Celebrating 100 years of film artistry in Malta with the stars: Mediterrane Film Festival 2025 highlights and chats with Emeli Sandé, Barbie Ferreira, Rick Carter and more
June closed with the luscious sight of a sunset over the rough sand and shimmering waters surrounding the limestone-covered country of Malta. It was the perfect setting for the young and bright Mediterrane Film Festival, with the befitting slogan of “We Are Film”. This edition celebrated the filmmaking talents, cinematic sights and illustrious scenes Malta has to offer. There are the beige alleyways littered with old-school storefronts, bustling restaurants leading up the staircase of St Lucia’s Street, the historical landmarks of Fort Ricasoli, and the crystal waters of the Blue Lagoon. Every breath taken in Malta feels like you’ve stepped into a fairytale-esque world, which strongly complements the selection of pictures shown at this year’s festival.
This year, the Mediterrane Film Festival celebrated 100 years of filmmaking in Malta with some exciting and mythical showings of Murder on the Orient Express and Wicked. Others in the lineup highlighted the country’s role in further big blockbuster movies, from Assassin’s Creed and Troy to Clash of the Titans. Gladiator II also received special treatment; it opened the festival with an outdoor screening at the very spot where it was shot, Fort Ricasoli. The experience of seeing the picturesque sights of real life reflected upon the screen was unmatched. This year, beyond these incredible immersive experiences and the celebration of cinematic artistry and culture, the festival presented 55 films from 20 countries during its run.
The main competition included Athina Rachel Tsangari’s Harvest, adapted from Jim Crace’s novel, and steeped in enigmatic drama and folklore. Hot Milk starring Emma Mackey and Fiona Shaw also made an appearance, following a mother and daughter escapade gone wrong, all with the alluring touches of a furious and burning romance. Maltese director Joshua Cassar Gaspar made his feature-length directorial debut with The Theft of the Caravaggio. Captured at the heart of where the real events took place, Gaspar offered an alternative look into the heist that haunted St John’s Co-Cathedral in the 1980s with a visually creative and psychoanalytic piece shot on 35mm film.
Other standouts include Diva Furtura, a fascinating insight into the early years of pornographic filmmaking in Italy, following the production company led by Riccardo Schicchi and its rise to fame. Playful in its oscillating retrospective narrative, Giulia Louise Steigerwalt’s work is a refreshing and surprisingly tender watch. Another movie to note was Andrew Ahn’s The Wedding Banquet, starring Kelly Marie Tran and Lily Gladstone. Charming with its cast of eccentric and genuine characters, the story follows a pandemonium of fake marriages, green card shenanigans, and a host of relationship problems – all of which lend themselves to a heartwarming update of the 1993 classic by Ang Lee.
On the industry side, the festival had a selection of Q&As, workshops and masterclasses, with most of them focusing on AI, marketing and storytelling. Post-show Q&A sections covered the making of The Theft of Caravaggio with Gaspar, while Josh Gad also joined in on the admiration for the magic of Malta after the Murder on the Orient Express screening. Among the talents that delivered masterclasses were Marvel Cinematic Universe directors Jon Watts and Jake Schreier. Watts was responsible for the Spider-Man trilogy within the MCU. Schreier, on the other hand, recently directed the Florence Pugh-led addition to the comic book franchise, Thunderbolts*. Some members of the jury also held masterclasses, those being director Catherine Hardwicke and Academy-winning production designer Rick Carter. The rest of the jury consisted of various industry professionals working in production design, festival programming, acting and costumes.
James Price was another award-winning production designer on the line-up, having received a BAFTA and Academy Award for his collaborative work on Yorgos Lanthimos’s project Poor Things. There was also British set decorator Elli Griff, whose career spans theatre, TV and film, and American costume designer Charlese Antoinette, whose work features in Air starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, and the Whitney Houston musical biopic, Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody. They were joined by Maltese director Mario Philip Azzopardi, alongside actors Melisa Sozen and Joseph Vassallo. Finally, festival programming veterans Grainne Humphreys, festival director of Dublin Film Festival and Ania Trzebiatowska, the feature film programmer of Sundance Film Festival, rounded out this year’s jury.
The 2025 Mediterrane Film Festival closed with the Golden Bees ceremony, where the carpet was pastel teal, graced by an array of stars graced. Where the Wind Comes From took home several prizes: Best Feature Film and Best Performance by Eya Bellaga. Meanwhile, Julio Medem won Best Screenwriting for his work on 8. The picture also received the Jury’s Choice Award. Euphoria’s Barbie Ferreia received recognition with the Rising Star Award, while British producer Jeremy Thomas was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
In line with celebrating filmmaking in Malta and the country’s contribution to the ever-expanding industry, two Maltese creatives received the Career Achievement Award: location managers Pierre Agius and Joseph Formosa Randon. Finally, Russell Crowe closed the ceremony as the recipient of the Malta Film Legend for his work in Gladiator and as an advocate and ambassador for Malta and its growing film and media industry. Presenters featured that night included Jared Harris, Anna Camp, Schreier and Bailey Bass, amongst other names.
The Upcoming attended the festival and took in the sights of beautiful Malta, from the history and culture embedded in the walls surrounding the city of Birgu to the wondrous views seen atop the island and the diverse films on showcase. We also soaked up the electrifying atmosphere of the closing night and marvelled in the presence of the stars in attendance, catching a few moments with some as they walked the carpet.
Camp, known for her role in the Pitch Perfect trilogy, discussed her first time in Malta, her favourite sights to see in the country and brainstorming ideas for scripts to set in Malta with her girlfriend.
Bass of the live action remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender stopped by to talk about representation in film and the impact of seeing Malta on the big screen, what the Mediterrane Film Festival can offer to local talent, and her adventures swimming and visiting the mountains and cliffs of the island of Gozo.
British singer Emeli Sandé commented on her performance at the Golden Bees, the relationship between music in film, and the raw honesty in Hot Milk’s portrayal of the mother-and-daughter dynamic.
Harris from The Crown and Foundation voiced his appreciation for the rich history and mythology in Malta and the kindness of the people there. He also divulged some details regarding the new season of his Apple TV+ series filmed in Malta.
Bolivian-Albanian soprano Carolina López Moreno spoke highly of the magical energy she felt in Malta, and mentioned the nerves she felt before her performance at the closing ceremony. She confessed to wanting to come back to experience all the country has to offer in full.
BAFTA-winning actor Monica Dolan expressed gratitude for the diversity and beauty in the Mediterranean films, her experience attending masterclasses, and meeting and presenting an award with Harris.
Abbott Elementary’s Chris Perfetti told us of his time exploring the coasts of Malta and the humbling experience of learning about the vibrant culture and history of the country. He expanded on what Malta may offer as a filming location and the significance of the Mediterrane Film Festival in giving back to young and aspiring actors and filmmakers.
Euphoria actor and Rising Star Award winner Ferreira talked about the honour of receiving the prestigious award, her dreams of shooting in Malta, and her upcoming film Mile End Kicks, which will open the Toronto Film Festival later in the year.
Finally, jury member and production designer Carter described his experience working with the jury and having his masterclass. He marvelled at Malta’s geographical location in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea. He also emphasised the importance of the exposure afforded by the Mediterrane Film Festival for locals and showcasing Maltese stories on a bigger stage.
Mae Trumata
Photos: Ambra Vernuccio
Mediterrane Film Festival 2025 took place from 21st to 29th June 2025. For more information, visit the website here.
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