The series WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN is portrait of Cuban ideysycratiy and a study of
waiting: Waiting the right moment, waiting for tomorrow, waiting forsomething or someone
who brings redemption - maybe…
(candid / documentary photography / work in progress since 2014 / La Habana / ratio 3:2
/Color / all rights by KIRSTIN SCHMITT)
Documentary filmmaker and cinematographer, photographer / 2011-2014 teaching for the “Goethe-Institut Angola,“ the “Cefojor-Centro de Formação de Jornalistas” and „Lusíada University“ in Luanda, Angola
STUDIES
Cultural Anthropology & Central-American-Studies University Frankfurt M. and Hamburg / direction & cinematography (2.subject) at „Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg“ in Ludwigsburg, Germany / documentary filmmaking at „EICTV- Escuela Internacional de Cine y Televisión“ (Cuba) / 2014 MAGNUM Photos Paris, Workshop with Eli Reed / 2015 LEICA Photos, Masterclass with Bruces Gilden / 2016 Workshop OSTKREUZ Agency, Germany
LANGUAGES: German, English, Spanish, Portuguese (basic)
Works and lives between Havana and Berlin
Awards _________AWARDS & GRANTS
2017
*IPA-International Photography Awards 2017 / Honorable Mention in 4 categories / for the series UN MUNDO POR ADELANTE / New York, USA
* 6th LIFE FRAMER Photography Award / Winner / judged by Simon Norfolk / USA
*KOLGA PHOTO AWARD 2017 / shortlisted at 3 categories: Documentary, conceptual & single photo / Tbilisi History Museum / GEORGIA
*ATHEN PHOTO FESTIVAL 2017 / shortlisted with ARROZ CON MANGO - THE NEW MEN / GREECE
2016
*SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD / 1st prize / professional competition / category: Art/Candid / for the series WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN / London, UK
*IPA-International Photography Awards / 1st place / professional / category Event: social cause / for the series ARROZ CON MANGO - THE NEW MEN / USA
*PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris 2016 / professional / People's Choice: 1st place / category: Portraiture, Culture / for the series WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN / FRANCE
*PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris 2016 / professional / People's Choice: 1st place / category: Press, Political / for the series WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN / FRANCE
*PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris 2016 / professional / People's Choice: 1st place / category: Fine Art, People / for the series WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN / FRANCE
*PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris 2016 / professional / People's Choice: 1st place / category: Press, Feature Story / or the series ARROZ CON MANGO - THE NEW MEN / FRANCE
*LAF5 - Latin American Fotografía 5"/ Winner / for the series WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN / New York, USA
*PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris 2016 / professional / People's Choice: Category Winner / category: Portraiture / for the series WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN / FRANCE
*PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris 2016 / professional / People's Choice: Category Winner / category: Press / or the series ARROZ CON MANGO - THE NEW MEN / FRANCE
*HessenFilm & Media / Film grant / for the long-term documentary ADELHEID, KORNELIUS & DIE TÖTE (HD / 90min / Germany & Spain) / GERMANY
*PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris 2016 / professional / People's Choice: 2nd place / category: Press, Feature Story / for the series WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN / FRANCE
*PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris 2016 / professional / People's Choice: 2nd place / category: Press, Political / or the series ARROZ CON MANGO - THE NEW MEN / FRANCE
*PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris 2016 / professional / Honorable mention / or the series ARROZ CON MANGO - THE NEW MEN /FRANCE
*5th LIFE FRAMER „an instant“ contest / Honorable mention / judged by Olivia Arthur (Magnum) / USA
*IPA-International Photography Awards / professional / Social Cause Category / Honorable Mention / for the photo MARSHLAND / USA
*IPA-International Photography Awards / Editorial: Political Category / Honorable Mention / for the photo MARSHLAND / USA
*IPA-International Photography Awards / Social Cause Category / Honorable Mention / for the series WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN/ USA
*IPA-International Photography Awards / Editorial: Political category / Honorable Mention / for the series WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN/ USA
*IPA-International Photography Awards / Editorial: Photo Essay and Feature Story Category / Honorable Mention / for the series WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN / USA
*IPA-International Photography Awards / Event: Traditions and Cultures Category / Honorable Mention / for the series WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN / USA
*IPA-International Photography Awards / People: Lifestyle Category / Honorable Mention / for the series WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN / USA
*THE FAMILY OF MEN / IPA-International Photography Awards / Honorable mention / for NIGHT FALLS ABOUVE JESUS MARIA / USA
*THE FAMILY OF MEN by IPA-International Photography Awards / Honorable mention / for the photo MARSHLAND / USA
*THE FAMILY OF MEN by IPA-International Photography Awards / Honorable mention / from the series PAN CON CROQUETA / USA
2015
*IPA - International Photography Awards / Social Cause Category / Honorable Mention / for the series WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN (work in progress) / USA
*IPA - International Photography Awards / Editorial: Photo essay and feature story category / Honorable Mention / for the series WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN / USA
*IPA - International Photography Awards / Deeper perspective category / Honorable Mention / for the series WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN (work in progress) / USA
*IPA - International Photography Awards / Fine art: portrait category / Honorable Mention / for the series WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN (work in progress) / USA
*IPA - International Photography Awards / Social Cause Category / Honorable Mention / for the photo SAN LAZARO / USA
*IPA - International Photography Awards / Editorial: General News category / Honorable Mention / for the photo INSIGNIA / USA
*IPA - International Photography Awards / Editorial: Photo essay and feature story category / Honorable Mention / for the series PAN CON CROQUETA (work in progress) / USA
*IPA - International Photography Awards / Deeper perspective category / Honorable Mention / for the series PAN CON CROQUETA (work in progress) / USA
*IPA - International Photography Awards / Editorial: Political / Honorable Mention / for the photo SAN LAZARO / USA
*IPA - International Photography Awards / People: portrait / Honorable Mention / for the photo SOLDIERS DAY OFF / USA
2013
*New Talent Biennale Cologne / GERMANY
2010
*ScriptCamp, GERMANY
2006
* Baden-Württemberg Scholarship, GERMANY
_________SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2015
* Galería "Julio Larramendi" / series PAN CON CROQUETA / La Habana, CUBA
* FIAU-Festival de Arte Urbana Havana / series PAN CON CROQUETA / La Habana, CUBA
*series PAN CON CROQUETA / during the 12. Bienal de La Habana, presented by Fundación Caguayo, organizer Edenis Sanches / La Habana, CUBA
COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS / ART FAIRS / FESTIVALS
2017
* KOLGA PHOTO AWARD 2017 showcase at KOLGA TBILISI PHOTO week, May 2017, GEORGIA
* F22 presented by UNEAC - Unión de escritores y artistas de Cuba, February 2017, La Habana, CUBA
2016
*5th SIPF - Singapore International Photography Festival, SINGAPORE
*BRUSSELS EXPO. Palais 4, Brussels, BELGIUM
*PhotoKina / Cologne, GERMANY
*EUROVEA, Bratislava, SLOVAKIA
* PALAZZO TRIGONA, Enna, ITALY
* SONY SQUARE, New York, USA
* SPAZIO TADINI, MILANO, Italia, 16.9-16.10.2016
*TONNARA DE MARZAMEMI, Sicily, ITALY
*Alliance française, La Habana, CUBA
*WIILLY BRANDT HAUS Berlin, 5.7.16 - 30.9.16, GERMANY
*U SPACE, Beijing, China, 7.6 to 26.2016
*SOMERSET HOUSE, London, UK 22nd April - 8th May 2016, UK
*SOCIEDAD DANTE ALIGHIERI, La Habana, CUBA
2015
*ART BASEL MIAMI - Scop Art show / series PAN CON CROQUETA / Miami, USA
2014
*ART BASEL MIAMI - Scop Art show / series PAN CON CROQUETA / Miami, USA
*Paris PhotoWeek / at MAGNUM photos, Office Paris / FRANCE
2013
*New Talent Biennale Cologne / documentary ROMAZE O.T (direction Elke Lehrenkrauss, DoP Kirstin Schmitt) / GERMANY
Her work as cinematographer has been presented at several international film-festivals like Shanghai International Film festival,
DOK Leipzig, American Documentary Film Festival Palm Springs, etc.
