19/01/2004 - The young actor will be representing Switzerland at the "Shooting Star 2004" event, promoted by EFP. After his early theatrical career, Koch has now moved into cinema, starring in Ready, Steady, Charlie!

The star of the German comedy Ready, Steady, Charlie! by Mike Eschmann (with an audience of 540,000 to date), Michael Koch, has been chosen to represent Switzerland in the 7th edition of Shooting stars, the event organised by European Film Promotion (EFP) as part of the Berlinale (February 5-15, 2004).

In the film, Michael Koch plays Antonio Carrera, a young Swiss-Italian who is arrested on the day of his wedding to the daughter of a Sicilian tycoon, because he’s run away from the army. Twenty-one-year old Michael Koch is convincing in the role thanks to his carisma and the fresh and fascinating light-handed approach he exudes in his acting. He started his career when he was still in school and trained in the theatrical setting of the "junges theater basel". His first theatrical role in "Die Schaukel", put on by Sebastian Nübling, was shown on tour in 2000, with around 80 dates in German-speaking countries. He also put on a noteworthy performance in the main role of another play put by Sebastian Nübling, "Held der westlichen Welt" ("Playboy of the Western World"), at the Zurich Theaterspektakel in 2003. Michael Koch is currently studying at the “Academy of Media Arts” in Cologne, Germany.

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The “Shooting Stars” are chosen by the members of the EFP (in this case, by Swiss Films) and they take part in four days of workshops and meetings with producers and casting agents. The particpants are also presented to the public and the press and they will be given an award from the director of the Berlinale, Dieter Kosslick. Following on from Berlin, the Shooting Stars will then also be invited to a variety of European film festivals, including those in Hamburg and Cabourg.

(Translated from French)