The press conference was held, all eyes on the

MONTE-CARLO FILM FESTIVAL DE LA COMEDIE

from 25th to 30th April 2022 at the Grimaldi Forum

EZIO GREGGIO OFFICIALLY OPENS THE 19TH EDITION

“This Monte-Carlo Film Festival brings laughter, hope and a message of peace to the world”

Monte-Carlo 26/04/2022. The press conference to present the festival took place at the Monte Carlo Bay & Resort on Tuesday 26 April at 11:30 am. This year's jury was present with two-time Oscar winner Paul Haggis, in the role of president, supported by actors Tom Leeb, Clara Ponsot and Pierpaolo Spollon.

“From Monte-Carlo we send our signal of hope and a message of peace to the world, all of us united through comedy - said the creator and president of the Festival, Ezio Greggio, who added - This year the selection of films is dedicated to Monica Vitti, an icon and incredible character of Italian and international cinema”.

Jury president Paul Haggis echoes: “It is true that we will have a great week here in Monte-Carlo watching comedies, but it is important at this time to also remember the Ukrainian people who, ironically, are led by a former comedian.”

At the press conference, they talked about cinema, comedies, the selection of this edition and of course also about projects that closely concern the other members of the jury.

Tom Leeb: “I am also a musician as well as an actor and music allows me to express myself in another way. I definitely feel freer. I have inherited something from my father and his profession, but it is important that people judge me for who I am and what I do, not because I have a famous last name. I am writing a new screenplay and preparing a new album. And then there is a series called “Les Combattantes”, which will be released at the end of the year on Netflix”.

For Clara Ponsot and her career, Italy remains important: "I'm happy to be here for the Festival, it will be a great experience on the jury. My next project will be in France, but in Italy I have always worked with enthusiasm and I would go back to work with Emanuele Crialese, then I would like to work with Alice Rohrwacher, Matteo Garrone and Paolo Sorrentino".

Monday night, the out-of-competition film “Competencia Oficial” opened the screenings. The comedy written and directed by Gastón Duprat and Mariano Cohn, starring Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderas and Oscar Martinez, was widely applauded.

From Tuesday 26th to Thursday 28th April it is the turn of the eight films in competition. A high quality selection and in each comedy there are laughs, funny situations, but also stories from which the drama emerges.

All screenings take place in the Salle Camille Blanc de Grimaldi Forum, admission for the public is free and subject to availability. Infoline +377 99993000.

THE PROGRAM

Tuesday 26 April

4pm Film In Competition - Babysitter

8pm Film In Competition - Mamà o papà

Wednesday 27th April

11am Film In Competition - Irréductible

4pm Film In Competition - Ingenting A Le Av

8pm Film In Competition - The Black Square

Thursday 28th April

11am Film In Competition - Perfume de Gardenias

4pm Film In Competition - Miss Viborg

8pm Films in competition - A breath of fresh air c/o Grimaldi Forum

Friday 29th April

4pm Special Event - Tapirulàn

8pm Special Event - Leaving a day in Rome

Claudia Gerini and Edoardo Leo will be present for the two special events out of competition “Tapirulàn” and “Lasciarsi un giorno a Roma”, while Aldo Baglio, Lucia Ocone, Ludovica Martino and the director Alessio Lauria will be arriving for the cast of the film “Una boccata d'aria”.

ALL THE FILMS IN COMPETITION

Babysitter - European premiere by Monia Chockri - Canada, 2022, 88'

Film adaptation of the play of the same name written by Catherine Léger (also author of the screenplay) with Patrick Hivon, Monia Chokri, Nadia Tereszkiewicz, Steve Laplante.

Mamá o papá (You Keep the Kids) - international premiere Spain, 2021, 95'

Dani de la Orden, with Paco León, Miren Ibarguren, Laura Quirós, Sofía Oria, Iván Renedo, Eva Ugarte, Miquel Fernández, Berto Romero, Pedro Casablanc, Ester Exposito.

Irréductible (Employee of the month) - Monegasque preview by Jérôme Commandeur

France, 2021, 84'. With Jérôme Commandeur, Pascale Arbillot, Malik Bentalha, Karina Beuthe Orr, Nicole Calfan, Christian Clavier, Michel Crémadès, Éva Darlan, Gérard Darmon

Ingenting Å Le Av (Nothing to laugh about) - French premiere by Petter Næss

Norway, 2021, 70', with Odd-Magnus Williamson, Sara Khorami, Øystein Martinsen, Elisabeth Karoline Krüger.

Das Schwarze Quadrat (The Black Square) - international premiere of Peter Meister Germany, 2021, 95' with Bernhard Schüz, Sandra Hüller, Pheline Roggan, Jacob Matschenz.

Perfume de Gardenias - European premiere of Macha Colón - Puerto Rico - Colombia, 2021, 97'. With Luz María Rondón, Sharon Riley, Kara María, Carmen Nydia Velázquez, Flor Joglar de Gracia, Milagros Orkz, Abner Rivera.

Miss Viborg - international premiere by Marianne Blitcher - Denmark - Argentina, 2022, 100', with Ragnhild Kaasgaard, Isabella Møller Hansen, Kristian Halken

A breath of fresh air - world premiere by Alessio Lauria

Italy, 2022, 100' with Aldo Baglio, Lucia Ocone, Giovanni Calcagno, Ludovica Martino, Davide Calgaro. Produced by Matteo Rovere. A Groenlandia production with Rai Cinema.

AWARDS AND GALA EVENING

Grand finale on Saturday, April 30 with the gala evening and awards. Among the confirmed guests who will receive awards are Stefania Sandrelli and Luca Argentero.

The event, in collaboration with EFG Bank (Monaco), has always taken place under the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and the Italian Embassy. This year too, Radio Monte Carlo is the official Radio of the Festival.