Malta’s Mediterrane Film Festival Sets Jury and Special Programming

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The Mediterranean Film Festival has assembled its global jury for the upcoming event taking place from June 21st to 29th in Malta.

Under the guidance of festival director Ray Calleja and curator Mark Adams, the third installment of the festival honors one hundred years of cinema in the island country, taking place in the bustling heart of Valletta as its setting.

The event showcases a primary competition segment displaying movies from various Mediterranean regions, an off-competition part offering worldwide content, and a special focus on Mare Nostrum – presenting both narrative and documentary films centered around sustainability and environmental issues.

During the celebration, a sector dedicated to the industry is set up at the 400-year old Fort Ricasoli. This area offers panels, roundtable discussions, and masterclasses led by experts within the field. Previous speakers have included filmmakers such as Mike Leigh, Yorgos Mavropsaridis (editor of “Kinds of Kindness”), and Margery Simkin (casting director for “Top Gun”).

At this festival, there’s a specialized section located at Fort Ricasoli, which is over 400 years old. This area features talks, debates, and workshops from professionals in the industry. Notable speakers from the past include Mike Leigh, Yorgos Mavropsaridis (editor of “Kinds of Kindness”), and Margery Simkin (casting director for “Top Gun”).

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The festival includes an industrial area inside 400-year old Fort Ricasoli. Here you’ll find seminars, discussions, and workshops led by industry professionals. In previous years, speakers have included Mike Leigh, Yorgos Mavropsaridis (editor of “Kinds of Kindness”), and Margery Simkin (casting director for “Top Gun”).

The esteemed panel for the Golden Bee awards, an event taking place on June 29th, will comprise Oscar-winning production designer Rick Carter, costume designer Charlese Antoinette, set decorator Elli Griff, director Catherine Hardwicke, fellow production designer James Price, and Mario Philip Azzopardi, the Maltese director who created the country’s first feature film.

The panel for the Mare Nostrum festival features Grainne Humphreys, artistic director of the Dublin Film Festival, as well as Ania Trzebiatowska, a senior programmer at Sundance.

The Mediterrane Film Festival originated with a straightforward yet impactful concept: fostering connections between imaginative thinkers hailing from the Mediterranean and Europe, and bringing their visions to life. Our ethos revolves around providing opportunities, encouraging collaboration, and promoting creativity,” stated Malta Film Commissioner Johann Grech.

In the milestone year of 100 years of filmmaking in Malta, it’s truly an honor to have an exceptional group of judges join us, a team that mirrors the richness, variety, and worldwide influence of modern-day cinema. Alongside our Festival Curator, Mark Adams, we’re dedicated to creating a program that respects Malta’s cinematic heritage while promoting daring new storytellers from the Mediterranean and beyond. – Ray Calleja (Movie Critic)

The 2025 festival’s central idea is “We’re All Cinema” – a celebration of films, bringing people together via narratives, feelings, and common memories.

1925 marked the debut of Malta’s first feature film, “Sons of the Sea.” Since then, this island nation has established itself as a significant hub for film and television production. Notable works produced here include “Gladiator,” “Troy,” “Popeye,” “Game of Thrones,” and “Napoleon.

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2025-05-27 18:18