Joel Basman – Swiss Shooting Star 2008 at the 58th International Film Festival in Berlin
11.12.2007
Swiss actor Joel Basman is one of the nine European Shooting Stars who will be introduced to international representatives of the film industry at the 58th International Film Festival 2008 in Berlin and stand in the limelight at the Berlinale. He plays a Russian dropout in “Luftbusiness”, Dominique de Rivaz’s recent film for the cinema (CAB Productions, Lausanne; to be released in 2008). An international jury, presided over by Michael Ballhaus, has selected the nine best acting talents from 22 actors and actresses from all over Europe. As Switzerland’s promotion agency, SWISS FILMS had nominated the talented newcomer Joel Basman. Shooting Stars was initiated by European Film Promotion (EFP).
Rapid career
Joel Basman’s performance as one of the three young dropouts who auction themselves on the Internet in Dominique de Rivaz’s film “Luftbusiness” was impressive due to his natural presence, confidence and expressiveness as an actor. The 17-year-old has embarked on a rapid career: not only will he appear in “Tausend Ozeane” (director: Luki Frieden; production: Carac Film, Bern) together with Max Riemelt and Thierry van Werveke, he has also recently completed the shooting for the television film “Jimmie” (director: Tobias Ineichen; production: C-Films, Zurich) and, as of January 2008, will appear in Christoph Schaub’s new film “Sweet Life”, together with Nils Althaus (Swiss Shooting Star 2007), Johanna Bantzer (Swiss Shooting Star 2005), Bruno Cathomas, among others. The young talented actor was discovered in the casting for “Mein Name ist Eugen”. Basman revealed his talent as Zizou in the popular Swiss television series “Lüthi & Blanc” between 2004 and 2006 and went on to give a stunning performance in his leading role in “Cannabis” (2006, director: Niklaus Hilber). Joel Basman has studied at the European Film Actor School in Zurich since 2006. “I was looking for a very young actor who could convincingly personify a young dropout in the streets of Moscow for “Luftbusiness”. I found him: 17 years old, instinctively adept at acting, with an innate sense of the melody of languages and constant vibrancy … that was Joel, Joel Basman,” explained film director, Dominique de Rivaz.
“Europe‘s New Acting Talents”
From 8 to 11 February 2008, EFP will present the 11th generation of Europe’s Shooting Stars in the limelight on Berlin’s Potsdamerplatz. In the wake of 10 successful years, during which the Shooting Stars event has evolved into a label and become a talent exchange for actors from all over the world, EFP has modified ist concept for the event: the member countries have hitherto selected their acting talent and will now nominate their shooting stars, from which an appointed jury selects the nine best. EFP is a pan-European film promotion and export organization, located in Hamburg and supported by the EU’s MEDIA Program, was founded in Berlin in 1997, with SWISS FILMS as one of the founding members. Since ist inception, EFP has taken numerous opportunities to organize high-profile events for European films, one of which is ist unique Shooting Stars event. With ist new concept, EFP will increase ist support of the Shooting Stars in their international careers.
Jury
The members of international jury include: Michael Ballhaus (Germany), one of the most successful cinematographers worldwide (“Goodfellas”, “The Departed”), who has worked in the U.S. together with directors such as Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola for many years; actress Lucy Russell (Shooting Star UK 2002); producer Vibeke Windeløv (Denmark); personal manager Derek Power (USA); and casting director Beatrice Kruger (Italy). The jury was presided over by Michael Ballhaus.
Swiss Shooting Stars
Switzerland’s former Shooting Stars were: 2007 Nils Althaus (“Breakout”), 2006 Carlos Leal (“Snow White”), 2005 Johanna Bantzer (“Strähl”), 2004 Michael Koch (“Achtung, fertig, Charlie!”), 2003 Mona Petri (née Fueter / “Füür oder Flamme”), 2002 Michael Finger (“Utopia Blues”), 2001 Anne-Shlomit Deonna (“Potlatch”), 2000 Martin Rapold (“Exklusiv”) and 1999 Soraya Gomaa (“Vollmond”).
Zurich, 11 December 2007
Further information:
Shooting Star