Festival’s grand cru edition

Another grand cru edition of the Monte-Carlo Film Festival of Comedy culminated with the Awards Gala on Sunday, March 6, 2016, at the Salle des Princes at the Grimaldi Forum, marvelously conducted by its Founder and President, Ezio Greggio, accompanied by beautiful Ariadna Romero, a Cuban model and actress naturalized Italian. All the prizes had been officially selected by a prestigious Jury presided by well known Italian film director Gabriele Muccino, and distinguished members American actor Robert John Davi, Afghan filmmaker Barmark Akram and French journalist Vincent Le Leurch.

Ezio Greggio introduces the award ceremony held at Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, March 6th, 2016. @ Marco Piovanotto

Ariadna Romero assistant to Ezio Gregg on stage ceremony held at Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, March 6th, 2016. @ Marco Piovanotto

All the winners on the stage at the end of the award ceremony , held at Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, March 6th, 2016. @ Marco Piovanotto

Earlier in the week Gabriele Muccino received the Special Award of the MCFFC directly from HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. “I am really happy to be back on the stage of this Festival. The Prince said: “My congratulations to the organizer Ezio Greggio and the whole team, for this wonderful initiative that we welcome with pleasure in the Principality on this 13^th edition, wishing all the success.” 

Prince Albert II of Monaco, Ezio Greggio attending the screening of the movie “Marie et les naufrages” held at the Theatres des Varietes Monaco, March 2nd, 2016. Photo by Marco Piovanotto

Prince Albert II of Monaco giving the the Career Award to Gabriele Muccino before the screening of the movie “Marie et les naufrages” held at the Theatres des Varietes Monaco, March 2nd, 2016. Photo by Marco Piovanotto

The Life Achievement awards were attributed to: Claude Brasseur, Claudia Cardinale, Dante Ferretti, Francesca Lo Schiavo and Billy Zane. Cristiana Capotondi and Madalina Ghenea received the Monte-Carlo Film Festival Award 2016. Paul Belmondo received the Special Prize of the MCFFC for his documentary Belmondo by Belmondo coproduced with Regis Mardon.

Claude Brasseur wins the career award of the 13th MCFFC. Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, March 6th, 2016. @ Marco Piovanotto

Claudia Cardinale wins the career award of the 13th Monte Carlo Festival of the comedy. Award ceremony held at Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, March 6th, 2016. @ Marco Piovanotto

Dante Ferretti, Francesca Lo Schiavo win the career award of the 13th Monte Carlo Festival of the comedy. Award ceremony held at Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, March 6th, 2016. @ Marco Piovanotto

Billy Zane wins the career award of the 13th Monte Carlo Festival of the comedy. The award ceremony has been held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, March 6th, 2016. Photo by Marco Piovanotto

Cristiana Capotondi wins the Monte-Carlo Film Festival Award 2016 during award ceremony held at Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, March 6th, 2016. @ Marco Piovanotto

Madalina Ghenea wins the Monte-Carlo Film Festival Award 2016 during award ceremony held at Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, March 6th, 2016. @ Marco Piovanotto

Paul Belmondo wins the special mention award for the movie ‘Belmondo par Belmondo’ at award ceremony held at Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, March 6th, 2016. @ Marco Piovanotto

Special prize for film music was awarded by the Artistic Committee of the MCFFC, to Andrea Bocelli and producer Tony Renis (photo right), who with the album “Cinema” climbed the summit of the world charts.

The album includes the music from the grand movie classics like Maria (West Side Story), Moor River (Breakfast at Tiffany), Lara’s Song (Doctor Zhivago) and many others.

And the winners are…

Best Film – Anacleto Secret Agent  – Adolfo has a very quite boring life until he discovers his father is a secret agent. A wild action movie by director Javier Ruiz Caldera, Spain.

Best Director – Anders Thomas Jensen (Men & Chicken) – Denmark

Best Actor – Quim Gutierrez (Anacleto Secret Agent) – Spain

Best Actress – Mónika Balsai (Liz, the Fox-Fairy) – Hungary

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liza,_the_Fox-Fairy

Public Prize – The Legend of Barney Thompson (Robert Carlyle) – UK

Special Mention was discerned to Jean-Jacques Rausin for his interpretation in the film Death by Death – Belgium-France

Forever Young – A very funny film that will make you laugh until you cry! 

The 2016 Italian film Forever Young by Fausto Brizzi, that was out of competition, was screened in avant premiere on Friday, March 4, 2016, in the presence of the director and members of the cast.

Francesco Sole, TEo Teocoli, Fausto Brizzi, Ezio Greggio and Lorenza Indovina @CelinaLafuenteDeLavotha

Ezio Greggio, Francesco Sole, Teo Teocoli and Fausto Brizzi @CelinaLafuenteDeLavotha

Under the premises that today no on follows a dream anymore, not an ideal, not even money, because everyone is looking for his or her lost youth!  If you are young your “in”, if you are old you are “out”. This is the story of a group of people “forever young”, set in Italy nowadays but with life situations that could happen in any country in the world. A very witty film that will make you laugh until you cry!

Today’s quote

“Comedy just pokes at problems, rarely confronts them squarely. Drama is like a plate of meat and potatoes; comedy is rather the dessert, a bit like meringue.” Woody Allen