Malta has hosted a number of international film productions over the years such as Troy, Munich, World War Z, Captain Phillips, Midnight Express, Gladiator and many more. In view of this huge potential, the Tourism Ministry, together with other stakeholders – and following a wide public consultation – has drafted a policy focused solely on the film industry. The 32-page document, which was launched recently, sets out the vision up until 2020, with the aim of maximising the potential of both Malta’s film-servicing industry and the promising local film sector.
Over the past three years, we have witnessed a surge in the number of productions filming on our shores. Whilst the spend in 2013 by foreign productions in Malta was €5 million, this figure rose to €29million in 2014 and over €100million in 2015, ensuring a record year on all fronts. Such a sharp increase in such a short period of time made it even more imperative to define a National Film Policy that addresses important issues related to film infrastructure, targeted financial incentives, the local film industry, the employment sector, education, skills development, screen tourism and screen heritage, among others. Large and important production houses choose Malta due to its competitive advantage, with its water tanks infrastructure, weather conditions, financial incentives and, most of all, the availability of a dynamic work force.
The policy document seeks to prioritise directing investment towards the film industry’s infrastructure. With the recent dramatic increase in film productions having provided back-to-back work for all the industry stakeholders, further investment in Malta’s film infrastructure will ensure a consistent growth in this sector, while at the same time opening more opportunities for filming activity in the shoulder months. The government has always shown its intention to transform the current infrastructure at Kalkara into a modern and state-of-the-art film studio and facility and I am determined to ensure that this happens in the shortest time possible.
By building sound stages, we will be able to guarantee a consistent inward flow of productions including during the winter season, when filming on location can be limited due to adverse weather. In this regard we have issued a call for expressions of interest for the development of the water tanks facilities of the Malta Film Studios in Rinella. It is a pity that such a potential strategic resource for the industry was left abandoned to itself by the former administration, which ultimately resulted in several lost opportunities and missed investments. This expression of interest will eventually help us to continue building positive momentum on this front. The potential benefit for our economy is vast and we need to ensure that we have the structures and infrastructure in place to exploit each and every opportunity that comes our way in this highly dynamic industry.
The policy also stresses the need for a regulatory system and a structure dealing with employment. The general employment provisions have to be clear and customised for the Maltese film industry. In the Policy document we made it clear that a thorough exercise will be carried out by the Film Commission, the Employment and Training Corporation and other relevant entities to establish a concrete structure regulated by appropriate measures. This must be achieved on the backdrop of the producers’ need for job flexibility.
As experience has already shown us, film can be a great tool for promoting our islands across the globe. For an economy that depends so much on the tourism sector, screen tourism offers a niche market that can be highly lucrative. The country needs to exploit the glamour of the film industry through consistent marketing and PR campaigns. At the same time, Malta and Gozo need to be well-equipped to host screen tourists, offering a new and diverse product.
We also recognise that part of this success is thanks to the effective financial incentives we are offering. Such incentives will be maintained and reviewed regularly to nurture the industry and allow it to grow in a sustainable manner.
We also recognise that the current structures offering film-related training are too spread out, and a coordinated approach is a must. Synergies will be created between all entities to create more capacity. There must be a cohesive action plan to establish the structures required for professional film production and training, along the lines of those offered by international film schools, and the Malta Film Commission already working to ensure that this happens.
While thanking the Film Commissioner and the Malta Film Commission for their exceptional work, we have to acknowledge that this is just the beginning of another exciting journey. This policy is my firm commitment in order to relentlessly continue working towards creating a sustainable film industry, while transforming Malta and Gozo into unique film destinations.
Dr Zammit Lewis is the Tourism Minister