ifs-Begegnung: 25 Jahre ifs mit »The Assessment«

Wednesday, July 02, 2025 | 7 pm
Free admission
Filmforum NRW | Cinema at Museum Ludwig
Bischofsgartenstr. 1 | 50667 Cologne

ON THE BIG SCREEN:
"The Assessment"
(Feature film, USA 2024, 114 min., FSK 16, Director: Fleur Fortuné, VFX on-set supervisor: Matthias Backmann)

Followed by a film talk with Matthias Backmann

In "The Assessment", parenthood in the near future is subject to a strict approval process. Mia and her husband Aaryan have submitted their application to have children and must first undergo an aptitude test. They are assigned the cool, unapproachable assessor Virginia, who presents the couple with a series of grueling challenges.

Funded by the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, this sci-fi thriller starring Oscar® winner Alicia Vikander ("The Danish Girl"), Elizabeth Olsen ("Avengers: Endgame") and Himesh Patel ("Don't Look Up") explores the complexity of human relationships and the ethical limits of a society that values control over individual freedom. "The Assessment" celebrated its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and received the award for Best Production Design at the British Independent Film Awards.

Among those involved in the film were ifs-Prof. Rolf Mütze as Visual Effects Supervisor as well as numerous alumni: Matthias Backmann (vfx on-set supervisor), Christian Heynert (compositing artist), Justus Maus (junior compositing artist), Robin Pfister (cg artist), Timo Stampa (cg lead artist), Samuel Jaeger (supervising art director), Lea Preuße (assistant art director), Heike Steen (set decorator), Luisa Niederschuh (exterior prop assistant), Katja Tauber (set dresser), Daniel Brodt (food stylist) and the ifs students Fraenzi Heinrich (personal assistant director), Lia Campbell (production assistant) and Marlene Sandmann (junior compositing artist).

Matthias Backmann studied VFX & Animation at the ifs. Since graduating in 2016, he has worked as a compositor for companies such as Framestore, Rise FX and Pixomondo and is a member of the Visual Effects Society. At LAVAlabs he works as a compositing supervisor and on set supervisor for film shoots.

On the occasion of its 25th anniversary, the ifs will present graduates with a selected film in its series ifs Encounter: 25 Years of ifs throughout the year. In addition to the film, the subsequent discussion will also focus on the filmmakers' professional careers after their time at the ifs.