The Malta Film Commission (MFC)

The evolution of the Malta Film Commission

For information about filming in Malta, incentives, budget info etc, click here

To visit the official page of the MFC, click here.

The Maltese islands have been a popular destination for foreign film shoots from as far back as 1931 when the British film "Tell England" came to its shores.  More notably in 1953 the island was, for the first time, featured as itself in the war film "A Malta Story". 

But it was only after 1964, in the absence of an indigenous film industry, that a film "servicing" industry started to take shape on the islands, precisely when Malta Film Facilities was created. MFF, now called Mediterranean Film Studios, consisted of a large water tank with a natural horizon and this quickly made Malta a unique destination for water-based movies.

The studio became state-owned and for 30 years it dominated the film servicing industry.  Those running it were political appointees and it is no secret that the studio went through equally good and bad years of management.  It was mainly from 1994 that the Maltese government started to take a hard look at the film industry in an effort to privatize it, in line with its new national policy. Meanwhile between 1996 and 1998 local line producer/production manager Mr. Malcolm Scerri-Ferrante lobbied for the urgent need of a film commission, submitting reports to two Prime Ministers of different governments who promised to take action.

In 1999 "Gladiator" line producer Mr. Branko Lustig met up with the Minister for Tourism Mr. Karmenu Vella and also recommended that Malta sets up a film commission. The government changed abruptly shortly afterwards and in 1999 local businessman Mr. Winston Azzopardi, who owned a successfull wholesale business in catering supplies and had experience in making programming acquisitions for the TV station owned by the party in government, joined the unofficial lobbying team and in 1999 he was appointed Malta's first film commissioner. The setting up of a film commission sent a message abroad that Malta was finally beginning to take seriously its film servicing industry.  At its inception the commission was headed by Mr. Winston Azzopardi (commissioner) and included two staff members, Ms. Luisa Bonello (full-time coordinator) and Mr. Oliver Mallia (part-time).

Winston Azzopardi (left) and Branco Lustig

In 2002, the film commissioner became the co-producer of "Troy" starring Brad Pitt.  This Warner Brothers film was a UK-Malta co-production under the European Convention of Co-Production, benefiting from the Sale & Leaseback incentive offered by the UK.  Despite this star-studded feature becoming a box-office failure, the film had a huge positive impact on the Maltese economy.

The void left by Mr. Azzopardi as film commissioner was filled by Mr. Oliver Mallia, formerly a communications officer with politician Dr. George Hyzler whose duty at the time was to 'watch over' the film industry and formulate its policies. At that time Mr. Mallia had already spent years actively involved with the film commission and with the mechanics of its set up.

In 2005 the Malta Film Commission, then under the Ministry of the Hon. Austin Gatt, achieved its biggest feat ever: the introduction of financial incentives which amount to as much as 22% of local expenditure.

In 2007 Mr. Mallia resigned from his public office to steer a large Spanish production "Agora". With a budget of 50m Euros, "Agora" was to become Spain's most expensive production at the time. The film was not a commercial success but it created an entire year of jobs for several Maltese.  Quite notably the film made its mark as being the first ever big budget film to maximize Malta's crew and talent base.  Several Maltese enjoyed high ranking positions and over 100 local day players were hired.  Three secondary acting roles were given to Maltese.

Oliver Mallia pictured far right

The void left by Mr. Mallia was filled by Ms Luisa Bonello who until then had served as the commission's coordinator since its inception. The film commission ran with two full time employees (including the commissioner) and managed all government's marketing of the film industry as well as administered the financial incentives.

Luisa Bonello

In February 2011 Ms Bonello resigned stating she wished to move on.  Her position was eventually filled by board member Mr Peter Busuttil.

Peter Busuttil

In April 2011 the leading film service providers, in a newly set up lobby group called Film Service Providers (Malta), met up with the Malta Film Commission's chairman Mr Anthony Sammut to express their concern about the continuity of the work of the commission.  Mr Sammut assured those present that the film commission will soon exit from its 'transition mode' and it will get back into first gear with improvements.