Hot! The First Monaco Film Festival Finds Its Place In Singapore

Monaco Film Festival

CONTENT: Yue Jie
IMAGES: Monaco Film Festival

The very first edition of the Monaco Film Festival in Asia has ended as quickly as it came, in a short span of just 9 days. Held from 14 to 22 October 2017 in Singapore, the French-speaking country showcased a selection of 13 films that were either shot partly or mostly in Monaco in the last 70 years. With a range of genres from thriller, action and documentary, there was something for everyone to watch and enjoy.

Most notable in the lineup is the 1955 romantic thriller “To Catch a Thief” directed by renowned British director Alfred Hitchcock. Based on a novel of the same name and set in the French Riviera, the film starred Cary Grant and Grace Kelly in its leading roles. It also won the Oscar for Best Cinematography but is best known for the fact that Kelly wed the Prince Rainier III of Monaco just a year after the film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.

To Catch a Thief

Perhaps also best known for its history with the world of motorsport, Monaco is considered the grandfather of all Formula 1 Grand Prix, having run the races since 1929. That’s where the 1966 drama film “Grand Prix” comes into the picture. Among one of the ten highest grossing films of that year, this picture also has three Academy Awards to its name. Thus it comes as no surprise that it finds itself among the eclectic mix of films this year.

Last but not least, for starters there is even the likes of American animated comedy “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted” among the lineup of movies to cater to children and the mainstream crowd. So clearly not everything is an indie or art house flick.

With the success of the festival’s inaugural entry in Singapore this year, there is likely to be a very good chance we can look forward to a second edition of the Monaco Film Festival in 2018.

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