Life is not a competition, but I'm winning — Cinematography

Hybrid Feature
79'

Director
Julia Fuhr Mann

shot on raw
ARRI Alexa Mini, Phantom Flex 2.8k, Zenmuse X7

lensed with
Bausch & Lomb Super Baltar, Century S 2000 MK II Periscope, Skater Scope with Ultra Prime 8R, Zeiss Highspeed Uncoated
cAMERA AND LENS TESTS:
ARRIFLEX 416, ALEXA Mini LF, Canon 814 XL-S, Canon K35, Canon Zoom C8 7-56mm f 1.4, div. Shutter and FPS Tests

visual approachThe camera takes on a specific role in each scene, creating a kaleidoscopic image: through a POV as part of the runners' crew in the bleachers, or as a self-referential perspective that breaks with pathos and highlights the rewriting of historical narrative.

In order to create an overall visual character, the archive material motivated the use of lenses with aberrations or the play with motion blur and frame rates. The various materials were brought together by framing them in Cinemascope, creating a new timeline.

Using a utopian glowing LUT, vintage glass and harsh lighting, we blur the lines between different film genres and genders, making socially significant spaces illuminated by immersive light feel like our own.

Awards
Michael Ballhaus Award
Winner National Competition for Women Director of Photography

Starter Filmpreis der Stadt München
Sunny Side of the Doc Prize
British Pathé Archive Award
ARRI Production Award

Credit: SIC @ Venice Film Festival, Edgar Jesús Martínez Chávez and Testing @ ARRI Rental

Visually striking, a traditional aesthetic is reinterpreted and woven with dynamic ideas into a look rarely seen in its power, individuality, strength, and courage.

A sophisticated approach that transforms the portrayed individuals into icons while offering a glimpse into their hearts.

Source: (free translation) Jury Statement of Michael Ballhaus Award at First Steps, German Newcomer Awards 2023

Festivals

2023, Locarno Film Festival – First Look Roughcut
2023, Venice International Film Festival, Settimana della Critica – World Premiere
2023, Filmfest Hamburg – German Premiere
2023, First Steps Awards
2023, Filmfest Osnabrück – Opening Film
2023, Queer Film Festival Munich – Official Selection
2023, Hamburg International Queer Film Festival – Official Selection
2023, MIX Copenhagen – Danish Premiere
2023, DocLisboa – Portuguese Premiere
2023, Queerfilm Festival Bremen – Official Selection
2023, Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival – Estonian Premiere
2023, Braunschweig International Film Festival – Official Selection
2023, PinkPanorama Filmfestival Luzern – Swiss Premiere
2023, Europa Cinema al Femminile Naples – Official Selection
2023, Around the World in 14 Films – Berlin Premiere
2024, Festival del Cinema Tedesco Rom
2024, Festival International de Films de Femmes de Créteil – French Premiere
2024, BFI Flare London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival – British Premiere
2024, Sunny Bunny Film Festival Kyiv – Ukrainian Premiere
2024, One World International Human Rights Film Festival – Czech Premiere
2024, Crossing Europe Linz – Austrian Premiere
2024, Internationales Frauen Film Fest Dortmund + Köln
2024, Dokka Dokumentarfilmfestival Karlsruhe
2024, Frameline San Francisco – US-American Premiere
2024, In the Palace ISFF – Bulgarian Premiere
2024, New Fest – New York’s LGBTQ+ Film Festival

Awards

2021, ARRI Production Award (Pharos, Arri Rental)
2021, Sunny Side of the Doc Prize – DOK.fest Munich
2021, British Pathé Archive Award – DOK.forum Munich
2023, Best Cinematography Michael-Ballhaus-Award – First Steps Awards
2024, Production Award – Starter Filmpreis der Stadt München
2024, Winner National Competition for Women Director of Photography – Int. Women Film Fest Dortmund + Cologne

Credits

Director and Writer Julia Fuhr Mann
Producer Melissa Byrne, Sophie Ahrens, Fabian Altenried, Kristof Gerega
Director of Photography Caroline Spreitzenbart
1st AC Nadja Krüger
2nd AC Teresa Renn
DIT Cami Lakonic
Steadicam Felix Lang
Drone Operator Alina Albrecht, Florian Reeh
Gaffer Janne Ebel
Electricians Hanife Scheele, Jenny Röders, Loup Deflandre, Paulina Kaulard, Mathilda Kruschel, Francy Fabritz, Elisa Daniel, Regina Wiebe
Costume Design Angela Queins
Production Design Mireia Vila Soriano, Sonja Schreiber
Make-up artist Mai Strathmann
Colorgrading Andreas “Andi” Lautil
Vfx artists Isabelle Kramer, Fabian Peitzsch
3sat/ZDF Katya Mader
Editing Merit Giesen, Melanie Jilg
Production Assistant Edgar Jesus Martinez Chavez, Ilaaf Khalfalla, Tabitha Farah Potthoff, Mareike Mössner
Production Coordination Jennifer Drake

Athens
Steadicam Stefan Knapp
Drone Operator Giannis Koutsoulas
1st AC Georgios Metaxas
Gaffer Alexis Lountzis

Full Crew and Cast @ Crew United

A production by Schuldenberg Films in co-production with 3Sat, in collaboration with the Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film München, supported by FFF Bayern with the kind assistance of the Freundeskreis München.

Press

The Guardian, Life Is Not a Competition, But I’m Winning review – intelligent exploration of trans athletes
The Hollywood Reporter, Life Is Not a Competition, But I’m Winning:
lo sport queer (del futuro) val bene un doc “ibrido”
Screendaily, ‘Life Is Not A Competition, But I’m Winning’: Venice Review
Süddeutsche Zeitung, Die Stunde der Siegerin
Deadline, Venice Critics’ Week Unveils 2023 Line-Up; Contenders include Moin Hussain’s ‘Sky Peals’ & Lee Hong-Chi’s ‘Love Is A Gun’
Variety, Locarno Unveils First Look on German Cinema, a New Talent Showcase
Variety, Documentary About Gender in Athletics ‘Life Is Not a Competition But I Am Winning’ Acquired by First Hand Films Ahead of Venice Premiere
Netflix Woche First Steps Awards: Netflix gratuliert den Preisträger*innen
Deutschlandfunk Kultur Nachwuchs-Kamerafrauen ausgezeichnet