The actor thanked the director and casting director “for taking a leap of faith in me”, when he received the award. He also thanked his co-stars David Scicluna and Michael Farrugia, as well as producers Rebecca Anastasi, Ramin Bahrani and Oliver Mallia. He went on to thank his family and wife, and four-year-old daughter.

Since Luzzu’s film premiere last Friday, it has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from audiences and critics.

Representing the World Cinema jury, Turkish producer Zeynep Atakan said that: “Luzzu is a beautifully recorded film, which immerses us in a powerful story and a context far away from the touristic point of view of Malta some may know. The emotions that come up with this movie are honest and brought to us by the very well documented situation of the fishermen.” She went on to say that: “acting is more than magic – it’s mystery. Amongst the biggest mysteries of acting sometimes you find people that…bring a message along with then. That is pure biography, and it transcends the body.”