MODERATED BY SOPHIE MAINTIGNEUX
»The light that carves out a section of the world from darkness produces the images we are able to see, but what about the section of the world where no light falls? I’m a camera woman, director of photography, and always
longing for visual stimulation.«
– Eva Testor, »überlegungen und erfahrungen einer kamerafrau …« in Edition netpol – Politische Kommunikation – Volume 6, p. 99
This year, Sophie Maintigneux, two-times winner of the German Directors of Photography Award and professor at Cologne Academy of Media Arts, invites her Austrian colleague Eva Testor to join her for a discussion. This is the tenth Cinematography Workshop and a special highlight at the Festival. Looking at examples of films, they will discuss experiences on set, specific professional experiences as well as ethical and political issues.
Eva Testor
Eva Testor, born 1967 in Hall in Tirol, studied Camera Technology and Cinematography at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, Department of Film & Television under Prof. Christian Berger. She works as a freelance cinematographer in Vienna. Since 2000, in collaboration with long-term partners such as Mirjam Unger (Fly Away Home), Sabine Derflinger (Day and Night) and Gabi Schweiger (Women’s Lust), Testor has provided the camera work for many successful big-screen and television films. In 2016, she was awarded the Golden Romy for best TV camera work for the series Suburbia Women (Season 1, episodes 1-5, directed by Sabine Derflinger). She is currently shooting the new documentary by Gabi Schweiger Viva la Vulva. Alongside her cinematographer work, Eva Testor also writes screenplays and prose.
Films by Eva Testor (DoP, Selection)
Vorstadtweiber 2015 – 2016 | Maikäfer Flieg! 2015 | Lichttage Lichtnächte – Christian Berger im Film 2014 | Oh Yeah, She performs! 2012 | Die Lust der Frauen 2010 | Tag und Nacht 2009 | Little Alien 2008 | Vienna’s Lost Daughters 2007 | 24 Wirklichkeiten in der Sekunde – Michael Haneke im Film 2004 | Crash Test Dummies 2004 | Richtung Zukunft durch die Nacht 2001
Sophie Maintigneux
Sophie Maintigneux was born in France in 1961. After several years as a camera assistant, she began working as a cinematographer in 1984. She has since shot more than 70 feature-length documentaries and cinema films. She has taught at various art and film schools since 1990. Since 2021, she has been a professor teaching on the Cinematography degree programme at Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf.
Films by Sophie Maintigneux (Cinematography, Selection)
Trans – I got Life 2021 | Mario 2018 | draußen 2018 | Das Zimmermädchen Lynn 2014 | Fräulein Stinnes fährt um die Welt 2009 | Alter und Schönheit 2009 | Die dünnen Mädchen 2008 | Hannah 2007 | Heidi M. 2001 | L’amour, l’argent, l’amour 1997
