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Day: 22 May 2025

Gildo Pastor and Mathieu Kassovitz launch tech-driven film company Venturi Production

by: Cassandra Tanti
22/05/2025

Monaco-based entrepreneur Gildo Pastor and French actor-director Mathieu Kassovitz have launched a new production company that aims to blend advanced technology with cinematic storytelling.

Venturi Production, announced on 21st May during the Cannes Film Festival, will focus on producing films, television series, documentaries and video games that explore themes of science, engineering and innovation. The company also intends to use new technologies in the creative process itself, seeking to push the boundaries of how stories are told in the digital age.

The venture builds on a two-decade relationship between Pastor, head of the Monaco-based electric mobility and aerospace firm Venturi, and Kassovitz, known for films including La Haine and Babylon A.D. Their initial collaboration came when Kassovitz featured Venturi’s electric vehicles in Babylon A.D., a 2008 science fiction film.

Pastor has been a leading figure in electric vehicle development since founding Venturi in 2000. The company has set 28 world speed records and conducted expeditions in extreme environments. In 2021, it expanded into aerospace with Venturi Space, which is currently preparing two lunar rovers for missions in 2026 and 2027, including one vehicle shortlisted by NASA for future Moon landings.

Speaking about the new company, Kassovitz said the goal is to combine technological experimentation with strong storytelling. “To push boundaries, I needed a partner with vision rooted in industry, not just cinema,” he said. Pastor described the project as “a new creative playground” driven by curiosity and the possibilities emerging at the intersection of film and technology.

Venturi Production will operate from Monaco and build on the international network already established by Venturi Group, which includes operations in the United States, Switzerland and France.

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.  

Photo left to right: Mathieu Kassovitz and Gildo Pastor, source: Venturi

Monte-Carlo Television Festival to open with French premiere of ‘Watson’ and honour rising star Jaz Sinclair

by: Cassandra Tanti
22/05/2025

The 64th Monte-Carlo Television Festival will open with the highly anticipated French premiere of Watson, a new CBS Studios series starring Morris Chestnut, and will spotlight American actor Jaz Sinclair as this year’s recipient of the International Golden Nymph for Most Promising Talent.

Announced on Thursday 15th May by Festival Managing Director Laurent Puons and Executive Director Cécile Menoni, the premiere screening and special award ceremony will take place during the Festival’s opening night on Friday 13th June at the Grimaldi Forum Monaco.

The new drama Watson picks up six months after the death of Sherlock Holmes, thrusting Dr. John Watson back into the spotlight. Chestnut leads the cast as a reimagined Watson, now heading a clinic for rare disorders while facing the lingering shadow of Holmes’ greatest nemesis, Moriarty. Blending the intrigue of classic detective fiction with the intensity of a modern medical mystery, Watson promises to deliver an innovative twist on the legendary Holmes universe.

Executive produced by Craig Sweeny, who also serves as showrunner, the series features a high-profile ensemble including Eve Harlow, Peter Mark Kendall, Ritchie Coster, Inga Schlingmann and Rochelle Aytes. The first episode, written by Sweeny and directed by Larry Teng, will premiere immediately following the Festival’s Opening Ceremony.

Adding star power to the opening night is Jaz Sinclair, who will be presented with the Festival’s International Golden Nymph for Most Promising Talent. Known for her breakout role as Rosalind in Netflix’s The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and currently starring as Marie in Prime Video’s Gen V, Sinclair has earned acclaim for her fearless performances and growing international influence.

Her work in Gen V earned her multiple award nominations in 2024, including nods from the Black Reel Awards, the Critics Choice Super Awards, and the Gotham TV Awards.

In addition to her on-screen success, Sinclair is also gaining recognition as a musician under the name Jasimi, with her debut EP Bought Myself Daisies featured on Spotify’s “New Music Friday” playlist.

Festival Executive Director Cécile Menoni praised the dual announcement, saying: “We’re extremely pleased to present the French premiere of Watson and welcome both Morris Chestnut and Craig Sweeny to Monaco. This standout series is the perfect way to launch our 64th edition. We’re equally thrilled to honour Jaz Sinclair with the Most Promising Talent award—her work is bold, dynamic and deserving of international recognition.”

The Monte-Carlo Television Festival runs from 13th to 17th June 2025.

Monaco Life is produced by multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

Green Shift Festival returns to Monaco with bold new themes and open-air evenings on Larvotto

by: Cassandra Tanti
22/05/2025
green shift festival

Monaco’s Green Shift Festival is back for its third edition this June, transforming the Promenade du Larvotto into a space for dialogue, art, and ecological action. Organised by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the free three-day event will run from the 4th to the 6th of June and is open to the public each evening from 6pm.

Now firmly established as part of the Principality’s summer calendar, the festival blends live performances, expert talks, and cultural engagement to encourage fresh perspectives on the environment. “By reinventing our relationship with the living world, we can profoundly transform our environment,” says Olivier Wenden, Vice-President and CEO of the Foundation. “The Green Shift Festival is an invitation to explore those paths together.”

Each night will feature a distinct theme. The opening evening, titled Welcome to 2050, will use storytelling and performance to imagine a future shaped by successful ecological transition.

On the 5th of June, At the Heart of the Living World will focus on human interdependence with nature, while the final night, Music & Ecology, will see artists and activists discuss how sound and creativity can support climate awareness.

Daily Happy Hours from 6pm will showcase local green initiatives, followed by performances from 7pm to 8:30pm and DJ sets and sustainable street food until 10pm. The event also includes a collaborative art installation and morning wellness sessions supported by the Kate Powers Foundation. The 2025 Environmental Photography Award exhibition will open on the final evening, with the grand prize winner in attendance.

In the case of rain, the programme will move to the Rainier III Auditorium or the Monaco Multimedia Library.

Full programme and practical details are available at thegreenshiftinitiative.org.

Monaco Life is produced by multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

Photo from 2023 Green Shift Festival

Drug-sniffing dogs and surprise searches: Monaco cracks down at heliport ahead of Grand Prix weekend

by: Cassandra Tanti
22/05/2025

Just days before Monaco’s biggest weekend of the year, authorities have launched a bold new anti-drug operation—beginning with surprise passenger checks at the Monaco heliport on Monday.

With the world’s spotlight turning to the Principality for the Formula 1 Grand Prix and a flurry of luxury events, the Parquet Général (Public Prosecutor’s Office) is tightening its grip on illegal activity during party season.

Acting under expanded legal powers introduced in 2024, Monaco’s Public Security officers, assisted by drug-sniffing dogs and members of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, swept passengers and luggage from nine helicopter flights entering and leaving the city.

According to a press release from the Public Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday, the operation resulted in the seizure of one gram of cocaine and an official procedure has been opened.

Officials say the message is clear: Monaco’s border points—air, land or sea—are under heightened scrutiny.

These operations are expected to continue regularly, not only at the heliport but across the Principality, as authorities move to ensure that glamour doesn’t overshadow the law during one of the most high-profile weekends on the global calendar.

Monaco Life is produced by multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

Photo source: Monaco Government Communication

Star power on and off the track as F1 drivers attend private screening of Brad Pitt’s racing film in Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
22/05/2025

With Monaco’s streets transforming into a race circuit and the world’s media descending on the Principality, Formula 1 drivers took a detour from preparations on Wednesday evening to attend a private screening of F1 The Movie—the Brad Pitt-led film that has become nearly as talked-about as the championship itself.

Hosted at the Grimaldi Forum just ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, the event brought out a glittering line-up of drivers and team principals, all stepping into the spotlight for a behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood’s high-octane take on their world. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, Monaco’s hometown favourite, was among the first to arrive, while Mercedes’ George Russell made a dramatic entrance behind the wheel of his AMG ONE hypercar, partner Carmen Montero Mundt in the passenger seat.

Lewis Hamilton, who serves as a producer on the film, made his entrance in the back seat of a Ferrari Purosangue. One notable absence? Reigning world champion Max Verstappen, who opted for a quieter night—spotted streaming on Twitch from home under his well-known pseudonym @FranzHermann69.

Also in attendance were Toto and Susie Wolff, joined by several other senior figures from across the paddock, making the evening as much a meeting of F1 minds as a cinematic celebration.

Directed by Top Gun: Maverick filmmaker Joseph Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Brad Pitt and Hamilton himself, F1 The Movie has generated intense buzz ahead of its global release on 25th June. With Pitt playing former driver Sonny Hayes and Damson Idris as rising rookie Joshua Pearce, the film follows the fictional APXGP team as it battles from the back of the grid to the heart of the action.

Filmed on location during real Grand Prix weekends—including in Monaco—the production was granted rare access to F1 paddocks, garages, and even race sessions, allowing Pitt and Idris to drive two modified Formula 2 cars developed by Mercedes, seamlessly integrated into the real race weekend environment.

With drivers themselves appearing alongside the main cast, the film is promising a level of authenticity never before seen in a motorsport movie—something fans and critics alike will judge when it lands in cinemas internationally on 25th June and in North America on 27th June.

See more: 

Interview: Charles Leclerc talks new two-stop rule, pressure to perform, and life at Ferrari

Monaco Life is produced by multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

Main photo source: F1 Facebook

Marcos Marín transforms Marius into F1 gallery with optical masterpieces

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
22/05/2025

As Monaco braces for the annual Grand Prix spectacle, acclaimed Brazilian artist Marcos Marín is set to transform the intimate setting of Marius restaurant into a vibrant celebration of Formula One’s most iconic figures. 

The exhibition, titled ‘F1 Icons’, opens to the public on 26th May and features more than three dozen sculptures, paintings, silkscreens and kinetic totems that capture the essence of motorsport’s greatest legends through Marín ‘s distinctive optical style. 

“Formula One is absolutely the heart of Monaco,” Marín told Monaco Life. “This exhibition is about friendship—my friendship with this ancient restaurant, with Annette who runs it, and with the racing community I’ve become connected to over my 16 years living here.”

Marcos Marin at the press briefing of his new exhibition at Marius. Photo credit: Kyriaki Topalidou, Monaco Life

The Brazilian artist’s connection to Formula One’s rich heritage began 11 years ago through his admiration for racing legend Ayrton Senna. Commissioned to create a commemorative sculpture for the 25th anniversary of Senna’s passing, Marín crafted a three-metre-high tribute that stands at the entrance to Marius and bears the signatures of both Prince Albert II of Monaco and Viviane Senna, the driver’s sister. 

“The place of the heart of Ayrton Senna was Monaco, the place that he won the competitions. He belongs to the history of Monaco,” Marín revealed, highlighting the special relationship between the Brazilian champion and the Principality. 

What makes Marín’s work particularly captivating is his innovative approach to portraiture. His depiction of Fernando Alonso stands as the artist’s personal favourite in the collection, employing a technique that creates the illusion of movement through carefully positioned static lines.

“I create a kind of kinetic colour and forms—it’s a fake movement. It’s not kinetic, it’s static, but we have the impression of movement,” Marín explained. “Our brain recomposes the image, and you see perfectly the face, even the small details.”

Marcos Marin with his favourite piece, his giant work of the late F1 driver Ayrton Senna. Photo credit: Kyriaki Topalidou, Monaco Life

Celebrating diversity in motorsport

The exhibition notably breaks new ground by celebrating the often-overlooked female pioneers of Formula One. Visitors will find striking portraits of Maria Teresa de Filippis, who made history as the first woman to compete in Formula One when she raced at the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix in a Maserati 250F. Contemporary female drivers like Bianca Bustamante are also featured.

“When we were brainstorming the show, we asked ourselves, ‘How about the women drivers?'” Marín said. “It’s so important to highlight this aspect of Formula One history.”

The collection represents something of a departure for Marín, who typically works on much larger canvases. “I was looking to do a different kind of show here,” he confided. “This intimate space at Marius has given me the opportunity to showcase work I rarely exhibit—pieces created exclusively for this venue.”

The exhibition forms part of Marius Monaco’s ambitious new ‘Art of Storytelling’ initiative, which aims to transform the restaurant into an evolving cultural space where selected artists can share narratives through immersive visual experiences.

See also: 

Artistic legacy unveiled: Cocteau-Moretti collaboration showcased at Marius

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.