Creative Synergy Award
The SUMOLIGHT Creative Synergy Award returns to Bitola, North Macedonia, this year as part of the 47th edition of the ICFF Manaki Brothers Film Festival, taking place from September 19–25, 2026.
Founded in 1979, Manaki Brothers was the world’s first film festival dedicated specifically to cinematography and remains one of the leading international meeting points for the profession. It is therefore a particularly meaningful setting for an award that shines a light on one of the essential partnerships behind the cinematic image: that between the Director of Photography and the gaffer.
Now in its third year, the SUMOLIGHT Creative Synergy Award will be presented on Saturday, September 19, 2026, to Director of Photography Michael Snyman, ASC and gaffer Florin Mihalache, ICLS, recognizing their collaboration on the Netflix series “3 Body Problem”.
Established by SUMOLIGHT in partnership with the Manaki Brothers Film Festival in 2024, the award was created to highlight the gaffer’s often-overlooked creative contribution to cinematography. Bringing a cinematographer’s vision to life through light is a collaborative process built on creative dialogue, technical expertise and trust, with the gaffer playing a key role in shaping a production’s visual language.
The award was inaugurated in 2024, when cinematographer Alice Brooks, ASC and gaffer Dave Smith became its first recipients for their work on Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu.
In 2025, the award went to Bill Pope, ASC, BSC and chief lighting technician Jonathan Spencer for their collaboration on Dean DeBlois’ How to Train Your Dragon.
Now in its third year, the Creative Synergy Award continues to establish a dedicated space within an international cinematography festival for recognizing the people who shape light alongside cinematographers.
For its 2026 edition, the award recognizes Michael Snyman, ASC and Florin Mihalache ICLS for their collaboration on the ambitious visual world of “3 Body Problem”.
Michael’s career spans international film and large-scale television productions, with credits including See, Warrior and Gettysburg, the latter earning him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Cinematography.
Florin brings extensive international experience as a gaffer across feature films and television. His credits include productions such as The Nun, The Gray House and 3 Body Problem, with a career encompassing lighting, electrical and rigging work on major international productions.
Their recognition reflects the principle at the heart of the Creative Synergy Award: great cinematography is not created in isolation. Behind the image is a relationship built on communication, interpretation and trust between the cinematographer and the person responsible for translating lighting concepts into physical reality.
The award was initiated by SUMOLIGHT, the Berlin-based manufacturer of professional lighting systems for motion pictures, episodic television, photography, live events and sports.
Founded in Germany in 2011 by professionals with backgrounds in lighting and photography, SUMOLIGHT develops lighting technology around the practical and creative demands of production. Its systems, including SUMOMAX and SUMOSKY, are designed for applications ranging from conventional film sets to large-scale image-based lighting, pixel-controlled environments and complex studio installations.
This close connection to the realities of filmmaking is central to the Creative Synergy Award: recognizing the point where technology and creativity meet, and the people who make that collaboration possible.
Michael Snyman, ASC and Florin Mihalache ICLS will receive the 2026 SUMOLIGHT Creative Synergy Award on Saturday, September 19, at the ICFF Manaki Brothers Film Festival in Bitola, North Macedonia.
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