Film industry generates €105 million in four years

Over the past four years, Malta hosted 65 productions, including over 26 films or television series, that have generated over €105 million in the Maltese economy and creating a number of job opportunities in the process.

Addressing Filmspeak 2012, Malta's first film convention, finance minister Tonio Fenech said recent activity had created significant opportunities not only for a number of operators involved directly in the film servicing industry, but also to different areas of industry that benefit from the presence of such high-value activity on our islands, including hotels, restaurants, transport and logistics companies amongst others.

Internationally-renowned producers have been choosing Malta and Gozo as their filming destination for a substantial part of the 20th Century. At least 100 feature films in a span of 86 years have been shot in Malta either entirely or partially, with the earliest known film going back as far as 1925 with 'Sons of the Sea' directed by H. Bruce Woolfe and most recent 'World War Z' directed by Marc Forster.

"These films have also created numerous of jobs for persons involved in production, costumes, make-up artists, hair stylists, technical personnel, location managers, drivers and extras. Many of these persons have also invested a lot of time and energy in order to specialise in the specific requirements of the industry," Fenech said.

This is an important year for the film industry in Malta, which will host the European Film Awards. The event is held on the first weekend of every December, with Berlin hosting the ceremony every other year, and a different European city hosting in alternate years.

Cities where the awards have been held include London, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Warsaw, and Copenhagen. It will serve to consolidate Malta's steadily growing visibility and reputation within the international film industry, and will allow for further recognition both in the build-up to and during the event.