Comedy is a serious matter for Ezio Greggio
Ezio Greggio, founder and President of the Monte-Carlo Film Festival of Comedy (MCFF), met the international press to unveil the program of the 16thedition, to run from March 4-9, 2019 at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert, and the support of the Italian Embassy in Monaco.
Ezio was accompanied by the President of the Jury no other than famous Serbian director, actor and musician Emir Kusturica, who won the Palm d’Or in Cannes twice, the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, and a Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival for Black Cat, White Cat. The other prestigious members present were Sandra Milo, the iconic Italian star that worked with Fellini, Rossellini, Zampa, Molinaro, and Jean Renoir and charming French actress Mathilda May. Italian actor Edoardo Leo could not make it to the press conference. (Photo: Mathilda May, Emir Kusturica, Ezio Greggio, Sandra Milo, MCFF 2019 @ CelinaLafuentedeLavotha)
Among the distinguished guests were Italian actor, screenwriter, and film director Carlo Verdone, Italian comedian, director and writer Antonio Albanese, Italian director and screenwriter Paolo Genovese, famous American actor Michael Madsen, and Cristiano Gallo, Ambassador of Italy in Monaco.
The festival’s mission is to promote and create awareness about the various comedy genres presented through the screening of movie previews, meeting comedy experts, master classes, seminars and more.
The festival is divided into two main sections:
- Official Selection: Representing the festival’s main screening sections, with the projection of all movies in competition.
- Gala Screening: This section will present a limited number of films out of competition selected from the best comedy productions of the year, including films already presented in other festivals, that could also enter the competition as long as they have not won official awards in festivals similar to the MCFF of Comedy.
Program of films at the Grimaldi Forum
Film projections are free to the public and tickets should be retrieved from the Monaco Tourism Office.
Monday, March 4 at 19:45hs– Rebelles (out of competition – France 2019), directed by Allan Mauduit. Casting: Cecile de France, Yolande Moreau, and Audrey Lamy.
The theme is violence made to women told through the character of Sandra, a young woman who is obliged to leave the South of France to escape a violent husband. She moves to the village she was born and finds a job in a fish factory. But one day she is violently assaulted by a colleague and she kills him.
Tuesday, March 5
11:00hs– The world premiere of Le Mystere d’Henri Pick(in competition – France 2019), a film of Remi Bezancon with Fabrice Luchini, Camille Cottin, Alice Isaaz.
In a strange library in the heart of Brittany, a young editor finds an extraordinary manuscript and she decides to publish it. The novel becomes a bestseller, but the author, Henri Pick, a Breton pizza chef who died two years earlier, had never written anything besides a grocery list, according to his widow. Suspecting a literary hoax, a famed critic decides to investigate, with the unexpected help of the daughter of the mysterious Henri Pick.
15:30hs– The Story of a Summer Lover (in competition – Rumania 2018), directed by Paul Negoescu, Casting: Alexandru Papadopol, Nicoleta Lefter, Crina Semciuc.
Petru is a math professor at the Polytechnic University, and he has an open relationship with Irina, who agreed he can sleep with other women, but he wants to break up with her because he cannot achieve orgasm with her. One day Irina finds out she is pregnant, then Petru changes his mind and decides to commit to Irina, but she is not convinced of his intentions. In the meantime, Petru meets Sinziana, a girl he tutors for the math exam at the University.
19:45hs– Emma Peeters (in competition – Belgium 2018), directed by Nicole Palo. Casting: Fabrice Adde, Monica Chokri
Emma will soon be 35 and has yet to accomplish something. After years of hardship in Paris trying to become an actress, she has an idea; to end her life in a week’s time on her birthday. In the meantime, she meets Alex Bodart, an employee from a funeral home who will help her in her endeavor. Trying to hide their respective feelings, it seems they may succeed in reaching Emma’s goal.
Wednesday, March 6
11:00hs – Juliet, Naked (in competition – USA 2018), a film by Jesse Peretz with Ethan Hawke, Chris O’Dowd and Rose Byrne.
Annie is stuck in a rather tired long-term relationship with Duncan, an obsessive fan of obscure rocker Tucker Crowe. When the acoustic demo of Tucker’s hit record from 25 years ago surfaces, its release leads to a life-changing encounter with the elusive rocker himself. It is a comic account of life’s second chances.
15:30hs – Bad Poems (in competition – Hungary 2018) by Director Gabor Reisz, with Zsolt Kovacs, Katicxa Nagy, Gabor Reisz, and Katalin Takacs
A 33-years old Tamas Merthner is heartbroken, after girlfriend Anna, who is on a scholarship in Paris, breaks with him. He tries to figure out if love exists when it is practically gone, he begins to realize what makes this current society so confused, giving a highly subjective view of Hungary’s present.
19:45hs – Super Lopez(in competition – Spain 2018) by Javier Ruiz Caldera, with Alexandra Jimenez, Julian Lopez, Dani Rovira, and Maribel Verdu.
He has super-vision, he can fly, stop a subway train to prevent from derailing… and then returns to the office and make an effort to be normal. Juan Lopez does not know he is the carrier of a vital secret that could save the planet and that he runs the risk of revealing it to Luisa when an old childhood sweetheart appears.
Thursday, March 7
11:00hs – Tel Aviv on Fire (in competition – Luxembourg 2019) by Sameh Zoabi, with Lubna Azabal, Maisa Abd Elhadi, Kais Nashif
Salam, a young Palestinian man, becomes a writer of a popular soap opera after a chance meeting with an Israeli soldier. His creative career seems to be on the rise until the soldier and the show’s financial backers disagree about how the show should end, and Salma is caught in the middle.
15:30hs – An Unexpected Love (in competition –Argentina 2018) by Juan Vera, with Ricardo Darin and Mercedes Moran
After 25 years of marriage, Marcos and Ana question themselves about love, fidelity, the passing of time and the nature of desire; questions pushing them to take a decision that will change their future.
18:30hs – Salvatrice in honor of Sandra Milo (out of competition – Italy 2017) by Giorgia Wurth, with Sandra Milo and Giorgia Wurth
Elena Greco’s life journey begins in Tunis in 1933 and since then seems to be eternal. Success, love stories, incredible encounters, trials, spotlight, silences, and kebabs; this is the portrait of a woman who many believe to know but only a few have really understood: Sandra Milo.
19:45hs – King of Thieves (outside competition – England 2018) by James Marsh, with Charlie Cox, Michael Caine, Michael Gambon
Based on infamous true events, a famous thief, Brian Reader, pulls together a band of misfit criminals to plot the biggest bank heist in British history. The thieves manage to escape with allegedly over 200 million Pounds worth of stolen jewels and money. When police are called to the scene and investigation starts, the cracks between the eccentric gang members begin to show as they quarrel over how to share the goods and become increasingly distrustful of each other.
Friday, March 8
20:15hs – L’Uomo che compro la luna (The man who bought the moon) (outside competition – Italy 2018 ) by Paolo Zucca, with Jacopo Cullin, Stefano Fresi, Francesco Pannofino, and Benito Urgu, who will be present during the screening.
A Sardinian fisherman has promised the moon to the woman he loves. And Sardinian men always keep their promises.
Awards Ceremony & Gala
The 16thedition of the Monte-Carlo Film Festival of Comedywill culminate in style with the Awards Ceremony & Gala on Saturday, March 9 at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. Among the distinguished guests is worth mentioning American actor Michael Madsen, known for acting in Quentin Tarantino’s films, such as Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill, The Hateful Eight, and one of the protagonists of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood that will be released later this year.
Other celebrities to grace the red carpet will be actor Remo Girone, who will present the Popular Jury Prize; the director and actor Carlo Verdone; the actor and director Antonio Albanese; director and writer Paolo Genovese; actor Salvatore Esposito, known for his role of Genny Savastano in the successful TV series Gomorra. Plus international talented actors such as Andrea Ferreol, celebrated for his role in Le Dernier Metro; the famous TV presenter Gerry Scott; the presenter and showgirl Elenoire Casalegno; Edoardo Stoppa and his wife the Brazilian showgirl Juliana Moreira who will present the Gala together with Master of Ceremonies Ezio Greggio.
Today’s Quote
“Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious.”Peter Ustinov
Monaco Reporter 