Cinema returns to explore the world through light-hearted storytelling, irony and the universal power of laughter. From November 11 to 14, 2026, the Principality of Monaco will host the 23rd edition of the Monte-Carlo Film Festival de la Comédie, the only international festival entirely dedicated to comedy, founded and chaired by Ezio Greggio. Four days of screenings, international premieres and meetings with leading figures from European and American cinema will take place at the prestigious Grimaldi Forum.

Eight feature films, including seven in competition and one out of competition, together with four short films, make up a selection spanning different cultures, generations and perspectives. From social satire to relationships, family tensions and contemporary contradictions, comedy once again proves to be a powerful way of looking at reality, addressing even its most complex aspects with intelligence and irony.

Monte-Carlo Film Festival 2026: the programme, premieres and international stars

The festival opens on Wednesday, November 11, at the Grimaldi Forum with the world premiere of “Un Weekend Artificiale”, the latest film by Leonardo Pieraccioni, screened out of competition at 3 pm.

The Italian director and actor, who has entertained audiences for decades with his distinctive comic style, turns his attention this time to one of today’s most topical issues: artificial intelligence.

The story follows Leonardo, a hairdresser from Florence who receives an invitation to spend a weekend in a dream villa with six other strangers. What initially seems like an exclusive getaway soon turns into an unusual experiment: one of the guests is an AI-powered humanoid, and the group must figure out who it is. Suspicion, misunderstandings, emotions and unexpected twists follow.

Behind the comedy lies a broader reflection on what makes us human and on the importance of genuine feelings, relationships and emotions in an increasingly technology-driven world.

The seven films in competition at the Monte-Carlo Film Festival

The international competition features seven feature films from Spain, Italy, the United States, Germany and France, including several international premieres.

“Altas Capacidades” by Víctor García León – Spain

Screened on November 11 at 8 pm as an international premiere, the film follows Alicia and Gonzalo, a middle-class couple who see their son Fer’s admission to an elite private school as an opportunity to enter a more privileged social environment. Torn between ambition, moral principles and the desire for social advancement, the couple must confront their own contradictions and discover how far they are willing to go to climb the social ladder.

“Pizza Movies” by Carlo Padial – Spain

On November 12 at 10.45 am, the festival presents the international premiere of this satire of unlikely entrepreneurial dreams, starring Judit Martín and Berto Romero.

A struggling film critic decides to open a cinema-themed pizzeria, recruiting a group of cash-strapped cinephile colleagues as delivery riders. A comedy about professional ambitions, precarious working conditions and the challenges of turning one’s passions into a successful business.

“Dov’è la Fiesta?” by Niccolò Gentili – Italy

Also on November 12, at 2.45 pm, the festival presents the international premiere of this Italian comedy starring Francesco Carril and Linda Cariddi.

Leo and Irene have been dating for three months, but have yet to find the courage to define their relationship. On the very evening they finally decide to talk about it, an unexpected incident turns everything upside down: Leo’s brand-new car is stolen outside Irene’s home.

The theft triggers a hectic and unpredictable week involving police stations, insurance companies, flatmates, security guards, thieves, fathers and nuns. A series of chaotic events in which losing a car might just lead to finding love.

“The Invite” by Olivia Wilde – United States

One of the festival’s most anticipated screenings takes place on November 12 at 7.45 pm with the Monte-Carlo premiere of “The Invite”, directed by Olivia Wilde and starring Wilde herself, Penélope Cruz, Edward Norton and Seth Rogen.

Angela and Joe’s marriage is going through a difficult period. When they invite their mysterious upstairs neighbours over for dinner, the evening takes an unexpected turn.

The film is an American reinterpretation of “Sentimental” by Cesc Gay, the comedy that won the Best Comedy Award at the Monte-Carlo Film Festival in 2021.

“Agnes & Amir” by Helena Hufnagel – Germany

On November 13 at 2.45 pm, the festival presents the international premiere of this film starring Bardo Böhlefeld and Katharina Thalbach.

The story centres on the encounter between Agnes, a lonely elderly German woman, and Amir, a young Iranian man who has fled his homeland, where he faces imprisonment because of his homosexuality.

Two people from very different backgrounds form an unexpected bond in a bittersweet story that addresses the plight of refugees, loneliness in Western society and the importance of human connection, with tenderness and a healthy dose of irony.

“Camembert” by Matthieu Rumani and Nicolas Slomka – France

One of the festival’s highlights, “Camembert”, will receive its world premiere on November 13 at 10.45 am. The film stars Kristin Scott Thomas and Guillermo Guiz.

Scott Thomas plays a cold and intense mother in a comedy where an apparently harmless family board game brings underlying tensions to the surface. What begins as a simple pastime becomes an opportunity to expose social and class divisions in a sharply observed and biting comedy.

“È andata così” by Gianni Zanasi – Italy

The competition programme concludes on November 13 at 7.45 pm with “È andata così”, an Italian comedy directed by Gianni Zanasi and starring Valentina Lodovini, Valerio Mastandrea and Michele Riondino.

Cecilia unexpectedly finds herself forced to share an isolated farmhouse in the countryside with the three most important men in her life. Between social workers, escaped cats, a loan shark waiting outside her home and mysterious apparitions, she becomes caught up in a series of unpredictable events.

A story that combines humour and emotion, inviting its protagonist to rediscover the freedom of accepting life as it comes.

Short Comedy Award 2026: four short films exploring humour and human vulnerability

Alongside the feature films, the Monte-Carlo Film Festival de la Comédie also shines a spotlight on short-form cinema with the Short Comedy Award 2026.

Four short films explore everyday situations through comic, surreal and emotionally engaging storytelling.

The screenings will take place on Wednesday, November 11, starting at 7 pm, with all four films shown consecutively.

“Zohra sans permis” by Pierre-Loup Docteur – France (20 minutes)

Seventy-year-old Zohra lives alone in an isolated country house and has one clear goal: to get her driving licence.

Despite her driving instructor’s deep scepticism, she refuses to give up on her dream of getting behind the wheel of her husband’s old Alfa Romeo. A story about determination and the desire to embrace new challenges at any age.

“Please Hold” by Donald McQuade – United States (8 minutes 20 seconds)

A peaceful morning, a newly delivered toaster and a customer service line that seems impossible to reach.

Mr Schultz discovers that his brand-new appliance does not work and calls customer support for help. Soon, he finds himself trapped in an endless maze of automated menus and hold music. His increasingly chaotic attempts to solve the problem trigger a chain reaction that turns an ordinary breakfast into a domestic disaster.

“Olive” by India Santella – Italy (17 minutes 15 seconds)

A family Christmas dinner becomes an emotional trap for Anita, a young woman who has just discovered that her partner has been unfaithful.

The family home, which should be a safe haven, instead becomes a reflection of a hypocritical society obsessed with appearances and lacking empathy. A short film that explores family dynamics and contemporary social contradictions.

“Serenade” by Eulalie Elsker – France (11 minutes 30 seconds)

Lilette, a florist who has spent her entire life in Marseille, receives an unexpected phone call at her shop from Paolo, a 22-year-old professional swimmer she has never met.

Just before the European Swimming Championships, the young athlete suffers a panic attack and feels an overwhelming need to speak to her. His unusual request also sparks the jealousy of Lilette’s husband Marcel, who is determined to uncover the truth behind the mysterious phone call.

Monte-Carlo Film Festival Awards Gala: November 14 at the Grimaldi Forum

The 23rd edition of the Monte-Carlo Film Festival de la Comédie will culminate on Saturday, November 14, with the highly anticipated Awards Gala, hosted at the prestigious Grimaldi Forum.

The evening will bring the festival to a close, celebrating the films and artists featured in the 2026 edition.

Tickets for the Awards Gala cost €50 per person and can be purchased through the festival’s official website: www.montecarlofilmfestival.com.

Admission to film screenings from November 11 to 13 is free of charge, subject to availability and while seats last. All screenings will take place in the Salle Camille Blanc at the Grimaldi Forum.

Monte-Carlo Film Festival: comedy as a reflection of contemporary society

Held under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and the Embassy of Italy, the Monte-Carlo Film Festival de la Comédie renews its international mission in 2026, confirming its position as an event dedicated to a cinematic genre that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries.

From social ambitions to romantic relationships, from financial difficulties to loneliness and the challenges brought about by technological change, the selected films portray an imperfect, contradictory and deeply recognisable humanity.

Because laughter does not necessarily mean turning away from reality. Sometimes, comedy is precisely what allows us to look more clearly at our vulnerabilities, fears and contradictions.

This is the spirit of the 23rd edition of the Monte-Carlo Film Festival de la Comédie: four days of international cinema in Monaco, celebrating intelligence, irony and the art of seeing life from a lighter perspective.