Monte-Carlo TV Festival Kicks Off with Season 3 of ‘The Walking Dead: Dead City’; Ester Expósito and Matthew Broome to Receive Promising Talent Awards
AMC’s "The Walking Dead: Dead City" to Premiere at 65th Monte-Carlo TV Festival
AMC’s much-anticipated Season 3 of The Walking Dead: Dead City will kick off the 65th Monte-Carlo TV Festival, with the first two episodes scheduled to screen as the festival’s opening act.
During a presentation at Monaco’s new cultural venue, the Médiathèque Caroline, festival organizers announced their plans for 2026. Notably, actors Kristin Scott Thomas and Kurt Russell are set to receive the prestigious Crystal Nymph Award at the event.
Spanish actress Ester Expósito will be honored with the International Golden Nymph for Most Promising Talent, recognizing her meteoric rise following her breakout role in Netflix’s Elite. British actor Matthew Broome will also receive this accolade for his growing prominence in the industry, highlighted by his performances in Prime Video’s My Fault: London and Apple TV+’s The Buccaneers.
Additionally, the Honorary Nymph Award will go to French journalist and host Michel Drucker.
The festival also unveiled the juries overseeing the official selection for dramas and documentaries. The Fiction Jury will be led by British actress Lesley Manville, joined by Charlene McKenna, Frédérique Bel, Greg Daniels, Hojin Kwon, Kevin McKidd, and Yasmin Finney. Meanwhile, the Digital Jury will be chaired by Susanne Daniels, the former head of originals at YouTube, alongside fellow YouTube alum Luke Hyams. The Feature Reports and News Jury will be headed by American filmmaker Joshua Seftel, who will work with Mouhssine Ennaimi, Hélène Mannarino, Margo Smit, and Will Hanrahan.
The Monte-Carlo TV Festival promises a dynamic public program featuring screenings, premieres, and talent events. Out-of-competition screenings will include Les Derniers Jours de Charles Baudelaire directed by Arielle Dombasle, as well as the documentary La Vie de Lise.
Fans will have opportunities to meet stars from popular shows like The Bold and the Beautiful, including Katherine Kelly Lang and Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, as well as characters from The Young and the Restless. Shows produced by Dick Wolf, including FBI, will also be represented, featuring actor Zeeko Zaki. Nick Gehlfuss, known for his role in the CBS drama CIA, is also scheduled to attend.
The festival will also host the cast of Un Si Grand Soleil, including Aurore Delplace and Chrystelle Labaude.
Additionally, an industry segment called The Business Forum will feature speakers such as Sue Latimer and Aldis Hodge. This year’s edition aims to address critical transformations in the television industry, including the impact of AI and the growth of the creator economy.
Cécile Menoni, Executive Director of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival, emphasized the festival’s dual commitment to its heritage and the ongoing evolution of television. “The Festival is a place for encounters, discoveries, and recognition of the talents shaping the stories of tomorrow,” she stated.
Laurent Puons, General Manager of Monaco Mediax, noted the festival’s role as a unique convergence point for talent, creators, broadcasters, and audiences, underscoring the ambition to celebrate excellence and creativity on a global scale.
The Monte-Carlo Television Festival will take place from June 12 to June 16.
