max Ophüls Prize 2000
Schramm Film for ZDF
TV movie
1997
An Angel Strikes Back
Director: Angelina Maccarone
Akzente Film for NDR
TV movie
Everything will be Fine
Director: Angelina Maccarone
Nominierung Deutscher Kamerapreis 1998
Multimedia Filmproduktion for NDR
TV movie
1995
No One But Me
Director: Florian Gärtner
Schramm Film
TV movie
The Helmsman
Director: Stefan Schneider
Beste Kamera “Europäischer Kurzfilmwettbewerb” 1997
Freunde des bewegten Bildes
short film
1994
The Sunset Boys
Operator/2nd Unit Kamera
DoP: Axel Block
Director: Leidulv Risan
Tag/Traum Filmproduktion/Yellow Cottage/Crone Filmproduction
feature film
1993
Nico-Icon
Director: Susanne Ofteringer
Ciak Film
TV documentary
Dogs Like Us
Director: Pia Frankenberg
Next Filmproduktion for arte
TV documentary
Extraterrestrial
Director: Florian Gärtner
Florian Gärtner Filmproduktion for ZDF
TV movie
1992
Faraway, So Close
Operator / 2nd Unit Kamera
DoP: Jürgen Jürges
Director: Wim Wenders
Road Movies
feature film
1991
Never Sleep Again
Director: Pia Frankenberg
Vega Film/Pia Frankenberg Filmproduktion
feature film
In Love, Hilde
(2022)
feature film, Pandora Film
Director: Andreas Dresen
Production design: Susanne Hopf
74th Berlinale 2024, Competition (WP)
Teachers' Lounge
(2021)
feature film, if... Productions with arte/alamode Filmverleih
Director: Ilker Çatak
with Leonnie Benesch, Leonard Stettnisch, Eva Löbau
Nomination Best non-english-language feature film, Academy Awards 2024
German Film Award in Gold 2024
LUX Audience Award 2024
Corsage
(2021)
feature film, Film AG/Komplizenfilm/Samsa Film/Kazak Productions with ORF/ZDF/arte
Director: Marie Kreutzer
with Vicky Kriebs, Florian Teichtmeister, Manuel Rubey, Katharina Lorenz
75th Intl. Film Festival Cannes 2022, Un Certain Regard
Stambul Garden
(2019)
feature film, Flare Film
Director: Ilker Çatak
with Emil von Schönfels, Mekyas Mulugeta, Katharina Behrens, Nicole Marischka
The Audition
(2018)
feature film, Idéale Audience/Lupa Film with ZDF/arte
Director: Ina Weisse
Production design: Susanne Hopf
with Nina Hoss, Simon Abkarian, SerafinMishiev, Ilja Monti
All About Me
(2017)
feature film, UFA Fiction/Feine Filme
Director: Caroline Link
with Julius Weckauf, Luise Heyer, Sönke Möring, Ursula Werner, Joachim Król
Nomination German Film Award 2019 for Best Cinematography
Austrian Film Award ROMY 2019 - Best Cinematography
13 Minutes
(2014)
feature film, Lucky Bird Pictures
Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel
65th Berlin Film Festival 2015, Competition
23th Film Festival Camerimage 2015
Nomination German Film Award 2015 for Best Cinematography
Nomination German Cinematography Award 2015
Inbetween Worlds
(2013)
feature film, Independent Artists
Director: Feo Aladag
64th Intl. Film Festival Berlin 2014, Competition
38th Mostra Internacional de Cinema, Brasilien 2014
Best Cinematography, 3rd Mallorca Intl.Film Festival, Spain 2014
Two Lives
(2012)
feature film, B&T Films/Zinnober Film
Director: Georg Maas
Gothenburg International Film Festival 2013
Intl. Filmfest Emden-Norderney 2013
Biberach Film Festival 2012
If Not Us, Who?
(2010)
feature film, zero one film
Director: Andres Veiel
Script: Andres Veiel
Production design: Christian M. Goldbeck
61st Intl. Berlin Film Festival 2011
When We Leave
(2008)
feature film, Independent Artists
Director: Feo Aladag
Costume design: Gioia Raspé
with Sibel Kekelli, Florian Lukas, Alvara Höfels
60th Berlin Flm Festival 2010, Panorama
Four Minutes
(2005)
feature film, Kordes & Kordes Film
Director: Chris Kraus
Costume design: Gioia Raspé
with Monica Bleibtreu, Vadim Glowna, Nadja Uhl, Richy Müller, Stefan Kurt
Shanghai Intl. Film Festival 2006 (Premiere)
Toronto Intl. Film Festival 2006
40th International Hofer Filmtage 2006

Director Ilker Çatak’s political drama Yellow Letters which was lensed by DoP Judith Kaufmann has been awarded with the Golden Bear for Best Film at 76th International Berlin Film Festival 2026.

Yellow Letters, the forth collaboration of director Ilker Çatak and DoP Judith Kaufmann, premieres in the Competition section of the 76th International Film Festival Berlin 2026.

For lensing Petra Volpe’s hospital drama Late Shift DoP Judith Kaufmann has been nominated for the German Cinematography Award 2025.

DoP Judith Kaufmann was awarded the Bavarian Film Award 2024 for lensing The Glory of Life a period film produced by Tempest Film that she also directed together with Georg Maas.

02.03.2026
Teachers' Lounge
Director: Ilker Çatak
14:00
arte
from 05.03.2026
in cinemas
Yellow Letters
Director: Ilker Çatak
alamode Filmverleih