In May, German cinematographer Florian Hoffmeister wrapped on Edward Berger’s latest, The Riders, starring Brad Pitt, and returned to Germany, although not his home base of Berlin, but the small town of Marburg, where he was awarded the Marburg Camera Prize.
Established in 2001 and presented by Marburg University, the award recognises and celebrates the work and careers of cinematographers. The honoree travels to Marburg, where they take part in a three-day academic conference based around screenings of their work. They are also given a 5,000-euro cash prize. Previous winners of the award include Ed Lachman, Hélène Louvart, and Agnès Godard.
“The beautiful thing about the entire process is that it is purely about the work,” Hoffmeister told Deadline of his Marburg experience.
Best known internationally for his work on Todd Field’s Tar, starring Cate Blanchett, Hoffmeister is one of the most celebrated DoPs working today. He was Oscar-nominated for Tar and won the top prize at Camerimage and an Independent Spirit Award for his work on the film. He also landed Emmy, BAFTA and ASC Awards for the BBC’s Great Expectations (2012), making him the first cinematographer to win all three for a single project.
Hoffmeister is also one of the industry’s most in-demand DoPs. Before The Riders, he shot Lanterns for HBO, with showrunner Chris Mundy (Ozark), directed by James Hawes (Slow Horses), and starring Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre. He also lensed last year’s The Roses, directed by Jay Roach and starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman. His other credits include True Detective: Night Country (HBO), written and directed by Issa López and starring Jodie Foster and Kali Reis; Pachinko for Apple TV+; The Deep Blue Sea; A Quiet Passion; Antlers; Official Secrets and Mortdecai. Beyond cinematography, Hoffmeister is also a director. His directorial debut, 3° Colder (2005), won the Silver Leopard at Locarno. His…