A €600,000 budget to finance Maltese film company productions

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A €600,000 budget to finance Maltese film company productions

A scene from The Promise shot in Balzan right next to Villa Bologna

Photo: Filmed in Malta / Facebook

Screen Malta, which was launched through the Malta Film Commission (MFC) last year will be financing scripting, development and productions for short films, TV series and full length movies, to the tune of €600,000.

Johann Grech, the film commissioner, said that the Commission had financed no less than 40 projects, for a total of €1.4 million since the year 2018. A total of €3 million had been forked out for 135 local projects, ranging from 2008 to 2019.

The commissioner is currently holding an array of listening sessions with the Malta film crews, listening to their stories, experiences and challenges. These ‘Listening Sessions’ are being organised with film crew from all departments.

Film commissioner Johann Grech

“Such listening sessions are being done to create a sustainable film industry, where opportunities are for all,” said Johann. Since the start of this year, the Maltese Islands have already attracted seven international productions.

“We are working towards a sustainable industry, where opportunities are for the many not the few. It is crucial to keep listening to our film crew to gather ideas, listen to their ideas. With the implementation of our recently-launched master plan, and the building of new soundstages in Malta, our country will be hosting more production, turning occasional job opportunities into careers.”

In the first three months of 2021, Malta hosted three international productions, which generated around €18 million into the economy and created around 1,000 jobs. The Screen Malta grant will include seven schemes. These include:

The scriptwriting support, development support, production support, Screen Malta new scheme, distribution – festival fees support, distribution – marketing and promotion support, and distribution – international festival participation support.

The scheme comes to a close on 30 June.