The Monte-Carlo Television Festival, starting this Friday, promises an impressive roster of speakers for its Business Forum, including actors Lesley Manville, Aldis Hodge, and Kevin McKidd.
Among the highlighted sessions is “Filmmakers & Friends: Finding Truth & Being Authentic to Their Story.” This discussion will feature executive producer and actor Aldis Hodge from Hodge Brothers Productions and Ben Watkins, creator and executive producer at Blue Monday Productions. They will discuss their career journeys in television and how their collaboration enriches the roles of writer, producer, and actor, contributing to their show’s success.
Michael Hirst, the writer and executive producer known for historical dramas like “The Tudors” and “Vikings,” will offer insights during “In Conversation with Michael Hirst.” He will explore his creative approach, his decision to work independently of the writers’ room, and the lasting impact of historical stories on contemporary viewers.
“From Pitch to Premiere: Inside the Television Creative Process” will provide an expert examination of turning ideas into TV series. Michael Hirst will again feature, discussing the process with Toma De Matteis of France.tv Studio, known for “Un Si Grand Soleil.” They will be joined by Rola Bauer, whose work includes “The Girlfriend,” “Shadowplay,” and “Pillars of the Earth,” offering a producer’s perspective on the creative journey.
“Leading Ladies Changing the Channels” will spotlight a panel of influential women in television, discussing the transformative changes driven by female leaders. Participants include actress and fiction jury president Lesley Manville, Sue Latimer from ARG Talent Agency, Judy Lung of the Toronto Film Festival, and Cécile Menoni from Festival de Télévision de Monte-Carlo.
As the entertainment industry evolves, “Talent, Creators & Agents, Navigating Today’s Television Trends” will feature top talent agents Darren Boghosian of UTA, Barry Buren of CAA, Roger Charteris of The Partnership Group, along with actor, director, and jury member Kevin McKidd of Ferryman Films. They will discuss adapting to an innovation-driven landscape, balancing new opportunities with protective measures.
Delving into digital and streaming, “Instinct vs Algorithm: What 30 Years of Greenlights Can Teach us About Storytelling in the Age of the Feed” will be an engaging conversation with Susanne Daniels, digital jury president and former head of original content at YouTube, alongside Luke Hyams from Pangaea. They will discuss the evolution of storytelling in the digital era.
AI’s role in documentary storytelling will be explored in “AI in the Documentary Room: From Theory to the Edit Suite,” featuring Tom Jennings of 1895 Films, Gisella Marengo of GM Productions, and Joshua Seftel from Smartypants. Moderator Remi Tereszkiewicz from BetaSeries will guide the discussion on AI’s unexpected impact on documentaries.
“Controlling the Narrative: Broadcasters & Producers Navigating the Regulatory Landscape” will address the increasing governmental influence on TV news and entertainment. Graham Benson from GCB Consultants will lead this debate with Vance Van Pettten of Dodge Film School and journalist and producer Will Hanrahan of FirstLookTV.
Concluding the Business Forum will be the second season of the Pitch Contest – “Tell Me a Story,” in collaboration with Jennings of 1895 Films. The contest seeks to discover compelling factual stories from emerging filmmakers, with finalists presenting their pitches to an international panel of judges and industry leaders.
