Michael Koch - Swiss Shooting Star 2004 at the 54th International Filmfestival in Berlin
07.01.2004
In the turbulent Swiss military Recruit School (RS) comedy “Ready, Steady, Charlie!”, Michael Koch plays the young and sensitive “secondo” (second-generation immigrant) Antonio Carrera, who, before he can say“yes” at the altar to his Sicilian beloved, is taken away by the military police for his RS training. In the starring role of this movie, the 21-year-old actor impresses the audience with his refreshing, youthful and concentrated magnetism and his natural and likeable performance. Since Rolf Lyssy’s 70s classic “The Swissmakers”, “Ready, Steady, Charlie!” (Director: Mike Eschmann, Production: Lukas Hobi/Zodiac Pictures) has been the second most successful Swiss film with 540,000 tickets sold, and it has consequently been nominated for the 2004 Swiss Film Prize. In the 7th edition of the “Shooting Stars” at the Berlinale from February 6-8, 2004, this talented newcomer, Michael Koch, will be representing Switzerland. The event draws much attention and provides a forum for young European up-and-coming actresses and actors.
Since 1998, the European Film Promotion (EFP), an umbrella organization of national film promotion agencies, has organized the unique Shooting Stars initiative and presented Europe’s next generation of acting talents. Twenty hopefuls each from a different European country will stand in the limelight at Berlin’s Potsdam square and introduce themselves to international film professionals at this year’s event. The talents have been nominated by their country’s membership organization of EFP (in Switzerland represented by Swiss Films) and will take part at workshops and meetings with producers and casting agencies over the course of four days. They will have a chance to introduce themselves at a press luncheon and will by awarded a “Shooting Star” at the Berlinale Palace by festival director Dieter Kosslick during a competition screening.
Koch’s career did not simply begin with this recent movie theatre success: The 2004 Swiss Shooting Star began his acting career at the “junges theater basel”. Inspired by its innovative program, he developed a passion for acting while simultaneously completing his baccalaureate/matura degree. With his first piece “Die Schaukel” (The Swing) directed by Sebastian Nübling, he has been touring German speaking playhouses since 2000, and he also starred as Christian Mahon in “Herr der westlichen Welt” (Master of the Western World) at “junges theater basel”. Koch transitioned seamlessly to his first film role and successfully proved his talent there as well. Currently he is a student at the Academy of Media Arts in Cologne, Germany, while additional film and television projects are in the planning.
Recent Swiss actresses and actors representing Switzerland as Shooting Stars were Mona Fueter (“Füür oder Flamme”) in 2003, Michael Finger (“Utopia Blues”) in 2002, Anne-Shlomit Deonna (“Potlach”) in 2001, Martin Rapold (“Exklusiv”) in 2000, and Ticino-born Soray Gomaa (“Vollmond”) in 1999. Michael Koch will now have a chance as the sixth Swiss actor to present himself to the public, media, and international film industry in the context of “Europe’s New Acting Talent”.
During Michael Koch’s presence in Berlin (February 6-14, 2004), “Ready, Steady, Charlie!” will have an international screening at the Filmmarkt of the Biennale. It’s release in the French speaking part of Switzerland, the Romandie, is planned for April 2004, and the movie DVD can be purchased beginning in February of 2004.
Zurich, January 7, 2004