Held in Valletta, the capital of Malta, the Mediterrane Film Festival returns for a second year on June 22–30 under the direction of Teresa Cavina, the festival’s new creative director. Following the Memorandum of Understanding between the British and Malta’s film commission last year to improve the cooperation between the countries’ screen industries, British director Mike Leigh will receive the first-ever Golden Bee Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cinema.
Before revealing the lineup for the festival this year, Malta’s film commissioner Johann Grech told Variety that the festival was a “brainchild” of his and that it serves as a “platform to keep us building our image.” Not just among Mediterranean nations, but also among other nations, we wish to advocate for increased communication and collaboration.
He went on, “The size of our country has not stopped us from thinking big.” “The festival is a business endeavour to bring more films to Malta and emphasise discussion and idea sharing, in addition to allowing us to develop our film brand abroad. To help local producers and filmmakers learn more, discuss upcoming projects, and find ways to collaborate, we will be hosting conferences, panel discussions, and masterclasses.
Joining the festival’s team in February, Cavina brought her experience from stints at the Locarno, El-Gouna, Rome, Venice, and Abu Dhabi film festivals to assist revamp its programming structure. The Mediterrane Film Festival will have four strands this year: Mare Nostrum or Our Sea, which will feature films devoted to sustainability and the environment; In Competition, which will feature films from all around the Mediterranean; Out of Competition, which will feature films from other parts of the world; and Future Visions, which will concentrate on experimental VR projects.
Cavina stated to Variety that “being a part of the start of something new and ambitions is always a privilege.” Malta offers a genuinely unique experience as a film location and has been at the forefront of international filming for decades. In a nation that has recently learnt to live and breathe cinema, this is a fresh chance to unite people.
The festival’s artistic director stressed that she wanted to “put Malta and its people on the agenda,” promoting and showcasing Maltese indigenous talent. “Mediterrane will seek to establish a forum where local communities can interact with Mediterranean counterparts, exchange skills and narratives, and spark lively debate, particularly regarding remarkable but untold Maltese stories.”
Leigh receives the first lifetime achievement award from the festival, and Cavina calls it a “honour” to have the director visit Malta. We can’t wait to examine the knowledge he has accumulated over his illustrious career. We hope to create an unmissable cultural and global exchange destination with our full roster, one that will foster careers and allow for the celebration of films.
The initial plan for the Mediterrane Film Festival had a strong industry component that would support the goal of the Malta Film Commission to establish Malta as a top destination for film production worldwide. Grech declared, “Our vision spans the next 100 years,” in reference to his audacious goals. We are making significant investments in our crew, infrastructure, and education and training to help our crews grow further. We are also working on ways to ensure that we can create jobs. Our aspirations are attainable, as demonstrated by the more than 120 productions that have been filmed in Malta over the past five years, contributing millions to the country’s GDP.
Cavina continued, “One of the main goals of a festival is to facilitate human interaction and create the environment necessary for projects to grow.” “There will be several networking chances this year because of this. There isn’t a more welcoming location than Malta to let your creativity run wild.
What are the main goals for the second iteration of the festival? To Cavina, expansion is their main objective. Participating in an initiative like this early on enables you to develop an authentic identity for the future years while keeping an open mind and adapting yourself. We are ecstatic and full of ideas about how to establish the event as a must-visit location for attendees.
