Monte-Carlo TV Festival Opens with Peace Treaty Doc

MONTE CARLO: Back Door Channels: The Price of Peace, an original documentary that spotlights the landmark 1979 peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, officially kicked off the 49th annual Monte-Carlo Television Festival last night.

This is the first time the Monte-Carlo Television Festival opened with a documentary film. Back Door Channels: The Price of Peace provides a look at the intrigue and egos behind the Israel and Egypt treaty, which was recently put to the test as violence erupted along their borders with the conflict in Gaza. The doc spotlights the role that unofficial back channels of communications, often through third-party countries and private businessmen, played in securing the peace between Israel and Egypt.

During the opening ceremony at Monte Carlo’s Grimaldi Forum, H.S.H. Prince Albert II introduced jury members who will screen the nominated entries and designate the recipients of this year’s Golden Nymph Awards. This year’s jury presidents are Chuck Lorre (Two and a Half Men, Big Bang Theory), Joseph Sargent and Jo Baier. The event runs through June 11.

The CEO of the festival, David Tomatis, said: “We are delighted to open this year’s festival with a film dedicated to the Peace Treaty as Camp David celebrates its 30th anniversary. The film reveals the untold story behind the landmark peace between Israel and Egypt and its message is as impactful today as it was in 1979. We are also very pleased to welcome members of the various festival juries who will be screening television programming from all corners of the world in Monaco this week. They will have a difficult job as the standard of entries this year is even higher as the Golden Nymph Award has become one of the most coveted and respected recognitions in the television industry.”