AWARDS AT THE 18th MONTE-CARLO FILM FESTIVAL OF COMEDY

SATURDAY JUNE 5 AT THE GRIMALDI FORUM THE CEREMONY PRESENTED BY EZIO GREGGIO

The gala evening with the award ceremony of the 18th Monte-Carlo Film Festival of Comedy, took place at the Grimaldi Forum on Saturday 5 June 2021 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. An event chaired by Ezio Greggio.

The Jury, made up of Raoul Bova (President), Mario de la Rosa, Giacomo Ferrara, Mario Sesti, deliberated and awarded the prizes:

To the Spanish film SENTIMENTAL directed by Cesc Gay the prize for the best film and
Argentinian actress Griselda Siciliani received the award for best actress.

The award for best director was won by Adam Rehmeier for the comedy DINNER IN AMERICA.

Todd Stephens‘ other American film SWAN SONG won the Audience Award and Udo Kier won the Best Actor award.

The Monte-Carlo Film Festival Jury wished to award a special mention to the Israeli film HONEYMOOD, directed by Talya Lavie.

Finally, the “Short Comedy Award” in the section dedicated to short films went to WICHITA by Sergine Dumais (USA-Canada).

On the stage of the Grimaldi Forum in Monte-Carlo, Ezio Greggio presented the award ceremony. International and Italian guests from the small and big screen participated. Successful actor Chazz Palminteri (“Once Upon a Time in the Bronx”, “The Usual Suspects”, “Shots on Boradway”, “Modern Family”) arrived straight from the United States to receive the prestigious “Movie Legend” Award ”. Nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for “Shots on Broadway” by Woody Allen, he recently appeared on “Godfather of Harlem”.

Return to Monaco and one more prize to Nick Vallelonga (winner of two “Academy Awards” for “Green Book”) who chaired the jury of the Monte-Carlo Film Festival last year. Radiant Italian actress Micaela Ramazzotti, nominated several times and winner of the “David di Donatello” for the film “La prima cosa bella”, she was awarded the prestigious “Monte-Carlo Award” for her career. Actress, presenter and writer Rocio Munos Morales received the “Monte-Carlo Award” for her exceptional role as a woman, mother, writer and model of “empowerment”.

The Monte-Carlo Film Festival Award was also presented to the President of the Jury Raoul Bova, to the Spanish actor Mario de la Rosa and to the Italian Giacomo Ferrara, who were members of the jury for this edition.
Among the celebrities, the audience applauded Antonia Truppo, Francesco Di Leva, Giovanni Esposito, protagonists of the new comedy “Benvenuti a casa Esposito”, which premiered at the Film Festival of Comedy on June 4th. Spotlight also on the former player of the national team of Italy and Juventus of Turin, Claudio Marchisio, and on the stars of TV and cinema in Italy Giancarlo Magalli, Enzo Iacchetti, Remo Girone, the actress and Brazilian model Desirée Popper, presenter Elisa Isoardi.
Applause also for the young singer Leo Gassmann, idol of teenagers, (X Factor Italy and Sanremo Festival Youth category) and who has performed on stage with his new single “Down”.
Monegasque and Italian personalities present were called on stage to present the awards. Among them: the Mayor of Monaco Georges Marsan, the Government Counselor – Minister of External Relations and Cooperation Laurent Anselmi, as well as the Italian Ambassador to Monaco Giulio Alaimo.
The event, in collaboration with EFG Bank (Monaco) and Marlù Gioielli, has always taken place under the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and the Italian Embassy. Once again this year Radio Monte Carlo was the official radio of the Festival.

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GREAT MOVIES AND CELEBRITIES AT THE 18th MONTE-CARLO FILM FESTIVAL OF COMEDY

The 18th edition of the Monte-Carlo Film Festival de la Comédie has started. 
The event chaired by Ezio Greggio takes place from May 31 to June 5, 2021 in the Principality of Monaco.
The presentation press conference took place at the Fairmont Monte-Carlo hotel on Tuesday, June 1, in compliance with sanitary rules: “We are happy to have succeeded in carrying out this edition in a difficult context – started Ezio Greggio – As they say for the show, the Comedy must also continue, “The Comedy must go on”, because it is the genre that has always told our story the best ”.

From left Giacomo Ferrara, Mario de La Rosa, Raoul Bova, Ezio Greggio, Chazz Palminteri, Mario Sesti, Nick Vallelonga ©Rosanna Calò

This is evidenced by the films selected and screened at the Grimaldi Forum until Friday, June 4, which tell and reflect the daily life of today, with themes such as the family in its different forms, generational conflicts, sex and emancipation of women.

The winners of this edition will be chosen by the international jury chaired by Italian actor Raoul Bova, accompanied by the actors Giacomo Ferrara and Mario de la Rosa, and the director and film critic Mario Sesti, who, speaking about the current period which sees us confronted with the health emergency, recalled that “It is the most tragic moments that have given rise to great comedies”, and quoting a sentence from Pirandello : “To make people laugh you have to be terribly serious“.

Two Hollywood stars were also the guests of the press conference: American actors, directors, screenwriters and producers Chazz Palminteri, who will receive the “Career Award” at the gala on Saturday June 5, and Nick Vallelonga, twice Oscar winner for the film “Green Book: on the roads of the South”, and president of the jury of the Monte-Carlo Film Festival last year.

The long-awaited grand finale will take place during the award ceremony, on the traditional Gala scheduled for Saturday 5 June at the Grimaldi Forum and during which Ezio Greggio, with his many guests from cinema and television, will reward this year’s winners.

Already confirmed the “Movie Legend Award 2021”, awarded to Chazz Palminteri (“Once upon a time in the Bronx”, “Usual Suspects”, “Shots on Broadway”, “Modern Family”), nominated at the Oscars for Best Actor in a supporting role for “Shots on Broadway” by Woody Allen and which recently appeared in “Godfather of Harlem”. The “Career Prize” will go to Italian actress Micaela Ramazzotti, nominated several times for the “David di Donatello” Prize and winner of the “David di Donatello Prize for Best Actress” for “La prima cosa bella”.

Giancarlo Magalli, the presenter par excellence will also participate in the Gala evening with Enzo Iacchetti, the longtime companion of Ezio in ‘Striscia la Notizia’ (satirical news program on the first italian TV channel Canale 5 of the Mediaset Group); Brazilian actress and model Desirée Popper, and Antonia Truppo, Francesco Di Leva, Giovanni Esposito, protagonists of the new comedy “Benvenuti a casa Esposito”, which will have its world premiere at the Monte-Carlo Film Festival on Friday June 4th.

Also eagerly awaited: Elisa Isoardi, the attractive Elisabetta Gregoraci, the former footballer Claudio Marchisio and the actress, presenter and writer Rocio Munos Morales, who will receive the “Monte-Carlo Award” for her exceptional role, as a woman, mother, writer and empowerment model. During the evening, the idol of teenagers in Italy, released from the TV talent “X Factor” and who has asserted himself among the New Proposals at the music event Sanremo Festival in 2020, Leo Gassmann, will perform on stage with his new single “Down”.

The main objective of the Monte-Carlo Film Festival is the promotion of the different genres of comedy through previews of films in competition and out of competition. A unique showcase on the international scene for a genre highly appreciated by the public but generally considered “minor” by the critics. But thanks to the event designed by Ezio Greggio and the late Maestro Mario Monicelli (Festival co-founder), it has reassessed comedy at other international festivals such as Cannes, Rome, Berlin and Venice.

The event, in collaboration with EFG Bank (Monaco) and Marlù Gioielli, has always taken place under the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and the Italian Embassy in Monaco. Also this year Radio Monte Carlo is the Official Radio of the Monte-Carlo Film Festival.

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Movie NIGHTLIFE by Simon Verhoeven hoards Awards at the 17th Monte-Carlo Film Festival of Comedy

The Awards Ceremony took place on Saturday 10th October

The 17th edition of the Monte-Carlo Film Festival of Comedy, the prestigious kermesse dedicated to comedy, conceived and directed by Ezio Greggio, ends on Saturday, October 10th, with a big success and always following the security anti-Covid measures.

The jury, led by the two times Academy Award winner Nick Vallelonga and composed by the eclectic Sabrina Impacciatore, the Dutch actress Lotte Verbeek and the talented Spanish actress Maggie Civantos, has chosen the Palmares. 

The German Nightlife by Simon Verhoeven has won the awards as best movie, best direction, the public award and the special mention for the cast ensemble. The movie narrates the story of the bartender Milo who meets the woman of his dreams Sunny in a fateful moment and arranges to go on a date. Everything seems to be running smoothly, but when Milo‘s chaotic friend Renzo turns up, the romantic evening escalates into an absolutely mad chase through Berlin‘s nightlife pursued by some underworld thugs. However, nothing will shake Milo and Sunny‘s love if they can survive this date.

Best actress Candelá Pena for the movie La Boda de Rosa directed by Icìar Bollain for her extraordinary performance of a woman about to turn 45 who realizes that she’s always lived her life to serve everyone else. So she decides to leave it all behind and take charge of her life and fulfil her dream of starting her own business. 

The award for best actor goes to Nando Paone for Il ladro di Cardellini by Carlo Luglio. In the movie he plays Pasquale Cardinale, an elder ranger, who spends his days between alcohol and video poker in the Campania countryside. To settle the debts he organizes a scam of 200 white pure goldfinches, replacing them with common ones, but it will not end as expected.

The award for best short film goes to the French Cash Stash by Enya Baroux & Martin Darondeau.

Special Awards at the evening Gala at the Grimaldi Forum directed by Ezio Greggio: the Monte-Carlo Film Festival Award to Maggie Civantos, Sabrina Impacciatore and Andrea Morricone, to the French film director Patrice Leconte goes the Career Award, the Award as Future Leader Under 30 goes to the italian actor Alessio Lapice and another great Italian actor, Nino Frassica, wins the King of Comedy Award. This year the Legend Award goes to the president of the jury Nick Vallelonga.

The Monte-Carlo Film Festival of Comedy, in collaboration with EFG Bank ( Monaco), has always been held under the High Patronage of S.A.S. Prince Albert II de Monaco and of the Italian Embassy. Radio Monte Carlo is the Festival’s official radio. Marlú is media partner.

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The jury of 17th Monte-Carlo Film Festival

President of the jury the worldwide renowned director Nick Vallelonga with Sabrina Impacciatore, Maggie Civantos, Lotte Verbeek. From the 5th to the 10th of October at Grimaldi Forum Monaco

A jury with a prevalence of women this year for the 17th edition of the Montecarlo Film Festival of Comedy, the prestigious event conceived and directed by Ezio Greggio which will be held from the 5th to the 10th of October at the headquarters of the Grimaldi Forum of the Principality of Monaco.

The personalities named to take part to the Jury of the 17th edition of one of the most important festivals dedicated exclusively to comedy, along with the President, the 2 times Academy Award winner Nick Vallelonga (“Green Book”, “Kingdom of the Blind”, “The Man with One eye is King”, “Choker e Stiletto”), are the talented Sabrina Impacciatore ( “A casa tutti bene”, “La passione di Cristo”,“L’Ultimo Bacio”), the eclectic Maggie Civantos ( “Vis a Vis”, “Le ragazze del Centralino”) and the Dutch actress winner of the Pardo D’Oro Award as best actress Lotte Verbeek (“Nothing Personal”,“I Borgia”, “Outlander”, “Blacklist”).

Meanwhile the first part of the competition of the Festival of Comedy of Monte Carlo, one of the most important festivals dedicated exclusively to comedy which has obtained an increasing success worldwide with public and critics has been completed: in the short films section have been selected 5 auteur short films on the Filmfreeway platform, now in the shortlist to win the Short Comedy Award which will reward the best short film. 

The finalist titles are : Snake Oil directed by Remy Archer (UK),That no one knows directed by Martin Guggisberg (Switzerland), The Line directed by Tim Butcher (UK), Cash Stash directed by Martin Darondeau and Enya Baroux (France),Green Lake directed by Emanuele Daga (USA).

Ezio Greggio, “We are proud of having a womanly Jury this year along with the President Nick Vallelonga, who I appreciate a lot. The new edition of the festival will be held in the full respect of the rules for the Covid emergency control which is unfortunately still running, but we are sure that this year the festival even if a little different will be a special edition“. 

The event, in collaboration with EFG Bank ( Monaco), has always been held under the High Patronage of S.A.S. Prince Albert II de Monaco and of the Italian Embassy. Radio Monte Carlo is the official radio of the Festival which thanks Ezio Greggio’s commitment and the pitied Maestro Mario Monicelli (co-founder of the Festival), has evaluated comedy even in other international festivals such as Cannes, Rome and Venice.

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