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Spain triumphant at Comedy Film Festival
2009-11-30 13:55
The 9th Comedy Film Festival, which has just ended in Monte Carlo, represented a huge victory for Spanish filmmakers. The prize for Best Film went to Spanish director Borja Cobeaga for his romantic comedy 'Pagafantas'... so far so good, but then the real comedy began....
A single movie, 'Gordos', by Daniel Sanchez Arévalo, scooped not only Best Actor, but also Best Actress and best screenplay! Too good to be true? In the defiant spirit of the Armada, it was left to the British to see off a complete routing, with an award for Best First Film going to Bruce Webb's 'The be all and end all'. Click below for a clip from his bittersweet comedy set in Liverpool (Warning - contains strong language):
The Monte-Carlo Comedy Festival was founded in 2001 by Italian film director Mario Monicelli, and it attracts entries from all over the world. This intimate event may not quite match the kudos of its big sister down the road in Cannes - but it is a great way of seeing some of the funniest new films on the European circuit, and unlike the major festivals, this one is open to members of the general publc.
This year's jury was chaired by the Italian director and actor Christian De Sica who awarded the prizes along with actresses Valerie Mairesse, Delphine Chanéac, Elena Bouryka and the Italian actor Massimo Ghini, at Monaco's Hotel de Paris.
The Lifetime achievement award was shared by French actress Michèle Mercier and Italian filmmaker Neri Parenti.
Full programme
Tuesday 24 Nov
11.30am – Press Conference – Salle Mistrau – Grimaldi Forum
7.45pm – "Gordos" directed by Daniel Sànchez Arévalo (Spain, 2009, 120’)
Wednesday 25 Nov
10.15am - “The be all and end all” directed by Bruce Webb (GB, 2009, 95’)
3pm – “Pagafantas” directed by Borja Cobeaga (Spain, 2009, 80’)
7.45pm – “Le bonheur de Pierre” directed by Robert Ménard (Canada, France, 2009, 106’)
Thursday 26 Nov
11am – “Cold souls” directed by Sophie Barthes (USA, 2009, 101’)
3pm – “Une chaîne pour deux” directed by Frédéric Ledoux (Belgium, 2008, 91’)
7.45pm – “Cado dalle nubi” directed by Gennaro Nunziante (Italy, 2009, 93’) (not in competition)
Friday 27 Nov
11am– “Cooking with Stella” directed by Dilip Mehta (Canada/ India, 2009, 103’)
3pm – “The last days of Emma Blank” directed by Alex Van Warmedam (Netherlands, Belgium, 2009, 90’)
7.45pm – “Up in the air” directed by Jason Reitman (USA, 2009, 108’) (not in competition)
Saturday 28 Nov
11.30am – Cocktail party – Hôtel De Paris
Announcement of winners by Ezio Greggio
TV and press interviews
8pm – Gala Evening
Presentation of prizes by Ezio Greggio
10pm Gala dinner