Tokyo Film & Screenplay: CineMatography Award

Thrilled to learn that Blue Burning has won the Cinematography Award in the Tokyo Film & Screenplay Awards 2026.

I want to thank Viki van dan Barselaar-Smith for being cinematographer on Blue Burning. In our tiny filmmaking team, it was Viki who handled so much of the relentless technical and physical work helping shape the visual language of the story - solving problems when windy, sandy, wet, muddy, oily locations don’t cooperate, and keeping the image consistent across days, weeks, and changing conditions. Viki is outstanding under pressure, with limited time, often in uncomfortable or dangerous conditions, while still making it look effortless. What ends up on screen is the result of hundreds of these decisions. This film exists because you helped build something shot by shot. Thank you for your endurance, your skill, and your commitment to the work. I couldn’t have done this without you - Janet Solomon