THE SPANISH FILM THE PEOPLE UPSTAIRS (SENTIMENTAL) WINS THE FESTIVAL DE LA COMÉDIE IN MONTECARLO

THE 18th EDITION OF THE KERMESSE DIRECTED BY EZIO GREGGIO CONCLUDES SUCCESSFULLY

PRINCIPALITY OF MONACO,

31 MAY – 5 JUNE 2021

Grand finale of the 18th Monte-Carlo Film Festival de la Comédie, the event conceived and headed by Ezio Greggio, scheduled from 31 May to 5 June 2021 in the Principality of Monaco.

Here comes the verdict of the Jury composed of Raoul Bova (President), Mario de la Rosa, Giacomo Ferrara and Mario Sesti.

Ezio Greggio  Also in this edition, which we managed to conclude respecting all the health regulations of the moment, the final choice committed the jurors for the level and the quality of the eight films in competition, selected from over one hundred films. The verdict confirms that the Monte-Carlo Film Festival is an important, sought-after and prestigious international showcase. Indeed, the films from three of the six countries represented in this edition return home with at least one award: Spain, Israel and USA.

The Spanish film THE PEOPLE UPSTAIRS (Sentimental), directed by Cesc Gay, gets two awards, wins best film and best actress with the Argentinian actress Griselda Siciliani.

Adam Rehmeier is the best director for the comedy DINNER IN AMERICA.

The other USA film SWAN SONG, by Todd Stephens, wins best actor (to Udo Kier) and the Audience Award.

The Jury of the Monte-Carlo Film Festival wanted to reward the Israeli film HONEYMOOD by Talya Lavie with a special mention

In conclusion, in the section dedicated to short films the Short Comedy Award goes to WICHITA by Sergine Dumais (USA-Canada).

The reasons for the awards assigned at the 18th Monte-Carlo Film Festival de la Comédie are set out below.

BEST FILM: THE PEOPLE UPSTAIRS (Sentimental) by CESC GAY

For the quality of the writing and the virtuosity of the topics covered in a quartet of characters: the viewer never has the impression of being forced into the same place for almost two hours. In the absence of music, the voices of the actors lead the story throughout the film without ever abandoning the viewer’s attention. It is the effect of a direction which is as skilful as it is invisible.

BEST DIRECTION: ADAM REHMEIER for DINNER IN AMERICA

For the skill and empathy with which he follows the characters, alternating moments of violence and tenderness, anger and prostration, ecstasy and defeat. This punk comedy that closely describes the rebellion of outsiders and teenagers is an engaging stride that doesn’t hide the bittersweet tone with which it envelops the lives of the characters.

BEST ACTOR: UDO KIER for SWAN SONG (by Todd Stephens)

The story of a legendary hairdresser at the end of his life full of memories, wounds and regrets, fits perfectly the biography and the fame of a charismatic actor whose face appeared in the films of some of the greatest international authors: from Fassbinder to von Trier, from Dario Argento to Gus Van Sant. It is an honor to award this actor for one of his most subtle and convincing performances ever.

BEST ACTRESS: GRISELDA SICILIANI for THE PEOPLE UPSTAIRS (by Cesc Gay)

In a festival full of remarkable female interpretations, Griselda Siciliani plays her character in such an attractive way that you would be listening to her even after the end of the film. As in the technique of the great performers, her pauses and her gazes are as important as her lines in conveying to the viewer the heartbeat of desires, fears and dreams.

SPECIAL MENTION OF THE JURY: HONEYMOOD (by Talya Lavie)

For the elegance with which the film manages to touch many different shades of comedy: sentimental comedy, satire, absurd, musical.

AUDIENCE AWARD: SWANG SONG (by Todd Stephens)

SHORT COMEDY AWARD: WICHITA (by Sergine Dumais)

This year, among the short films that reached the final – each one original and very funny – the winner is WICHITA (USA/Canada), directed by Sergine Dumais. It tells the story of Sara, who receives an unexpected call from her husband while she’s sleeping with her lover. Sara becomes suspicious and she decides to gain time asking him endless questions about Wichita, in Kansas.

This section, introduced for the first time in the last edition, is entirely dedicated to short films and wants to enhance directors, actors, producers who make short film comedies

GALA EVENING AND AWARD-WINNERS

On the stage of the Grimaldi Forum in Monte-Carlo, the Film Festival de la Comédie celebrates the winners of this edition and many other great celebrities who are already part of the history of cinema. A prestigious gala evening scheduled today and hosted by Ezio Greggio, with international guests from television and cinema. The successful actor Chazz Palminteri (A Bronx Tale, The Usual Suspects, Analyze This, Modern Family), nominated for a an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in Woody Allen’s Bullets over Broadway and recently appeared in Godfather of Harlem, will come directly from the United States to receive the prestigious Movie Legend Award. Together with Palminteri, a great friend of his and admirer of the Montecarlo Film Festival, Nick Vallelonga (winner of two Academy Awards for Green Book), who chaired the jury of the Kermesse last year. Among the winners of this edition, the highly awaited Micaela Ramazzotti, multi-nominated for the David di Donatello Awards and winner for La Prima Cosa Bella, will be awarded for the prestigious Montecarlo Career Award. Other guests who will also take part at the evening of Gala: the host “par excellence”, Giancarlo Magalli; Ezio’s long-time partner in Striscia la notizia, behind the most famous desk of Italian TV, Enzo Iachetti; the Brazilian actress and model Desirée Popper; Antonia Truppo, Francesco Di Leva and Giovanni Esposito, the protagonists of the new Comedy Welcome at Esposito’s, which has been presented in world premiere in Montecarlo; Elisa Isoardi; the fascinating Elisabetta Gregoraci; the former football player Claudio Marchisio; the actress, presenter and writer Rocio Munos Morales, who will receive the Montecarlo Award for her female excellence, as a woman, mother, writer and model of empowerment. During the evening, the teen idol Leo Gassmann will perform, presenting his new single “Down”, after X-Factor participation and the victory of the Sanremo Music Festival of 2020, among newcomers.

The event has always been held under the High Patronage of S.A.S. Prince Albert II of Monaco and the Embassy of Italy, in partnership with EFG Bank (Monaco) and Marlù Gioielli. Like last year, Radio Monte Carlo is the official Radio of the Festival.

THE 18th