Day: 26 April 2019

Legendary actor and producer Michael Douglas is to be honoured with the prestigious Crystal Nymph at the upcoming 59th edition of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival.

The award, reserved for major international television actors in recognition of stellar work, will be presented by H.S.H Prince Albert II of Monaco at the festival’s closing ceremony on 18th June.

Hollywood superstar Michael Douglas began his career in the television industry with a breakthrough role in a 1969 CBS-TV ‘Playhouse’ special, The Experiment. His first significant role came in the multi-award winning television series The Streets of San Francisco from 1972 to 1976, in which he starred alongside Karl Malden.

Michael Douglas went on to become an acclaimed and multiple award-winning actor and producer, most notably winning an Academy Award for producing One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in 1976, and another for starring in Wall Street in 1988.

The HBO film Behind the Candelabra delivered him an Emmy, Golden Globe and a SAG award as Best Actor for his portrayal of Liberace.

Michael Douglas has recently returned to TV starring opposite Alan Arkin (Catch 22) in the Golden Globe winning The Kominsky Method. A standout hit at launch, Douglas won a Golden Globe as Best Actor in a comedy series. Written by Chuck Lorre (The Big Bang Theory), it has just ended filming a second season.

“Michael Douglas’ long career encompasses television, film and theatre at the highest level and he continues to be one of today’s most highly-respected actors,” said Laurent Puons, CEO of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival. “It’s a great pleasure to welcome such an outstanding talent to our festival and to recognise the huge impact his work has had on the global television industry.”

Previous Crystal Nymph honourees include Helen Mirren, Mariska Hargitay, Marg Helgenberger, Patricia Arquette and Donald Sutherland.

Top Marques Monaco will celebrate the first edition under new ownership when it opens next month with three world premieres: the McLaren Grand Tourer, Ferox’s Azaris and the Zacaria – the first ever street legal Formula 1 supercar which can be purchased at the show for a cool one million euros.

Top Marques Monaco is taking place at The Grimaldi Forum under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, from 30th May to 3rd June. The 16th edition is the first to be organised under the new management of Monaco Check-in.

The goal of the new CEO Salim Zeghdar when he purchased Top Marques was to return to the DNA of the show which, he said, was “above all, a market place where manufacturers and consumers needs are combined. We have created this market place by gathering them all together!”

Innovation will also be present at Top Marques 2019 with a large display of electrical vehicles such as Pininfarina with its 1,900 horsepower Battista, and the Quantino 48Volt, a supercar powered by salt water which returns to the event having proven its’ reliability with 350,000 kilometres on the clock.

During the event, McLaren will present in a hotly awaited avant-premiere its Grand Tourer, Zacaria will show the first street -legal F1 car with a 700 hp, and Ferox will showcase a six-wheel vehicle ready to roll on the planet Mars.

Other exceptional vehicles being showcased at the 16th edition are the Bugatti Chiron Sport, one of the most expensive supercars in the world at 3 million euros, the Aston Martin 003, a hybrid model being released on the market in 2021, and a special edition Rolls-Royce Wraith limited to 55 units and called “Luminary Collection”.

Meanwhile, classic car lovers won’t be disappoint. They will be able to see the Devinci, a French manufacturer with a retro look for electric cars Bilenkin Classic Cars’ inspired by Volga from the 50s, with bespoke interiors that are customised without limits.

Rebellion Timepieces, Top Marques first ever watch sponsor, will also be present at the show as an exhibitor with a ‘surprise’ of two exceptional pieces – a race car and a watch – on sale for four million euros.

Watch manufactures Bovet, Greubel Forsey and Roger Dubuis will be showcasing their latest collections as well as King-Boat, X Shore, Brabus, Fjord and BC Yachting Monaco in the ‘Superboat’ area on the Esplanade.

For the first time ever, a Private Viewing is being held on 3^rd June by invitation only.

Tickets for Top Marques Monaco, priced from 40 to 70 euros and are available on the website www.topmarquesmonaco.com.

Monaco has participated in a training seminar designed to boost the Principality’s capability of fighting against money laundering.

The event brought together more than 40 participants from across the globe from 15th to 19th April in Rome-Ostia, Italy. The seminar aims to train experts to evaluate the policies and actions implemented by the various jurisdictions in the fight against money laundering (AML) and terrorist financing (TF).

This is the third consecutive year that the Principality of Monaco has followed the training course, through the participation of the the financial regulator in Monaco Service d’Information et de Contrôle sur les Circuits Financiers, thereby demonstrating its commitment to the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

Organised by the MONEYVAL Committee, the Council of Europe body responsible for assessing compliance with the main international AML and FT standards and their applications, and the FATF, Financial Action Task Force, the training seminar allows participants to evaluate the policies put in place in relation to the FATF’s 40 Technical Compliance recommendations.

The Hellenic Community of Monaco has hosted an exclusive dinner event at Monte Carlo Bay Hotel  to honor the Greek designer Mary Katrantzou.

“We are proud and excited to celebrate the 10thAnniversary of Mary Katrantzou, here in Monaco,” said Sophia Vaharis Tsouvelekakis, President of the Hellenic Community of Monaco. “Mary is a pioneer and a visionary. She revolutionised digital printing and pushed the boundaries of fashion.I am happy and honoured to have Mary amongst us tonight, and to award her as a great lady of Greece!”

The famous designer was awarded with the honourary distinction “Les Grandes Dames Grecques”, in recognition of her contribution to the global promotion of the Hellenic creativity.

During the presentation on 18thApril, President Sophia Vaharis Tsouvelekakis announced that €5,000 raised from the dinner – as well as from the Mary Katrantzou trunk show – will be attributed as a scholarship to a Greek student at the International University of Monaco.

Born in Athens, Mary Katrantzou studied architecture at the Rhode Island School of Design (USA) and graduated with a BA in textile design and an MA in fashion from Central Saint Martins (London).

Mary Katrantzou was dubbed “The Queen of Print” by the press, a moniker that recognised the 21stCentury fashion, inspiring high fashion and high street designers alike.

In her designs, Katrantzou plays with clashing aesthetics, mixes technology and craftmanship and explores opulent innovative embellishments. Mary Katrantzou’s world is feminine, innovative, fresh and elegant.

Katrantzou has received various awards throughout her career. In 2010 she was awarded the Swiss Textiles Award in recognition of her pioneering textile treatments, in November 2011 she received the British Fashion Award for Emerging Talent, and in February 2012 she was awarded Young Designer of the Year at the Elle Style Awards. In 2015, Katrantzou received the Vogue Designer Fashion Fund, was awarded Glamour designer of the year, Harper’s Bazaar Breakthrough Designer as well as the British Fashion Award for New Establishment Designer.

Monte-Carlo’s first ever two-day wellness festival will be taking place this July. Focusing on the elements fire, earth, air and water, the event aims to balance the mind, body and connection to the planet.

The ‘In Your Element Wellness Festival’ will be held on 6th and 7th July at the Columbus Hotel and the World Class Gym. Outdoor classes and workshops will also be held in the stunning setting of Monte-Carlo, an ideal location to experience all the elements.

“The four elements serve as powerful guides on how-to live-in synergy with nature. Every breath of air relaxes us,” said the organisers. “Fire gives us strength and energy. We learn to flow and be more fluid like water. The earth reminds us to heal and nourish ourselves. When we align with the four elements, we become more present and tap into the wisdom of life itself.”

The festival has a local focus on Monaco’s principles of marine ecosystem preservation, as well as a more expansive look into the awareness of waste, sustainability and mindful eating. Visitors will learn how to use the elements to elevate their lives but also how to preserve their rich natural state.

“An exciting list of partners ensures guests are experiencing the excitement of Monaco as well as insight to the latest trends in health and fitness from visiting London experts,” said the event organiser. “Football coaching with FMC Football Academy hosting kids of all ages, ICI Salad bars producing bespoke Fire, Earth, Air and Water salad boxes created by our nutritionists for the weekend, practicing some mindful movement at our Silent Disco on the terrace of Monaco’s iconic Stars ‘n Bars overlooking the world-famous port… these are just some of the classes on offer over the weekend.”

For more information on In Your Element Wellness Festival 2019, visit http://www.inyourelementfestival.com/