news / Awards
DoP Pasindu Goldmann Honored at First Steps for His Graduation Film »The Kids Turned Out Fine«
For his graduation project at the ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln — his cinematography on the graduation film »The Kids Turned Out Fine« (Director/Script: Thilo Vogt, Cinematography: Pasindu Goldmann, Production: Florian von Leitner, Editing/Sound Design: Marius Schaaf, Production Design: Jessica Kazmarek), Pasindu Goldmann was honored yesterday at the First Steps Young Filmmakers Award ceremony. The Michael Ballhaus Prize for cinematography graduates comes with a cash prize of 7,000 €. The nomination itself was already accompanied by a prize of 1,000 euros.
»The Kids Turned Out Fine« follows characters from Generation Y who are chasing the dream of radical self-realization. The loosely connected episodes tell the stories of unsuccessful rappers, aspiring models, self-proclaimed climate activists, influencers, conspiracy theorists, and a mysterious explosion on the streets of Cologne.
The film is supported by the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW.
The jury stated: “[…] THE KIDS TURNED OUT FINE takes us by the hand and offers an authentic glimpse into Generation Y’s self-perception. As relaxed and laid-back as the characters themselves, Pasindu Goldmann’s camera guides us through a way of life that radiates liveliness and vitality, without ever drifting into heroic idealization. […] With a celebratory nostalgia for cinematic classics in tow, his cinematography manages to find a language all its own […]. And instead of getting lost in the film’s large ensemble, he consistently finds a fitting interpretation for the characters’ individual stories. With refreshing new ideas and radical choices, his visual language weaves a unique and already iconic atmosphere into the fast-paced flow of the action.”
“There’s nothing I’m more passionate about than working behind the camera, and this award encourages me to keep going. At the same time, it’s a validation of my work over the past few years. Thank you for that!” says a delighted Pasindu Goldmann.
»The Kids Turned Out Fine« was also nominated for the award in the Feature-Length Fiction Film category. ifs graduate Florian von Leitner was nominated for the NO FEAR Award for production graduates for his work as a producer on the film.
The First Steps Young Filmmakers Award is the most prestigious award for graduation films from film schools in German-speaking countries. With a total prize fund of 119,000 euros, it is the most highly endowed award for emerging filmmakers and is presented annually in nine categories. This year, 219 submissions were accepted. It was launched in 1999 as a private initiative of the film industry by producers Bernd Eichinger and Nico Hofmann. It is organized by the Deutsche Filmakademie e.V. in partnership with Amazon Studios, ARD, Seven.One Entertainment Group, Studio Hamburg, UFA, and Warner Bros. to provide sustainable and effective support for emerging filmmakers.