Prince Rainier III Special Prize goes to "PFAS: Our Forever Poisons", a topical documentary.

It is one of the world's longest-running and most celebrated television events. And it is taking place these days in the Principality! The Festival de la Télévision de Monte-Carlo (Monte-Carlo Television Festival) is a prestigious global entertainment event held annually in Monaco, following up the first edition held in 1961 by H.S.H. Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace to promote television as a cultural medium for peace. Considering that its founder, Prince Rainier III, championed ocean and wildlife preservation decades ago, the Festival still has a strong ecological ethos.

Currently organised by Monaco Mediax, the festival has recently been a pivotal rendezvous within the Principality's National Energy Transition Pact. Organisational operations have been updated to include drastically reduced paper usage, recycling bins, the elimination of plastic water bottles, and the use of hybrid/electric addressed to VIP from international Show Business.

The Prince Rainier III Special Prize, designed by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco in partnership with His Foundation (PA2F), represents a highly regarded award (€10,000) given to the best documentary dealing with environmental issues. On Saturday the 13th June 2026, this acknowledgment was awarded by the Sovereign Prince to PFAS: Our Forever Poisons (NOTE: also titled PFAS, An Everyday Poison or Tous empoisonnés : le fléau des PFAS), directed by investigative journalists and documentary filmmakers Quentin Noirfalisse and Stenka Quillet.

Photo >> H.S.P. Prince Albert II of Monaco awarding Dame Kristin Scott Thomas the prestigious Crystal Nymph (Monte-Carlo Television Festival Award Ceremony, Grimaldi Forum, 13th June 2026) © Monaco Mediax

This year's recognition addresses a particularly sensitive and insidious environmental issue that can potentially affect each of us. The film uncovers the global health and environmental crises caused by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), synthetic "forever chemicals" that persist indefinitely and have been linked to severe health diseases. The movie, co-produced by Brotherfilms and ARTE, investigates how PFAS became one of the most widespread environmental disasters in modern history, originally hailed as miracle components for non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, and firefighting foams.

In particular, this exclusive investigation highlights the widespread contamination crossing between Europe and the United States, revealing how these chemicals are polluting drinking water, farmlands, and the bloodstreams of humans, worldwide. And major chemical manufacturers were aware of the health risks decades before they became public knowledge. This is the uncomfortable truth that is being put in the spotlight by the journalistic investigation.

The filmed document is also intended to be a tool to raise awareness among local communities and policy makers to prepare an adequate and strict regulatory apparatus to protect the natural environment and human health.

Photo >> Photo >> H.S.P. Prince Albert II of Monaco at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival Award Ceremony, (Grimaldi Forum, 13th June 2026) © Monaco Mediax

The success achieved at the Festival de la Télévision de Monte-Carlo represents a further driver of visibility. The Awards Ceremony is in fact an iconic event, which marks the milestone of a prestigious selection. In fact, at the heart of the Festival, the Nymphs d'Or Competition highlights an international selection of original programmes. It is structured around four categories:

1. Fiction: films, mini-series and series intended for international distribution;

2. Documentaries & News: feature stories, documentary series and films;

3. Digital - new in 2026: content designed for distribution on YouTube (original digital creation and unscripted digital creation);

4. Prince Rainier III Special Prize: awarded to the documentary best dealing with environmental issues, in partnership with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

Moreover, the Nymphe d'Or embodies the artistic and creative recognition granted to distinguished works and talents. It is inspired by the Nymph of Salmacis, sculpted by François-Joseph Bosio, a Monegasque sculptor whose original is exhibited at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

The Award Ceremony also awarded to the most popular British actress Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, the Crystal Nymph, the festival's highest individual honour to celebrate her prominent industry career, lately increased by her participation to the paramount Apple’s Slow Horses TV series, a British spy thriller production based on the Slough House novels by Mick Herron, and adapted for television by the English comedian and writer Will Smith.

We are particularly happy with this honour, since she has always emphasised Sustainability through her environmental advocacy, linking climate action to women’s leadership, and her personal lifestyle choices, which include repairing and maintaining her own home to preserve natural resources. ***

✒️ Maurice Abbati

• Strategic Communication Specialist, Editor in Chief, Journalist, Executive.

• Lecturer and Author in English in the field of Environmental Communication to foster Circular and Blue Economy