It’s officially started yesterday evening the 56th Festival de la Télévision de Monte-Carlo.

Originally created by Prince Rainier III of Monaco, and now under the Honorary Presidency of Prince Albert II of Monaco, the Monte-Carlo Télévision Festival has, for more than half a century, presented the very best of television from around the world. The Festival has also been at the forefront in showcasing the highly talented professionals associated with many of the most successful programs in the history of the medium. With an international overview, the Festival is considered a must attend annual event in the global content diary. Celebrities, producers, directors, writers and heads of studios, networks and digital platforms gather in June every year to attend series launches, premier screenings, conferences, master classes, industry workshops, interactive and immersive demo experiences, press activities, public events, VIP meetings and signing sessions. Culminating with a unique competition, which celebrates and honours fiction, news and current affairs programming with the prestigious Golden Nymph Awards, The Monte-Carlo Television Festival has been recognized as one of the finest Festivals in the world, enhanced even further by its location in the magical Principality of Monaco.

After a drink hosted in the Lounge Room at Grimaldi Forum, guests moved to the Grimaldi Forum Theatre for the ceremony where H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and H.S.H. Princess Charlene officially opened the 56^th Festival de Télévision de Monte-Carlo.

Presidents and members of the 2016 Golden Nymphs juries were introduced on stage.

The Fiction Jury, headed by actor, director and producer Jason Priestley includes also Golden Globe and two-time Emmy nominated Rola Bauer, television actress Stepfanie Kramer (Hunter), multi-award winning drama producer and Carnival Films CEO Gareth Neame, acclaimed theatre-film-tv actor Aurélien Recoing (Blue is the Warmest Colour) and one of Japan’s most highly regarded film and tv actors Hiroyuki Sanada (The Wolverine).

Also on stage the News Jury headed by Hollywood actor, producer and humanitarian Danny Glover.

In the jury Rosa Maria Calaf  (journalist, news anchor and correspondent), Yasmina Farber (journalist and award winner director), Nils Hanson (renowned investigative journalist and editor of SVT’s internationally successful Mission Investigate), Daisuke Koyama (senior producer at NHK Japan and International Emmy award winner) and Francoise Laborde (journalist, writer and presenter, president of charity Pour les Femmes dans les Medias).

During the night, leading actress Marg Helgenberger was awarded with the Crystal Nymph.

Marg Helgenberg starred as C.S.I. analyst Catherine Willows in C.S.I. Crime Scene Investigation for twelve seasons winning two Primetime Emmy.

The 56^th Opening Ceremony ended with the Special Screening of the first episode of Dick Wolf’s hit US drama series Chicago Med, the third instalment in the acclaimed Chicago brand after Chicago Fire and Chicago PD.

Before the screening, Chicago Med stars Torrey DeVitto, Colin Donnell and Brian Tee went on stage for a quick presentation of the series alongside Executive Producer Dick Wolf.

In attendance of the evening also Gethin Anthony (Aquarius); Alana De La Garza (Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders); Darin Brooks, Scott Clifton, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, John McCook and Rena Sofer (The Bold and the Beautiful); Jack Falahee (How to Get Away With Murder); Victor Garber (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow); Thomas Gibson (Criminal Minds); Martin Henderson and Kevin McKidd (Grey’s Anatomy); Thomas Lennon (The Odd Couple) and Stella Maeve and Jason Ralph (The Magicians).

Laurent Puons, CEO, said:“We are very pleased to welcome a host of television’s most renowned production and acting talent to the Grimaldi Forum tonight as we launch our 56th edition. Over the next four days the Monte-Carlo Television Festival will present a truly global celebration of the best in programming and the talent that brings it to our screens – including the launch of the inaugural ConTech Academy, as well as our prestigious juries selecting this year’s Golden Nymph honourees from an exceptional and diverse line-up of international content”.