Film Commissioner tries his luck at MFA vice-presidency

Malta's Film Commissioner Peter Busuttil has set his sights on the post of vice-president at the Malta Football Association, as elections this week will pit incumbent president Norman Darmanin Demajo against a former vice-president, Peter Fenech.

It is unknown whether Busuttil, who is already busy at Malta's film commission where he leads the effort at attracting film industry business to the islands, is backing the Fenech nomination.

The Birkirkara F.C. committee member is a self-declared footballing fiasco: "My stint at school football convinced many to advise me to confine my kicking talents, or the lack of them, to my backyard...

"It's exactly my lack of talent on the field that fired up my passion for football off the field if I could not play, I could help others to do so," Busuttil says in his campaign pamphlet, whose slogan is 'Action!'.          

Beyond the field, Busuttil's role on the Film Commission has attracted complaints from the local film industry which raised their concerns back in November 2012 with then prime minister Lawrence Gonzi.

Former finance minister Tonio Fenech, who appointed Busuttil to the post, defended the commissioner, saying the criticism was down to "personality clashes".

In a letter service providers had sent to Gonzi, they complained that "the commissioner's manner and knowledge ability have been found lacking and embarrassing on several occasions... Malta cannot afford to waste precious time in the hope he will be a fast learner."

In his message to voters, Busuttil is pledging club assistance for twinning, tax credits, marketing and promotion, sponsorship and funding opportunities.