The Monte-Carlo Television Festival kicks off Friday with a star-studded lineup at its Business Forum, featuring actors Lesley Manville, Aldis Hodge, and Kevin McKidd.
Filmmakers & Friends: Authentic Storytelling
Aldis Hodge, executive producer and actor at Hodge Brothers Productions, joins Ben Watkins of Blue Monday Productions in 'Filmmakers & Friends: Finding Truth & Being Authentic to Their Story.' They discuss their career paths and creative partnership, emphasizing the blend of writer, producer, and actor roles contributing to their show's success.
Historical Dramas with Michael Hirst
Michael Hirst, known for 'The Tudors' and 'Vikings,' offers a solo session 'In Conversation with Michael Hirst,' sharing his creative process and the timeless appeal of historical narratives. In 'From Pitch to Premiere: Inside the Television Creative Process,' Hirst collaborates with Toma De Matteis of France.tv Studio and Rola Bauer, exploring the journey from concept to screen.
Empowering Women in Television
'Leading Ladies Changing the Channels' features influential women like actress and producer Lesley Manville, Sue Latimer of ARG Talent Agency, Judy Lung from the Toronto Film Festival, and Cécile Menoni from the Festival de Télévision de Monte-Carlo, discussing women's roles in transformative TV shifts.
Navigating Television Trends
'Talent, Creators & Agents, Navigating Today's Television Trends' includes UTA's Darren Boghosian, CAA's Barry Buren, Roger Charteris from The Partnership Group, and Kevin McKidd of Ferryman Films. They explore adaptation to industry innovations. Susanne Daniels, ex-YouTube content head, and Luke Hyams discuss storytelling in 'Instinct vs Algorithm: What 30 Years of Greenlights Can Teach us About Storytelling in the Age of the Feed.'
AI's Role in Documentaries
'AI in the Documentary Room: From Theory to the Edit Suite' examines AI's impact on documentaries with Tom Jennings of 1895 Films, Gisella Marengo of GM Productions, and Joshua Seftel of Smartypants, moderated by Remi Tereszkiewicz of BetaSeries. They highlight the unexpected integration of AI into documentary filmmaking.
Regulatory Challenges and New Voices
'Controlling the Narrative: Broadcasters & Producers Navigating the Regulatory Landscape' examines government influence on TV content, led by Graham Benson of GCB Consultants with Vance Van Petten and Will Hanrahan. The Business Forum concludes with 'Tell Me a Story,' a pitch contest aiming to spotlight new factual storytelling talent, in collaboration with Jennings of 1895 Films.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/tv/global/business-forum-monte-carlo-television-festival-1236779599/
