Undaunted by the closure of its TV market, Monte Carlo is to launch its first ever film festival. The first edition, dedicated entirely to comedies, will run from November 19-24, 2001.

The festival is the brainchild of Ezio Greggio, impressario and head of event organiser WTT Company. While it has yet to announce an opening night film or unveil details of the line-up, the festival says that it will span a wide range of comedies: Sentimental, social, satire, political and light thrillers. Selection is headed by journalist and film writer Franco Cauli.

The event will be structured along three lines, a competition of films from Europe and beyond, a retrospective dedicated to authors and leading comedy stars and world premieres of films setting the trend in the comic genre.