The setting up of a Film Commission with the specific intention of promoting Malta as an ideal place for film-makers should give the necessary boost to an industry that has, so far, not been exploited enough.

A number of films have been partly shot in Malta in recent times. One can mention, for example, Troy, Gladiator and The Count of Monte Cristo, but it is believed that Malta can offer much more to the international film industry. The current filming of the next Steven Spielberg film in Malta is certainly another important push to the industry.

The Investments, Industry and IT Ministry took advantage of the attention surrounding Spielberg’s presence in Malta to come up with incentives that ought to make

filming in Malta easier for the film-makers, while at the same time bring in money that would otherwise be spent elsewhere.

At a time when Malta needs all the pushes it can get for its economy to improve, the promotion of Malta as an ideal location for film-making was one step forward. The fact that the Film Commission was set up at a time when an important film is being shot in Malta also helps.

Just to give one example as to how the film industry could help the Maltese economy, the Spielberg crew will be spending Lm2.5 million in Malta during their six weeks here.

The island’s location, its geophysical structure and our lovely seas, not to mention other sites that could easily serve as backdrops, should make Malta a place that is sought after by producers and directors.

But we cannot stop there. The incentives offered by the government – such as cash-back for money injected directly into the economy by film-makers – should encourage more of them to consider Malta.

One important point mentioned by Minister Austin Gatt during the launch of the Film Commission last Wednesday was that rather than having one-off films being shot in Malta, the ideal situation would be to have filming of low and medium budget films all the year round.

Of course, he pointed out, blockbusters such as the ones mentioned earlier are all welcome and these would give Malta more exposure. At the same time, however, the film industry in Malta should not rely solely on epic films.

For Malta to succeed, more work needs to be done. For example, the minister mentioned that no sound dubbing is carried out in Malta because no facilities exist, and therefore potential income is lost.

Investment in the sector is therefore needed for Malta to succeed in attracting more film-makers. In the words of Minister Gatt, “we need to change Malta from a simple film location to a film industry centre”.

To do this, apart from promoting Malta and investing more in equipment that could be useful for film production, we must also be careful not to shoot ourselves in the foot. During the press conference, Minister Gatt gave examples of how some Maltese tried to extract more money from film-makers – in one instance, someone tried to get paid for having suffered loss of business as a violin player because the film was being shot in his or her “space”.

These are ridiculous happenings that could push film-makers away from Malta, rather than attract them. Producers are ready to spend millions in their production, but they know when they are being cheated of their money.

The government has allocated Lm1.5 million to be invested in the film industry in Malta in the 18 months to come. This money must be spent carefully, but at the same time it must be utilised fast because, as in all other sectors, Malta faces stiff competition.

Various locations around the Mediterranean – which by and large have the same physical features our islands enjoy – have already invested in their own film industry to try to attract more film-makers. Malta must not lag behind.