Mike Leigh among industry heavyweights for Mediterrane festival industry panels

Malta’s Mediterrane Film Festival has revealed its full film selection together with a strong industry programme for its upcoming second edition of the festival, taking place from 22nd June to 30th June 2024 in the capital of the island, Valletta.

The programme will present 15 films in its Competition, seven Out of Competition films including The Count of Monte Cristo and seven films competing in its environment-themed Mare Nostrum section, topped up by 14 immersive projects selected by interactive story architect Michel Reilhac.

Deadpool and Terminator: Dark Fate director Tim Miller has been tapped as the festival’s latest addition to its competition jury. The festival’s Mare Nostrum jury will be made up of Cinemed Montpeiller director and Directors’ Fortnight managing director Christophe LeParc; Eduardo Guillot, the artistic director of Mostra de Valencia; former Jerusalem Film Festival artistic director Elad Samorzik, Tribeca Film Festival artistic director Frédéric Boyer; and Istanbul International Film Festival director Kerem Ayan.

The immersive Future Visions selection will be judged by curator of the NXT Museum in the Netherlands, Bogomir Doringer, founder and CEO of Less Media Group Alina Mikhaleva and acclaimed UX designer and researcher Allison Crank.

In tandem with the festival programme, Mediterrane will host a series of panels and masterclasses featuring industry experts from around the world – covering topics ranging from globalisation in the entertainment industry, film circulation and co-production among Mediterranean countries and beyond, emerging storytelling trends, immersive technologies and the animation landscape, to career-specific discussions hosted by acclaimed experts in their respective fields and crafts.

Masterclasses will be held by acclaimed editor Yorgos Mavropsaridis (Kinds of Kindness, Poor Things,); renowned production designer, Nathan Crowley (Wonka, Dunkirk) the casting director Margery Simkin (Avatar, Top Gun, Mamma Mia), and distinguished composer Simon Franglen (Avatar: The Way of the Water, Ocean’s Eight). The programme will also feature a masterclass with Palme d’Or and BAFTA-winning writer-director Mike Leigh (Vera Drake, Another Year, Happy-Go-Lucky), who is being recognised with the festival’s Career Achievement Golden Bee Award and will be joined in conversation by Adrian Wootton, previous Acting Director of the British Film Institute and current Chief Executive of Film London and the British Film Commission.

Teresa Cavina, Artistic Director of Mediterrane Film Festival, said: “The industry programme is a key tentpole of our festival offering – as we strive to foster an environment that encourages international dialogues, collaboration, and partnerships between the Mediterranean markets and beyond.

“As for the programme, I am very happy with the selection, a chorus of strong and harmonious voices that, through extraordinary films, gives shape to a complex and varied universe, a mirror of the reality that surrounds us, often difficult to decipher, sometimes painful, but also full of hope and capacity for renewal.

“From political instances to sensitive representations of the human soul, to a concern for nature, each film finds its meaning and its place. The mobile and profound ‘women gaze’ runs through all sections with an extraordinary presence of works signed by women, around 16, almost half of the film selection.”