Award for Michael Koch’s short film “Polar” in Berlin
16.02.2009
The only Swiss film screened at the Berlinale 2009, the 30-minute short film “Polar” by Michael Koch, was awarded a Special Mention in the “Perspektive Deutsches Kino” section. The prize in the “Dialogue en perspective” section, awarded by the French television station TV5Monde together with the German-French Youth Office (GFYO) and the Berlin International Film Festival, went to the 35-minute documentary film “Gitti” by Anna Deutsch.
The eight-member jury was presided over by director Matthias Luthardt and comprised four German filmmakers and four French filmmakers. Michael Koch completed his studies at the Academy of Media Arts in Cologne (KHM) with “Polar” in 2008. The film was shot in Glarus and tells the story of the conflict-ridden encounter between 18-year-old Luis and his father, whom he hasn’t seen in years. The jury for the prize in the “Dialogue en perspective” section explained it’s selection of Koch’s film as follows: “The fragility expressed in “Polar” makes the film remarkable. It is a gentle and subtle film with casually narrated poetic moments with lasting effects. The film attests to a promising film directing talent.”
Zurich, February 14, 2009
Zurich, February 14, 2009