Red carpets, international film stars, and a star-studded jury are coming to the Principality this autumn. From 11th to 14th November, the Grimaldi Forum plays host to the 23rd Monte-Carlo Film Festival de la Comédie, a four-day celebration of global cinema spearheaded by founder and director Ezio Greggio.
Held under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II and the Italian Embassy, the festival aims to elevate comedy across all formats, offering premieres both in and out of competition to bring renewed critical recognition to a genre often overlooked by mainstream film institutions.
International jury to chair competition
This year’s international judging panel brings together prominent figures from film, television, and entertainment. Italian director, writer, and screenwriter Fausto Brizzi, David di Donatello winner for Notte prima degli esami and director of Maschi contro femmine, and Quasi Vera, will preside as jury president.
Joining Brizzi on the panel are French actor, director, and former Formula 1 driver Paul Belmondo (L’Itinéraire d’un enfant gâté), Spanish-Italian actress and presenter Vanessa Incontrada (Il cuore altrove), and actress and director Yvonne Sciò (The Pink Panther).
Together, the panel will evaluate a selection of international, Italian, and French feature films, focusing on artistic quality, original storytelling, and technical craft.
Short Comedy Award and festival lineup
Alongside the main feature competition, the festival marks the return of the Short Comedy Award. The dedicated short-film section provides a platform for emerging directors, actors, and producers to present concise comedic works designed to entertain while offering subtle social reflection.
The initiative builds on the festival’s broader legacy of reshaping how comedy is integrated into major global circuits, including festivals in Cannes, Rome, Turin, and Venice.
Gala night and guest appearances
The festival concludes on Saturday 14th November with its traditional awards gala. Highlights of the evening will include appearances by César Award-winning French director Luc Besson (Léon: The Professional, The Fifth Element) and three-time David di Donatello-winning Italian actor and director Sergio Castellitto (The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian).
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Ezio Greggio, founder and director of the Monte-Carlo Film Festival de la Comédie. Photo credit: Riccardo Ghilardi