Competition

In launching the Festival in 1961, His Serene HIghness Prince Rainier III of Monaco, "wished to encourage a new form of artistic expression, in the service of peace and undeerstanding for mankind".

Monaco's international status ideally suited the Prince's ambition: to recognise television as an exceptional means of bringing cultures together and enhancing their respective knowledge. This project immediately generated worldwide interest and over the years, many distinguished celebrities have sat on the successive juries, bringing international recognition to the best of television programming. In 1988, H.S.H. Crown Prince Albert II was named Honorary President of the Festival.

The Gold Nymph
The best programmes in the Monte Carlo Television Festival are awarded with the famous Gold Nymphs, copies of the Salmacis Nymph created by Monaco sculptor,

François-Joseph Bosio.
The original Nymph is still exhibites at the Louvre Museum in Paris. It is made of marble, and measures 82 cn high, 85 cm large and 63 cm deep.
After having worked for Napoléon, the Monaco sculptor François-Joseph Bosio (1768-1845) was given the name of "King's Senior Sculptor" by Louis XVIII. Creator of historical or mythological busts and low-reliefs, he raised Louis XIV's statue on the Place des Victoires in Paris.
In 1825, he was nominated Officer of the Legion of Honour.
The sculpture of the Salmacis Nymph is perhaps one of his more elaborate works and shows enourmous talent. It was Prince Rainier III of Monaco who would decide that the Salmacis Nymph was to be the statuette image of the Monte Carlo TV Festival. The Salmacis Nymph's symbolism is very strong. In Greek mythology, Aphrodite seduced Hermès, and from their union, a son, Hermaphrodite, was born, who was named after both gods.
Aphrodite left the baby in the care of the Phrygie nymphs. On day while Hermaphrodite was swimming in a lake a nymph of this place, Salmacis, dragged him down to the depths of the lake and convinced the gods that their two bodies be joined together so it would become one sole body with both sexes.