H.S.H. Prince Albert II opens The Monaco 62nd Monte-Carlo Television Festival

The opening of the 62nd Monte-Carlo Television Festival  was hosted by Honorary President of the Festival, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco. The star-studded event taking place at the Grimaldi Forum featured a Red Carpet with world-renowned acting and creative talent from all over the world. “Our Festival continues to raise the bar each year. It is a real honour to have such a wealth of global talent, both in and out of competition, joining us to celebrate the incredible diversity of television across all genres," Laurent Puons, CEO of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival said. "We look forward to delivering an exciting and very special event this coming week in Monaco.” 

The juries for this year’s Golden Nymph Awards were introduced on stage in the Salle Des Princes, including Hollywood star John Goodman as President of the Fiction Jury and Emmy and Peabody award-winning documentarian Tom Jennings as President of the News and Documentaries Jury. 

Created to recognize rising talent, the International Golden Nymph for Most Promising Talent was presented to Julia de Nunez, French actress who recently played Brigitte Bardot in Bardot.  Best-selling author, Harlan Coben was presented with the Festival’s inaugural honorary diploma for his Outstanding Contribution to Global Literature, Arts and Entertainment. Harlan Coben is one of the world’s leading novelists, with 80 million books in print worldwide across his 35 titles, published in 45 languages. 

Invited guests from Monaco and across the globe were then able to screen the world premiere of the first episode of the 8-part drama series, "Harlan Coben’s Shelter." Based on the bestselling series by Harlan Coben, Harlan Coben’s Shelter follows the story of Mickey Bolitar after the sudden death of his father leads him to start a new life in Kasselton, New Jersey. Bolitar quickly finds himself tangled in the mysterious disappearance of a new student at his school. Harlan Coben and Allen MacDonald serve as co-showrunners and executive producers along with Ed Ornelas. Charlotte Coben is a producer. 

"This year is particularly special for me, for my family and for the people of Monaco, as 2023 marks the centenary celebration of the birth of my father, Prince Rainier III," H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco said. "My father was among the first to recognize the incredible capacity and power of television to entertain, inform and educate people throughout the world. By creating the Monte-Carlo Television Festival in 1961, he pledged to honor the outstanding women and men who build cultural bridges between countries throughout the world."