Michael grew up in an artist family.
His uncle is a novelist of Europe-wide fame, his grandmother one of Switzerland's most famous actresses, his grandfather has founded Switzerland's biggest production company, later to be run by his father.
During school, Michael was engaged in photography and made Super-8 films. With the pocket money he earned from editing films for his dad, he bought his first drum kit.
After graduation, Michael played gigs and did records as a drummer and a singer, until a nightmare of himself playing in a hotel band at age seventy, brought him to start working in the film industry.
Starting off in the camera department, he soon turned director. Since then, he has shot for clients such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Renault, Mazda, Switzerland Tourism, Carlsberg Breweries, COI, Swisscom, AXA, Credit Suisse, Swiss Post, and many others.
His commercials have won nearly 200 awards at festivals like Cannes Lions, Epica Awards, Eurobest, Clio Award, Cristal Festival, Art Director's Club New York, New York Festivals, Klappe Germany, Art Director's Club Germany, Art Director's Club Switzerland, EDI Switzerland.
Michael is member of the Art Directors Club Switzerland (ADC) and of the Directors Guild of America (DGA).
He lives in Zurich, Switzerland
· ALDI Suisse
· Allianz Insurance Group
· Allstate Insurance Company
· Appenzeller Cheese
· Audi
· AutoScout24
· AXA Winterthur Insurance & Bank
· Baptist Health South Florida
· Bank Cler
· BAT British American Tobacco
· Bell Food Group
· BMW
· Cablecom Switzerland
· Carlsberg Breweries / Feldschlösschen Beverages
· COI Centre of Information
· Coop
· CPC Foods International
· Credit Suisse
· CSS Insurance Group
· Denner
· Deutsche Post
· Dr. August Oetker
Foods
· Electrolux
· Emmi Group
· Ericsson
· Eschenmoser Discounthouse
· Evonik Industries
· Gallosuisse
· Grand Casino Baden
· Hug
· INFONXX The Number
· IP-Suisse Organic Food
· IV/AI Swiss Disability Insurance
· Kimberly-Clark / Hakle
· Kneipp
· Kraft Foods
· Kraft Jacobs Suchard
· Mazda Europe
· Mercedes-Benz
· Migros
· Mitsubishi Electric
· Opel
· PTT Swiss Postal Services
· Queisser Pharma / Doppelherz
· Reader's Digest Switzerland
· Renault
· Ringier Publishing House Switzerland
· R & V Insurance
· SBB Swiss Railways
· SBC Swiss Bank Corporation
· Schweizerische Mobiliar Insurance Group
· Sixt Rental Cars
· SUVA Swiss Accident Insurance
· Swiss Bankers Union
· Swiss Broadcasting Corporation
· Swiss Cancer League
· Swisscom
· Swiss Federal Department
· Swissmilk
· Swiss Post
· Switzerland Tourism
· Tages-Anzeiger Media
· TCS Touring Club Switzerland
· The Blue Window
· The Salvation Army Switzerland
· UBS United Bank of Switzerland
· University of Phoenix
· USM Furniture Systems
· Wander AG Switzerland / Ovomaltine
· Winterthur Insurance Group
AWARDS - COMMERCIALS
BANK CLER "Zak – More for Your Money"
· Silver Award, Effie Awards Switzerland 2024
· Shortlist, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2024
JACKPOTS "Here's to Luck"
· Shortlist, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2023
BELL "Fire"
· Bronze Award, KTR Awards Poland 2021
· Shortlist, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2022
· Shortlist, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2021
COOP SUPERMARKET "Lulu & Louis" (Christmas 2019)
· Silver Award, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2020
· Shortlist, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2020
BELL "Journey"
· Shortlist, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2019
SBB SWISS RAILWAYS "Shopping" & "Business Talk"
· Shortlist, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2019
SUVA ACCIDENT INSURANCE "Auction"
· Bronze Award, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2017
BELL "Arena"
· Shortlist, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2017
· Shortlist, Effie Awards Switzerland 2018
IP-SUISSE ORGANIC FOOD "Fred"
· Shortlist, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2017
· Shortlist, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2016
SWISS POST "The Yellow Tour "
· Shortlist, Entertainment for Music, Cannes Lions Festival 2017
· Shortlist, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2016
DENNER WINESHOP "Surprise"
· Silver Award, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2015
· Bronze Award, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2015
MIGROS SUPERMARKET "Sugo alla Napoletana"
· Shortlist, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2015
SUVA ACCIDENT INSURANCE "Injured"
· Gold Award, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2014
· Silver Award, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2015
· Shortlist, Epica Awards 2014
SUVA ACCIDENT INSURANCE - Campaign
· Gold Award, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2015
SWITZERLAND TOURISM "Traces"
· Bronze Award, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2015
· Shortlist, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2014
DENNER SUPERMARKET "Hips, Baby"
· Shortlist, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2014
SWITZERLAND TOURISM - Campaign
· Gold Award, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2014
SUVA ACCIDENT INSURANCE "Mountains"
· Shortlist, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2013
SWITZERLAND TOURISM "The Visit"
· Shortlist, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2014
· Shortlist, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2013
DENNER WINESHOP "Giacomo"
· Silver Award, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2014
· Silver Award, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2013
SWITZERLAND TOURISM "Time"
· Grand Prix for Best Tourism Film Worldwide, Comité International des Festivals du Film Touristique CIFFT Vienna 2015
· Grand Prix for Best Film of the Festival, International Tourism Film Festival Zagreb 2015
· Gold Award for Best Film up to 3 Minutes, International Tourism Film Festival Zagreb 2015
· Award for Best Direction, International Tourism Film Festival Zagreb 2015
· Award for Best Music, International Tourism Film Festival Zagreb 2015
· Grand Prix, 10th FilmAT - Film Art & Tourism Festival Warsaw 2015
· Gold Award, Cristal Festival 2012
· Gold Award, Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards 2015
· Gold Award, Das Goldene Stadttor Tourism Multimedia Award Berlin 2015
· Gold Award, 8th International Tourism Film Festival - Tourfilm Riga 2015
· Silver Award, Epica Awards 2012
· Silver Award, Film Craft - Direction, Epica Awards 2012
· Silver Award, Film Craft - Cinematography, Epica Awards 2012
· Silver Award, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2013
· Silver Award, The New York Festivals 2015
· Silver Award, Art & Tur International Tourism Film Festival Portugal 2015
· Bronze Award, Klappe 2013 Germany
· Bronze Award, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2013
· Bronze Award, US International Film & Video Festival 2015
· Shortlist, Film Craft - Cinematography, Eurobest 2012
SUVA ACCIDENT INSURANCE "Colleagues"
· Silver Award, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2012
· Shortlist, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2013
SWITZERLAND TOURISM "Summer Holiday"
· Silver Award, Klappe 2013 Germany
· Bronze Award, Epica Awards 2012
· Shortlist, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2013
· Shortlist, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2012
MIGROS SUPERMARKET "Farewell"
· Shortlist, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2012
SWITZERLAND TOURISM "More than Mountains"
· Bronze Award, Cannes Lions Festival 2011
· Shortlist, Film Craft - Cinematography, Cannes Lions Festival 2011
· Silver Award, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2011
· Bronze Award, Klappe 2012 Germany
· Bronze Award, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2012
· Shortlist, Eurobest 2011
CSS HEALTH INSURANCE "Average"
· Gold Award, Effie Awards Switzerland 2014
· Silver Award, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2011
· Shortlist, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2012
SWITZERLAND TOURISM "Boulder"
· Shortlist, Klappe 2011 Germany
· Bronze Award, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2011
· Bronze Award, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2010
FELDSCHLÖSSCHEN BEER "Interviews"
· Bronze Award, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2011
· Shortlist, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2010
MIGROS BUDGET "Series"
· Bronze Award, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2011
THE SALVATION ARMY "Silent Night"
· Shortlist, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2010
SWISS EGGS "Oh Happy Day"
· Best of Category, Econ Megaphone Awards 2011
· Shortlist, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2010
SWITZERLAND TOURISM "Preparation"
· Silver Award, Epica Awards 2009
· Silver Award, Klappe 2010 Germany
· Silver Award, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2010
· Bronze Award, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2010
SWISSCOM "Omega Man"
· Shortlist, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2008
THE NUMBER 1818 "Getting Ready", "Tai Chi"
· Shortlist, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2007
· Bronze Award, Effie Awards Switzerland 2008
MAZDA 5 "The Trap"
· Shortlist, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2006
· Shortlist, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2007
CREDIT SUISSE "Youth"
· Shortlist, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2006
CABLECOM "Mr. Steiner"
· Shortlist, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2006
FELDSCHLÖSSCHEN BEER "Zipper"
· Silver Award, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2006
· Silver Award, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2005
· Finalist Award FAB 2006, Eigth International Food and Beverage Creative Excellence Awards London
· Silver Award, 13th ITVA Award Germany
· Bronze Award, Effie Awards Switzerland 2006
DENNER SUPERMARKET "Lorry", "Falling", "Car", "Mamma Mia"
· Shortlist, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2006
· Shortlist, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2005
OVOMALTINE "Salto"
· Winner & Special Award for Cinematography, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2004
FELDSCHLÖSSCHEN BEER "Matterhorn", "Dog-Poo Pick-Up System", "Laundry Spider"
· Gold Award, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2004
· Winner FAB 2004, Sixth International Food and Beverage Creative Excellence Awards London
· Winner & Special Award for Direction, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2003
· Bronze Award, the New York Festivals 2004
· Finalist Award, Klappe 2004 Germany
SUVA ACCIDENT INSURANCE "Criminal"
· Winner & Special Award for Cinematography, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2003
SWISS CHEESE "The Return"
· Shortlist, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2003
AUDI A3 "Chair"
· Gold Award, Golden Award of Montreux 2002
· Silver Award, Ermis Awards 2002
· Bronze Award, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2003
BMW "The Missing Piece"
· Bronze Award, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2003
ALLIANZ SUISSE INSURANCE "Pogo Stick"
· Shortlist, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2002
ALLIANZ SUISSE INSURANCE "Flying Fish"
· Winner & Special Award for Direction, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2002
· Bronze Award, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2002
SWISS CHEESE "The Game"
· Winner & Special Award for Direction, Swiss Federal Dept. of the Interior Festival EDI 2001
· Silver Award, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2002
DEUTSCHE POST WORLD NET "Sound"
· Silver Award, Art Directors Club Germany 2002
SIXT CAR RENTAL & BMW "Cry-Baby"
· Bronze Award, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2002
· Merit Award, Art Directors Club Germany 2001
SWISS CHEESE "Intruder" & "Riot"
· Bronze Award, Art Directors Club Switzerland 2001
· Bronze Award, Klappe 2000 Germany
and many, many more....
Stories, Zurich
Virgenfilms, Latin America
Random Films, India