AWARDS & GRANTS ( KS = KIRSTIN SCHMITT / JAO = JUAN ARISTIDES OTAMENDIZ)

NEXT - 2023

* Art scholarship / by STIFTUNG KUNSTFONDS / Bonn, GERMANY (JAO)

2022

1. *Art scholarship / by STIFTUNG KUNSTFONDS / Bonn, GERMANY (KS)
   

2. *Art scholarship / by STIFTUNG KUNSTFONDS / Bonn, GERMANY (JAO)
   

2021

1. *Art project scholarship / by HESSIAN MINISTRY OF CULTUR & SCINCE / Wiesbaden, GERMANY (KS & JAO)
   

2020

1. *LATIN AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL AWARD / nominated / awarded by SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD / London, UK (KS & JAO)
   

2. *LIFE FRAMER Photography Award / „favorite shot - civilization“ / USA  (KS)
   

3. *6x6 GLOBAL TALENT PROGRAM / Issue North & Central America / by WORLD PRESS PHOTO / nominated / Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS (JAO)
   

4. *FORMAT  INTERNATIONAL PHOTO FESTIVAL 2020 - CONTROL / shortlisted / UK (KS & JAO)
   

2019

1. *HESSIAN FILM AWARD 2019 / nominated / awarded by HESSIAN MINISTRY OF CULTUR & SCINCE / documentary ADELHEID, KORNELIUS & DIE TÖDE / Frankfurt, GERMANY (KS & MS)
   

2. *nominated for the MKK CULTURE AWARD 2019 / Main Kinzig Kreis, GERMANY (KS & MS) 
   

3. *nominated for the MKK CULTURE AWARD 2019 / Main Kinzig Kreis, GERMANY (JAO)
   

4. *FELIX SCHOELLER PHOTO AWARD 2019 / shortlisted / series REPARTEROS by Juan A. Otamendiz / Editorial Photography Category / GERMANY (JAO)
   

5. *FELIX SCHOELLER PHOTO AWARD 2019 / shortlisted / series WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN by Kirstin Schmitt / Portrait Category / GERMANY (KS)
   

6. *Final selection round of WORLD PRESS PHOTO CONTEST / series POLVO DE ESTRELLAS by Kirstin Schmitt & Juan A. Otamendiz / Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS (KS & JAO)
   

2018

* AFAR - Travel Photography Awards / 3rd prize / for the Photo NIGHT FALLS ABOVE JESUS MARIA from the series ARROZ CON MANGO - THE NEW MEN / USA (KS)

2017

1. *IPA-International Photography Awards / Honorable Mention in 4 categories / for UN MUNDO POR DELANTE  / New York, USA (KS)
   

2. *IPA-International Photography Awards / Honorable Mention in 6 categories / for REPARTEROS  / New York, USA (JAO)
   

* 6th LIFE FRAMER Photography Award / Winner  / judged by Simon Norfolk / NIGERIA  (KS)

1. *KOLGA PHOTO AWARD / shortlisted  at 3 categories: Documentary, conceptual & single photo / Tbilisi History Museum / GEORGIA (KS & JAO)
   

2. *ATHEN PHOTO FESTIVAL / shortlisted with ARROZ CON MANGO - THE NEW MAN / GREECE (KS & JAO)
   

3. *LAF6 - Latin American Fotografía 6"/ Winner / for REPARTEROS / New York, USA (JAO)
   

2016

1. *SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD / 1st prize / professional competition / category: Art/Candid / for WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN / London, UK (KS)
   

2. *IPA-International Photography Awards / 1st place / professional / category Event: social cause / for ARROZ CON MANGO - THE NEW MEN / USA (KS)
   

3. *PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris /  professional / People's Choice: 1st place / category: Portraiture, Culture / for WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN / FRANCE (KS)
   

4. *PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris /  professional / People's Choice: 1st place / category: Press, Political / for WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN / FRANCE (KS)
   

5. *PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris /  professional / People's Choice: 1st place / category: Fine Art, People / for WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN / FRANCE (KS)
   

6. *PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris /  professional / People's Choice: 1st place / category: Press, Feature Story / for ARROZ CON MANGO - THE NEW MAN / FRANCE (KS)
   

7. *LAF5 - Latin American Fotografía 5"/ Winner / for WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN / New York, USA (KS)
   

* PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris 2016 /  professional / People's Choice: Category Winner / category: Portraiture / for WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN / FRANCE (KS)

1. *PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris 2016 /  professional / People's Choice: Category Winner / category: Press / for ARROZ CON MANGO - THE NEW MAN / FRANCE (KS)
   

2. *HessenFilm & Media / Film grant /  for the long-term documentary ADELHEID, KORNELIUS & DIE TÖTE (HD / 90min / Germany & Spain) / GERMANY (KS)
   

3. *PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris 2016 /  professional / People's Choice: 2nd place / category: Press, Feature Story / for WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN / FRANCE (KS)
   

4. *PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris 2016 /  professional / People's Choice: 2nd place / category: Press, Political / for ARROZ CON MANGO - THE NEW MAN / FRANCE (KS)
   

5. *PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris 2016 /  professional / Honorable mention / for ARROZ CON MANGO - THE NEW MAN / FRANCE (KS)
   

6. *5th LIFE FRAMER „an instant“ contest / Winner / judged by Olivia Arthur (Magnum) / USA (KS)
   

7. *IPA-International Photography Awards / professional / Social Cause Category / Honorable Mention / for MARSHLAND / USA (KS)
   

8. *IPA-International Photography Awards / Editorial: Political Category / Honorable Mention / for MARSHLAND / USA (KS)
   

9. *IPA-International Photography Awards / Social Cause Category / Honorable Mention / for WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN/ USA (KS)
   

10. *IPA-International Photography Awards / Editorial: Political category / Honorable Mention / for WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN/ USA (KS)
    

11. *IPA-International Photography Awards / Editorial: Photo Essay and Feature Story Category / Honorable Mention / for WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN / USA (KS)
    

12. *IPA-International Photography Awards / Event: Traditions and Cultures Category / Honorable Mention / for WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN / USA (KS)
    

13. *IPA-International Photography Awards / People: Lifestyle Category / Honorable Mention / for WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN / USA (KS)
    

14. *THE FAMILY OF MEN / IPA-International Photography Awards / Honorable mention / for NIGHT FALLS ABOUVE JESUS MARIA / USA (KS)
    

15. *THE FAMILY OF MEN by IPA-International Photography Awards / Honorable mention / for MARSHLAND / USA (KS)
    

16. *THE FAMILY OF MEN by IPA-International Photography Awards / Honorable mention / for PAN CON CROQUETA / USA (KS)
    

2015

1. *IPA-International Photography Awards / Social Cause Category / Honorable Mention / for WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN (work in progress) / USA (KS)
   

2. *IPA-International Photography Awards/ Editorial: Photo essay and feature story category / Honorable Mention / for WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN / USA (KS)
   

3. *IPA-International Photography Awards / Deeper perspective category / Honorable Mention / for WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN  (work in progress) / USA (KS)
   

4. *IPA-International Photography Awards/ Fine art: portrait category / Honorable Mention / for WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN (work in progress) / USA (KS)
   

5. *IPA-International Photography Awards / Social Cause Category / Honorable Mention / for SAN LAZARO / USA (KS)
   

6. *IPA-International Photography Awards / Editorial: General News category / Honorable Mention / for INSIGNIA / USA (KS)
   

7. *IPA-International Photography Awards / Editorial: Photo essay and feature story category / Honorable Mention / for PAN CON CROQUETA  (work in progress) / USA (KS)
   

8. *IPA-International Photography Awards / Deeper perspective category / Honorable Mention / for PAN CON CROQUETA  (work in progress) / USA (KS)
   

9. *IPA-International Photography Awards / Editorial: Political / Honorable Mention / for SAN LAZARO / USA (KS)
   

10. *IPA-International Photography Awards / People: portrait / Honorable Mention / for SOLDIERS DAY OFF / USA (KS)
    

2010

1. *ScriptCamp, GERMANY (KS)
   

2006

* Baden-Württemberg Scholarship, GERMANY (KS)

COLLECTIVE  EXHIBITIONS/ ART FAIRS / FESTIVALS etc.

2022

* DOCUMENTA 15 / series VER CAERSE UN LUCERO & series CUADA CUAL NACE CON SUS ESTRALLAS  / INSTAR / documenta Halle, 3.9.2022 - 5.9.2022 / Kassel, GERMANY (KS & JAO)

* DOCUMENTA 15 / video QUÍTA ME LA SAL DE ENCIMA / INSTAR / documenta Halle, 31.8.2022 / Kassel, GERMANY (KS & JAO)

2021

* EPICENTRO ART / Gipsstraße 7, 10119 Berlin / presented by Marc Omar / 1.10 - 31.10.2021 Berlin, GERMANY (KS & JAO)

* DER GREIF-GUEST ROOM / from the series YO SOY TU / curated by GEM FLETCHER (UK) / September 2021 / GERMANY (JAO)

* UTOPÍA HABANA / showroom: UTOPIA126 / curated by PATRICIA GONZÁLEZ & HABA GALLERY / opening 23.09.2021 till 26.09.21 / Barcelona, SPAIN (KS & JAO)

* POSITIONS  - BERLIN ART FAIR / Berlin Tempelhof, Hanger 5-7, 9-12.09.2021 / presented by Marc Omar & EPICENTRO ART / Berlin, GERMANY (KS & JAO)

1. *DER GREIF-GUEST ROOM / from the series CUENTOS NAUFRAGOS / curated by RICHMOND ORLANDO MENSAH (Ghana) / June 2021 / GERMANY (KS & JAO)
   

2. *POP UP - FOTOGRAFÍA CUBANA / showroom: UTOPIA126 / curated by PATRICIA GONZÁLEZ / 15.5. 2021 / Barcelona, SPAIN (KS & JAO)
   

3. *FEMME / showroom: UTOPIA126 / curated by PATRICIA GONZÁLEZ / 13.3 - 28.3.2021 / Barcelona, SPAIN (KS & JAO)
   

4. *LAGOS PHOTO FESTIVAL - HOME MUSEUM / series RAÍCES VOLCÁNICAS / Lagos, NIGERIA (KS)
   

2020

1. *MUSEUM LOUVRE / Rencontres Internationales Paris/Berlin / Auditorium, Video installation QUÍTAME LA SAL DE ENCIMA / 29.2.2020, 4pm / Paris, FRANCE (KS)
   

2. *PHOTO VOUGE FESTIVAL 2020 / series CUENTOS NAUFRAGOS / 30.10 - 22.11.2020 / Milano, ITALY (KS & JAO)
   

3. *LAGOS PHOTO FESTIVAL 2020 - HOME MUSEUM / series RAÍCES VOLCÁNICAS / launch 24th October / Lagos, NIGERIA (KS)
   

4. *TRANSFERENCIA CULTURAL / showroom: UTOPIA126 / curated by PATRICIA GONZÁLEZ & SUSANA GARCÌA / 13.11- 13.12.2020 / Barcelona, SPAIN (KS & JAO)
   

5. *DER GREIF - GUEST ROOM / photo HACE FRÍO SIN TE, PERO SE VIVE / curated by JOHANNE AFFRICOT (ITALY) / July 2020 / presented by DER GREIF / GERMANY (KS)
   

6. *DER GREIF - GUEST ROOM / photo from the series YO SOY TU / curated by JOHANNE AFFRICOT (ITALY) / July 2020 / presented by DER GREIF / GERMANY (JAO)
   

7. *DER GREIF - GUEST ROOM / curated by OLUREMI ONABAJO (USA) / June 2020 / presented by DER GREIF / GERMANY (KS)
   

8. *PHOTO VOUGE FESTIVAL / shortlisted / series WAITING FOR THE CANDYMEN / Milano, ITALY (KS)
   

9. *2RIVERS FESTIVAL / documentary ADELHEID, KORNELIUS & DIE TÖDE / 10.-14.06 / Koblenz, GERMANY (KS)
   

2019

* MUSEUM OF WORLD CULTURES /  Pink is the new grey - collective exhibition / documentary film ADELHEID, KORNELIUS & THE  DEATHS / Frankfurt am Main, GERMANY / (KS & MS)

* ZEPHYR room for contemporary photography / smart as photography - be an artist today!  collective exhibition / presented by BIENNALE FÜR AKTUELLE FOTOGRAFIE  / Mannheim / GERMANY / (3.2.-3.3.2019 / (KS)

2018

* 35. DOK FEST KASSEL - INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL / GERMANY / German festival premier of the long term documentary ADELHEID, KORNELIUS & THE  DEATHS (90min, color, Germany, Spain / 15.11.18  at 12:00 noon / (KS & MS)

* ADDIS PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL / 6.12.18 - 10.12.18 / ETHIOPIA / (JOA)

* NRW FORUM - Museum for contemporary Art / Portfolio walk presented  by the DFA-Academy of German Photography / Düsseldorf GERMANY (JOA)

* MICHAEL HORBACH FOUNDATION, / „European look at Cuba“ presented / Köln, GERMANY, 11.2.18 - 7.3.18 (KS)

2017

1. *TBILISI  HISTORY MUSEUM  /  KOLGA PHOTO AWARD 2017 showcase at KOLGA TBILISI PHOTO WEEK / May 2017 / GEORGIA (KS & JAO)
   

2. *DER GREIF - GUEST ROOM curated by AZU NWAGBOGU (Nigeria) / presented by DER GREIF / GERMANY (KS)
   

3. *BORDERS, BOUNDARIES & EDGES curated by Lisa J. Sutcliffe / presented by LensCulture / USA (KS)
   

4. *F22 presented by UNEAC - Unión de escritores y artistas de Cuba / February 2017 / La Habana, CUBA (KS & JAO)
   

5. *Portfolio walk presented  by the DFA-Academy of German Photography / H2 - ZENTRUM FÜR GEGENWARTSHKUNST  for contemporary Art / Augsburg GERMANY (KS)
   

2016

1. *5th SIPF - Singapore International Photography Festival, SINGAPORE (KS)
   

2. *SOMERSET HOUSE, London, UK 22nd April - 8th May 2016, UK (KS)
   

3. *Alliance française, La Habana, CUBA (KS & JAO)
   

4. *BRUSSELS EXPO. Palais 4, Brussels, BELGIUM (KS)
   

5. *PhotoKina / Cologne, GERMANY (KS)
   

6. *EUROVEA, Bratislava, SLOVAKIA (KS)
   

* PALAZZO TRIGONA, Enna, ITALY (KS)

* SONY SQUARE, New York, USA (KS)

* SPAZIO TADINI, MILANO, ITALY, 16.9-16.10.2016 (KS)

1. *TONNARA DE MARZAMEMI, Sicily, ITALY (KS)
   

2. *WIILLY BRANDT HAUS Berlin, 5.7.16 - 30.9.16, GERMANY (KS)
   

3. *U SPACE, Beijing, CHINA, 7.6 to 26.2016  (KS)
   

4. *SOCIEDAD DANTE ALIGHIERI, La Habana, CUBA (KS & JAO)
   

2015

1. *ART BASEL MIAMI - SCOOP ART SHOW / series PAN CON CROQUETA / Miami, USA (KS)
   

2014

1. *ART BASEL MIAMI - SCOOP ART SHOW / / series PAN CON CROQUETA / Miami, USA  (KS)
   

2. *Paris PhotoWeek / at MAGNUM photos, Office Paris / FRANCE  (KS)
   

2013

1. *NEW TALENT BIENNALE COLOGNE / documentary ROMAZE O.T (direction Elke Lehrenkrauss, DoP Kirstin Schmitt) / GERMANY (KS)
   

Kirstin & Maren Schmitt´s work as director, cinematographer and producer has been presented at several international film-festivals like Shanghai International Film festival,

DOK Leipzig, Kassler Dokfilm Fest, Berlinale, American Documentary Film Festival Palm Springs, etc.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS / SHOWCASES / CINEMA

1. *CINEMA TOUR / documentary ADELHEID, KORNELIUS & THE DEATHS (90min, Germany, Spain) / more than 30 screenings in cinemas in Hessen, Rhineland, Lower Saxony, Berlin & Hamburg / 2019-2020 / GERMANY(KS & MS)
   

2. *ENDLESS SUMMER - exhibition to the movie ADELHEID, KORNELIUS & THE  DEATHS at FORUM / photography & objects / 23.4.19 till 15.5.2019 / Gelnhausen / GERMANY (KS & MS)
   

3. *Cinema Preview / documentary ADELHEID, KORNELIUS & THE  DEATHS (90min, color, Germany, Spain) / 28.04.2019  at 7:00 pm / Cinema Büdingen / GERMANY (KS & MS)
   

4. *Cinema Preview / documentary ADELHEID, KORNELIUS & THE  DEATHS (90min, color, Germany, Spain) / 27.04.2019  at 7:00 pm / Cinema Gelnhausen / GERMANY (KS & MS)
   

5. *Galería "Julio Larramendi" / series PAN CON CROQUETA / 2015 / La Habana, CUBA (KS & JAO)
   

* FIAU-Festival de Arte Urbana Havana / series PAN CON CROQUETA / 2015 /  La Habana, CUBA (KS)

1. *series PAN CON CROQUETA / during the 12. Bienal de La Habana 2015, presented by Fundación Caguayo, organizer Edenis Sanches  / La Habana, CUBA (KS)
   

PUBLICATIONS- BOOKS

1. *BOOK: „Opportunities and risks of self-renting documentaries: Alternative ways of film distribution“ / by Maren Schmitt / publisher: Lehrbuchverlag, GERMANY 2019
   

2. *DFA MAGAZINE #34 published by the DFA - Germany Academy of photography / 2018 / GERMANY (JAO)
   

3. *"Europäer sehen Cuba" / Catalog Foundation Michael Horbach 2018 / GERMANY (KS)
   

4. *DFA MAGAZINE #33 published by the DFA - Germany Academy of photography / 2017 / GERMANY (KS)
   

5. *ISSUE Magazine / #01 in 2017 / Los Angeles, USA (KS)
   

6. *LAF6 - LAF6 Latin American Fotografía & Illustration 6 / Catalog / 2016 / New York, USA  (JAO)
   

7. *KOLGA PHOTO AWARD 2017 / Year book 2016 / GEORGIA (KS & JAO)
   

8. *IPA - International Photography Awards / Year book 2016 / New York, USA (KS)
   

9. *LAF5 - LAI5 Latin American Fotografía & Illustration 5 / Catalog / 2016 / New York, USA (KS)
   

10. *5th SIPF - Singapore International photography Festival / Catalog / 2016 / SINGAPORE (KS)
    

11. *Sony World Photography Awards / Catalog / 2016 / London, UK (KS)
    

12. *“The Beauty of Humanity - SCOPE ART SHOW Art Basel Miami 2015“ / Catalog / publisher William Etundi Jr. / New York, USA  (KS)
    

COLLECTIONS

* Monica Cerge Tabaldo / CUBA (JAO & KS)

PUBLICATIONS- PRESS / BLOGS (selection)

TimeLight Box / the guardian / Huffington Post / I`Oreil de la photographie / New York Times / Der Spiegel / Interview / NZZ / Die Zeit Online / Art Radar Asia / FAZ / Der Greif / Garbos  Magazine / American Photo / International Business Times / ICON Magazine / Lens Culture / Staatsoper Stuttgart / DFA-Germany Academy of photography Magazine / Süddeutsche Zeitung / ttt- titel, thesen, tempramente (ARD TV) / Hauptsache Kultur (HR TV) etc.

MASTERCLASS / WORKSHOPS ETC.

2017

1. *UNEAC - Unión de escritores y artistas de Cuba, workshop with El Chino Arco / CUBA (JAO & KS)
   

2016

1. *Ostkreuz photo agency / Berlin, GERMANY (KS)
   

2. *Portfolio walk / DFA - Deutsche Fotografische Akademie, GERMANY (KS)
   

3. *UNEAC - Unión de escritores y artistas de Cuba, workshop with El Chino Arco / CUBA (JAO & KS)
   

2015

1. *MAGNUM photos, Masterclass with Eli ReedBruce Gilden & LEICA / Hamburg, GERMANY (KS)
   

2. *UNEAC - Unión de escritores y artistas de Cuba, workshop with El Chino Arco / CUBA (JAO)
   

2014

* MAGNUM photos Paris, Masterclass with Eli Reed / FRANCE (KS)

since 2013

1. *Contemporary dance, Teatro National de Cuba / CUBA (KS)