On Friday evening, the 65th Monte-Carlo Television Festival was officially opened under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco during the traditional Opening Ceremony held at the Grimaldi Forum. Celebrating 65 years of television excellence and international audiovisual creativity, this landmark anniversary edition began with an elegant Blue Carpet welcoming acclaimed talent, creators and industry professionals from around the world.
Host Genie Godula opened the evening by introducing the juries of the prestigious Golden Nymph Awards.
This year, the Festival welcomes an outstanding international jury composed of leading figures from the global audiovisual industry.
The Fiction Jury is chaired by acclaimed British actress Lesley Manville CBE and includes Kevin McKidd (Scotland), Greg Daniels (United States), Hojin Kwon (South Korea), Frédérique Bel (France) and Yasmin Finney (United Kingdom).
The Feature Reports & News Jury is chaired by American filmmaker and director Joshua Seftel and includes Mouhssine Ennaimi (France), Hélène Mannarino (France) and Margo Smit (The Netherlands).
The Digital Jury is chaired by Susanne Daniels, former Global Head of Original Content at YouTube (United States), alongside award-winning writer, producer and director Luke Hyams (United Kingdom) and actor and content creator Morgan Niquet (France).
The official launch of this new competition marks an important milestone in the Festival’s history. Created to recognise the most innovative original digital formats, the Digital Competition reflects the Festival’s commitment to embracing evolving viewing habits, emerging platforms and new forms of storytelling shaping today’s audiovisual landscape.
Through their expertise and diverse professional backgrounds, the jury members reflect the richness and evolution of contemporary television and audiovisual creation.
H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco then officially declared the 65th edition of the Festival open in the presence of industry professionals, creators, journalists and television fans from around the world.
The International Golden Nymph for Most Promising Talent was awarded to Spanish actress Ester Expósito. Having first gained worldwide recognition through the hit series Elite, she has established herself as one of the most influential and exciting talents of her generation on the international stage.
The Festival also paid tribute to Michel Drucker, who received the Honorary Nymph Award in recognition of an extraordinary career and his exceptional contribution to television history. For more than six decades, he has accompanied the evolution of French-language television and remains one of its most iconic and beloved personalities.
The prestigious Crystal Nymph was awarded to Dame Kristin Scott Thomas in recognition of her outstanding contribution to television and screen storytelling throughout an illustrious international career. As an actress, director and screenwriter, she has captivated audiences worldwide through a body of work spanning both European and international productions.
The Festival also presented the international premiere of the first two episodes of The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 3, produced by AMC Studios.
Actors Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Lauren Cohan, together with showrunner Seth Hoffman, joined Festival audiences in Monaco to unveil the highly anticipated new chapter of one of television’s most successful franchises.
Set in a post-apocalyptic Manhattan cut off from the mainland, The Walking Dead: Dead City follows Maggie and Negan as they navigate a city filled with danger, power struggles and unexpected alliances. The series has become one of the flagship titles of The Walking Dead Universe, captivating audiences worldwide.
H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco stated:
“65 years later, the ambition of the Festival remains more relevant than ever. It continues to promote an industry in perpetual transformation, while remaining faithful to its essence : celebrating stories and outstanding individuals capable of moving, questioning, enlightening and informing.”
Laurent Puons, General Manager of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival, commented:
“As we celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Festival, we are proud to continue bringing together the very best of international television in Monaco. This milestone edition reflects both the heritage of the Festival and the extraordinary dynamism of today’s audiovisual industry.”
Cécile Menoni, Executive Director of the Festival, added:
“This opening sets the tone for an exceptional anniversary edition celebrating both the Festival’s remarkable legacy and the future of audiovisual creation. The presence of Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, Michel Drucker, Ester Expósito and the teams behind The Walking Dead: Dead City perfectly reflects the diversity, international reach and creative excellence that define the Festival.
Over the coming days, audiences, professionals and media representatives will have the opportunity to discover the programmes in competition, attend screenings, public events, talent encounters and Business Forum sessions, before the prestigious Golden Nymph Awards Ceremony brings this landmark 65th edition to a close on 16 June.”
