ifs graduate Zoé Dumas has been honoured with the »1st Female Gaze - CineOne & sPOTTlight Newcomer Award for Image Designers in NRW« at the International Women's Film Festival Dortmund+Cologne for her camera work on the graduation film »El Mártir« from the ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln.
The award honours outstanding image design and supports up-and-coming image designers from NRW. It sets an example for equal rights in the film industry and gives regional filmmakers more visibility. The non-cash prize is endowed with €5,000 in the form of an equipment rental and is made possible with the support of the Dortmund companies CineOne and sPOTTlight.

The jury, led by image designers Conny Beißler, Adriana Berroterán and Andaç Karabeyoglu, said: ‘Zoé Dumas’ camerawork is characterised by maturity, depth and a respectful approach to the actors and the plot. With precise intuition, the image design reinforces the dramaturgy and intensity of the narrative’.
In the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW-funded drama »El Mártir« (director: Alejandro Mathé, script: Alejandro Mathé, Jose Alberto Arias Pereira, producer: Anna Weber, DoP: Zoé Dumas, editing & sound design: Leo Muheim, production design: Luca Wirtz), a young man explores his sexuality through the half-naked figure of Jesus Christ and the martyrs. Desiring to look like them, he begins to develop masochistic tendencies that soon spiral out of control.

Zoé Dumas studied at the ifs, specialising in Cinematography - Director of Photography for the BA Film: ‘El Mártir’ is her graduation film and was shot in Spain. The film was shown at film festivals throughout Europe and won several awards. Zoé Dumas was already nominated for the Michael Ballhaus Award for Best Cinematography in a Medium Length Film at the First Steps Award 2023 for her image design in the film.

From 1 to 6 April, the major film programme at the IFFF Dortmund+Cologne focused on directorial works by women. The festival, which alternates annually between Dortmund and Cologne, took place in Dortmund in 2025 and presented over 100 current and historical films from all over the world.