A 17th grand cru edition
The 17th edition of the prestigious Monte-Carlo Comedy Film Festival culminated successfully this past Saturday, October 10, 2020 at the Grimaldi Forum, with a glamorous gala and awards ceremony. (Photo below: MCFFC2020 Gala @Rosanna Calo)
When you smile the world smiles at you
Congratulations to Ezio Greggio and his team for their endeavors in organizing the Comedy Festival during these difficult times, when people need to smile and have a laugh, amid so many restrictions and constraints to our livelihood.
Talking about smiling, you would agree with me that the Mona Lisa is one of the most famous paintings ever, and maybe the answer is due to her distinctive smile. Scientists have concluded that the smile is a symbol rated with the highest positive emotional content. Smiling stimulates our brain’s reward mechanism that is not matched even by chocolate. Smiling reduces stress that your body and mind feel according to recent studies, and leads to decrease stress-induced hormones. There are many articles on the benefits of smiling, below is just one of them.
Current health recommendations make people wear masks that cover smiles. So I ask myself, are masks really effective in protecting our physical and psychological health? I personally don’t believe so. By no means, if you feel safe wearing a mask let it be your choice, but I prefer to wear my smile.
German film Nightlife received four awards
The jury, presided by two-times Oscar winner Nick Vallelonga, joined by the brilliant Sabrina Impacciatore, the Dutch actress Lotte Verbeek and the talented Spanish actress Maggie Civantos, selected the 2020 winners.
The awards for Best Film, Best Director, the Public Award and a Special Mention for the whole cast went to the German film Nightlife of Simon Verhoeven.
The movie tells the story of bartender Milo (Elyas M’Bark) who meets the woman of his dreams, Berlin native Sunny (Palilna Rojinski), and decides to set up a date. Everything seems to be going well, but when Milo’s chaotic friend Renzo (Frederick Lau) shows up, the romantic evening turns into a succession of misunderstandings against the backdrop of Berlin’s nightlife.
https://cineuropa.org/en/videoembed/386126/rdid/384865/
Best actress went to Candelà Pena in the film La Boda de Rosa (The Marriage of Rosa) directed by Icìar Bollain, for her extraordinary performance as a woman of 45 who realizes that she has always lived her life in relation to others, and decides to leave everything behind and realize the dream of opening her own business.
The prize for Best Actor goes to the Italian Nando Paone for Il ladro di Cardellini by Carlo Luglio. Paone plays the role of an old ranger who spends his days between alcohol and video poker, in the countryside of the Campania region in southern Italy. To pay off his debts, he organizes a scam with 200 purebred white goldfinches, replacing them with normal goldfinches. But his plan will not go as planned.
The French film Cash Stash by Enya Baroux and Martin Darondeau won the first Short Comedy Award.
The following celebrities were recognized with Special Awards during the Gala evening.
Monte-Carlo Film Festival Award – Maggie Civantos, Sabrina Impacciatore and Andrea Morricone (Photo below: Andrea Morricone with Romina Pierdomenico and Ezio Greggio ©RosannaCalò)
Career Award – French filmmaker Patrice Leconte. In the photo below Patrice Leconte, Ezio Greggio and Kate Katzman ©RosannaCalò.
Actor of the Future Award – Italian actor Alessio Lapice
King of Comedy Award – Italian actor Nino Frassica
Legend Award – Jury President Nick Vallelonga
Today’s Quote
If you find it hard to laugh at yourself, I would be happy to do it for you. Groucho Marx
Monaco Reporter 