36 local film producers to benefit from investment of €2 million

A total of 36 local film producers will benefit from a total investment of €2 million in their projects, the Ministry for Culture and the Arts said on Thursday, as it added that Arts Council Malta has announced the list of projects selected under the Screen Support Scheme.

The ministry said that this scheme is divided into five branches and aims to strengthen key areas within the same sector that have been identified as needing prioritisation and support. It continued that each branch supports audiovisual works at every stage of development, from script writing to production, with a key focus on creativity, quality, and cultural value.

With that said, the ministry added that in recent days, Arts Council Malta has also launched a sixth branch of the scheme, which the ministry said will assist in the promotion stage of cultural and audiovisual productions that were completed no more than 18 months prior to the submission of the full application. It added that this branch is managed on a rolling call basis and will close on 18 November 2025, or when the fund is fully disbursed.

Minister Owen Bonnici said that, for the second consecutive year, the government is investing heavily in Malta’s domestic film industry and consolidating their commitment to prioritising the sector and ensuring that it receives support. He commented that there was an investment of €1 million last year targeted towards Maltese film producers, and remarked that this year the investment was increased to €2 million to be given to local productions.

Bonnici said that the government strongly believes in the talents and capabilities of local filmmakers, “so much so that we made this part of our election promises, and promised to offer this local industry the recognition and resources it deserves”. He said that the government will continue to deliver on this promise, “not with a one-off measure, but with a clear plan that will undoubtedly strengthen the audiovisual ecosystem as a whole, and thus help it reach its potential”.

Arts Council Malta Executive Chairman Luke Dalli said that there was strong competition for this scheme, which he said shows how much enthusiasm and capacity there is in the field. He said that Arts Council Malta’s goal “goes beyond just financial support”, as he commented that a sustainable growth platform is being built with this scheme, “where creatives not only find funding, but also mentoring, professional development, and collaboration tools”.