From 12th to 15th November 2025, the Monte-Carlo Film Festival de la Comédie celebrates the art of laughter at the Grimaldi Forum, honouring comedy as cinema’s most human craft.
Comedy has long been cinema’s underestimated sibling – capable of insight and precision, yet too often overlooked when the awards are handed out. The Monte-Carlo Film Festival de la Comédie has spent more than two decades correcting that imbalance. Returning for its 22nd edition this November, it continues to give wit and laughter the red-carpet treatment they deserve.
Founded by Ezio Greggio and the late Mario Monicelli, the festival is the only event of its kind dedicated entirely to comedy – from biting satire to heartfelt farce. Greggio still presides with the same conviction that first shaped the festival’s mission: to recognise humour as a vital form of storytelling, not a diversion from it.
The 2025 Edition: Global Voices, Monaco Glamour
This year’s programme runs from 12th to 15th November at the Grimaldi Forum. Under the guidance of actress-director Claudia Gerini as Jury President and screen legend Franco Nero as Honorary President, the festival will feature seven films in official competition, alongside a Short Comedy Award and several out-of-competition previews.
Submissions span continents and tones – the sly, the romantic, the ridiculous – reaffirming Monte-Carlo’s role as comedy’s most cosmopolitan stage. Workshops and masterclasses round out the schedule, exploring the craft and rhythm of laughter across cultures.
More Than Just Glamour
Yes, it’s Monaco – there will be tuxedos, champagne, and sea views. But the Monte-Carlo Comedy Film Festival’s real draw is substance. Its curators consistently champion films that make audiences laugh and think, that use humour to reflect on society rather than distract from it.
It’s this balance – refinement with irreverence – that keeps the festival relevant and respected across Europe’s crowded festival landscape. Where Cannes celebrates gravitas, Monte-Carlo celebrates grace under laughter.
Public screenings, open-access galas, and lively Q&A sessions make this festival surprisingly welcoming. Locals and visitors alike can rub shoulders with international talent at the Grimaldi Forum, where laughter echoes against the sea.
The Monte-Carlo Film Festival de la Comédie Gala Finale
The four-day celebration concludes with the Grand Gala on Saturday, 15th November, an evening of awards, live performances, and Riviera spectacle. Headlining the festivities: a performance from the next-generation Gipsy Kings, ensuring the festival ends on a note of rhythm and joy. The Gala is a ticketed affair and tickets may be reserved online.
Why It Matters
At a time when global cinema leans toward either the painfully serious or the cynically commercial, Monte-Carlo’s comedy festival remains an elegant middle ground – proof that humour, handled with intelligence, can illuminate life as vividly as any drama.
FESTIVAL INFORMATION
Event: Monte-Carlo Film Festival de la Comédie 2025
Dates: 12th – 15th November, 2025
Venue: Grimaldi Forum Monaco
Director: Ezio Greggio
Jury President: Claudia Gerini
Honorary President: Franco Nero
Gala Tickets: montecarloticket.com
CONTACT DETAILS
Grimaldi Forum Monaco
10 Av. Princesse Grâce
98000 Monaco
Tel: +377 99 99 20 00
All images courtesy Monte-Carlo Film Festival de la Comédie except lead image courtesy FilmFreeway
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